Finding a new role can feel overwhelming, but breaking it down into clear stages makes it manageable, and even exciting. Below, I’ve shared practical advice from my decades of experience, and my video series on how to find roles, apply successfully, ace interviews, and, if relevant, smash coding tests.
You can read the highlights below or watch the embedded videos if you prefer. You can also watch these videos on my YouTube playlist.
If you are thinking about leaving your current job, don’t forget to check out my post on “Should I Leave My Job?“:
Finding a Role (IT)
- Your LinkedIn network is gold, most good roles come from relationships, not just job boards
- Ghost jobs exist, around 20–25% of LinkedIn postings aren’t real or won’t lead anywhere
- Follow individuals and organisations directly, the real jobs often come from people building their reputation by posting openings
- Build your network quickly, connect with specialists in your area, follow hashtags like #TechJobs, and engage
- Especially if you’re switching industry, just graduating, or starting from scratch, your network will make the difference
👉 Moral of the story: don’t just wait for jobs to come to you. Go where the real opportunities are.
@richard_stockley 🔍 If you are looking for an IT role (or lots of others), the best place to find them in 2025 is through your LinkedIn network. LinkedIn Jobs “works”, but relationships are key‼️ Why? Lots of people think roles are going to come to them because they have a great LinkedIn profile. Forget that! There’s a tiny percentage chance this will happen. 👻 About 20%-25% of Jobs posted on LinkedIn are “ghost jobs” and don’t really exist. There are lots of reasons for these ghost jobs, and I’m not going to over that here, but you are often going to find an application goes nowhere. Also, it is sooooo easy to apply for a job through LinkedIn that posters get hundreds of applications, and it takes ages to sort these. This can mean recruiters only rely on Jobs when they are struggling to fill a role as there is a cost and a lot of work for them. However, most organisations and individuals post roles directly as themselves. These organisations and individuals are building and using their reputation to try to find great candidates. These jobs exist! They are real. They are being actively recruited for. If you can identify and follow these organisations and individuals directly: 🌟 their roles will appear in your feed 🌟 Moreover, if you look at these organisations, you will typically find the specific people who are posting roles that are relevant for you; e.g a DevOps specialist will post DevOps roles. Find them. Follow them. Talk to them and build a relationship. Even employees in organisations will repost roles so keep an eye out for relevant people and follow them too! If you are a recent graduate, switching industry or role, or perhaps you don’t do much on LinkedIn, you may be really struggling to find a role. My advice is to build your network. Quickly! Find those relevant organisations and people. Follow them. Connect with them. See what a difference it makes. Similarly, as the market is so bad at the moment, any IT jobs I see in my network I repost 🔄 using #TechJobs. You can follow this and other hashtags to add these posts into your feed, so again they will come directly to you. 🗣️ What's your take on this strategy? Any other tips? Drop your thoughts below or share your own job-hunting hacks! Let's get everyone matched with their perfect job! 💬 🍀 Good luck on your job hunt, and stay tuned for more tips! Keep an eye out for my next video on applying for a job! 📺 archi.tech hashtag#techmate Finding a new (IT) role in 2025 #ITCareers #JobSearch #Networking #LinkedInTips
♬ original sound - archi.tech - Richard Stockley
Applying for a Role
💪 1️⃣ Believe in Your Worth
- Don’t be put off by a long list of requirements
- Employers hire for potential as much as experience
- If the role excites you and you meet a fair balance of needs, apply!
- Let them see what you can do, not what you can’t
✨ 2️⃣ Polish Your LinkedIn Profile
- It’s your digital first impression
- Keep it updated and aligned with your application
- Add strong recommendations and showcase key projects
- A well-crafted profile shows pride, professionalism, and consistency
📄 3️⃣ The Great CV Debate
- Length doesn’t matter, substance does!
- Focus on achievements, measurable results, and impact
- Highlight key skills, not a laundry list of tools or languages
- Show what makes you indispensable, not just employable
- Remember: great teams hire for fit and attitude as much as technical skill
@richard_stockley 🌟 Top Three Tips for Job Applications in 2025! 🌟 In our previous discussion, we delved into the best place to find (IT) roles in 2025 (). Today, I'm excited to share three essential tips for when you are applying for your dream job! 1. Believe in Your Worth 💪 Don't be intimidated by a long list of job requirements. Employers look for potential and are willing to train the right person. If a job sparks your interest, and you have a good balance of their requirements, go for it and let them see your potential! Don't discount yourself!!! 2. Polish Your LinkedIn Profile ✨ First impressions count! Reviewers will check your LinkedIn to see if it reflects your application. An updated profile with strong recommendations and showcased projects can significantly boost your professional image 3. The Great CV Debate 📄 Length doesn't matter to me; substance does! Focus on *your* achievements, quantifiable results (like performance improvements or customer satisfaction), and most importantly, your key skills. Show what makes you indispensable, not just your tech stack. Personally, I hate to see 17 different programming languages listed as I don't know what you excel at. And remember, the best employers will look for a great personality fit, often in favour of the most technically adept candidate At the end of the day, a reviewer wants to know what they will get if they interview and eventually hire you. So, tell them. 🔥 I've reviewed thousands of applications over the last 25+ years, and these insights come from vast experience. If you have more tips to share, please contribute in the comments below! 👇 Follow us for more insider tips on preparing for interviews, acing tech tests, and more. 🍀 Good luck with your job search in 2025! 🍀 #JobHunt #CareerAdvice #TechCareers #LinkedInTips #ResumeTips #TechMate #TechJobs
♬ original sound - archi.tech - Richard Stockley
Preparing for an Interview
🔍 Interview technique is a skill
- Like any skill, it fades if you don’t use it
- Feeling rusty is normal – practice brings confidence!
