A working playbook for technical interviews.
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Applying through a careers page is the default move, and also the weakest one. A referral, a thoughtful message to someone on the team, or visible public work all put your name in front of a person instead of a filter.
Keep a short list of companies you actually care about. For each one, find the most direct human path in: someone you know, someone you have interacted with online, or the person who would be your manager.
Your first few interviews will be rough no matter how prepared you feel. Schedule some with companies you are less attached to before the ones you want most. Volume converts anxiety into routine.
The interview you are nervous about is rarely the one that matters. The reps you did beforehand are.
Learn the format before the content. A systems design conversation, a pairing session, and a timed algorithm round reward different preparation. Ask recruiters what to expect; they will usually tell you exactly.
A small working demo tuned to the company's product is worth more than a polished resume. It proves initiative, taste, and shipping ability all at once, and it gives the interview a concrete thing to talk about.
Negotiation starts before the offer: parallel processes create options, and options create leverage. When a number arrives, thank them, take a day, and come back with questions rather than demands.