- Ask friends, mentors, or recruiters to run mock interviews
- Always link your answers back to you, your skills, and what you bring to the organisation
📊 Do your research
- Build a picture of the company – culture, people, values.
- Start with their website, social posts, and LinkedIn
- Look for clues: recent news, roles they’re hiring for, or acquisitions they’ve made
- Research shows enthusiasm – and helps you ask smarter questions
👀 Check out your interviewers
- If you know who’s interviewing you, view their LinkedIn profiles
- Look for shared connections, experiences, or skills you can reference
- Many interviewers notice who’s viewed their profile, it signals genuine interest!
📝 Know your data
- Review your CV and the role description carefully
- Align your answers to your own skills and their requirements
- Brush up on your examples, they’re your evidence of capability
📖 Benjamin Franklin said it best:
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
@richard_stockley 🌟 Got an interview? The key to success is preparation; hone your interview technique, do your research, and know your data 👇 🔍 Interview technique is a skill, and like most skills if you are not using it regularly, it ebbs away. Let's face facts, we all feel rusty when we start interviewing again. But the great news is, you can improve your interview technique through practice! Ask your friends, family, colleagues, a mentor, even some recruitment companies, if they can give you a mock interview or ask you questions. The more you do this, the more you will hone your interview technique! Whilst you are practicing, try to relate your answers back to you, your skills, and what you can bring to the organisation. 📊 Doing your research helps you to build a view of the company, its culture, the types of people that work there, and it may help you identify relevant questions you want to ask during your interview. Research the company; you can start with the about page on their website, social posts, LinkedIn, etc. Look at who their senior leadership team is, other roles they are recruiting for, any acquisitions they have made recently … it all helps build that picture, but you can show your interviewers you are keen as you have done your research. 👀 Also, if you know who your interviewers are, check them out on LinkedIn too. Have a look at their history, their skills, and see if there are any synergies, places they have worked at, people they have worked with, skills they use, that you can bring into your answers. Personally, as an interviewer, I always look to see if someone has checked me out on LinkedIn as it indicates if they have been doing their research. 📝 Knowing your data may sound really obvious, but go through your CV and the role description. If you can steer your answers back to your skills and experience from your CV, or even better to align with the requirements on the role description, you will show that you are a strong candidate. You can also brush up on your skills at the same time. 📖 There's a great quote from Benjamin Franklin: "by failing to prepare you are preparing to fail". This is 100% right for interviews! 🔗 Don't forget to check out the previous two posts for: Finding a new (IT) role in 2025: https://www.tiktok.com/@archidottech/video/7460626405857004833 Applying for a job: https://www.tiktok.com/@archidottech/video/7461366257829367073 📬 And also, you can ask any job specific or tech questions through our Ask Me Anything (AMA), #TechMate. Head over to LinkedIn to message us, or submit your question through the website. 🍀 Good luck with your interviews 🍀 #JobHunt #CareerAdvice #TechCareers #Networking #LinkedInTips #ResumeTips #TechMate #TechJobs #QuotesToLiveBy #CompanyCulture
♬ original sound - archi.tech - Richard Stockley
Nailing your Interview
😱 Remember: your interviewer might be more nervous than you!
Many interviewers have limited experience and feel the pressure to hire the right person – so you’re both human, both doing your best.
1️⃣ Arrive early (physically or virtually)
- Being late spikes stress levels instantly
- Arriving early shows enthusiasm and helps calm your nerves
2️⃣ Make the right entrance
- Plan your outfit ahead of time
- For in-person interviews: confident handshake + smile
- For virtual ones: test your tech, tidy your space, avoid interruptions
3️⃣ Take your time ⏳
- Slow down your breathing and responses
- A short pause before answering feels long to you, but natural to them
- Calm equals clear thinking
4️⃣ Ask if you don’t understand 💬
- Interviewers often ask big, open questions
- Don’t guess, seek clarity first, then give a focused answer
5️⃣ Use real examples 🧩
- Link your answers to past experience
- This helps interviewers picture you in the role
6️⃣ Don’t waffle! 🗣️
- Keep answers concise and structured
- Make it easy for interviewers to follow your point and know when you’re done
💡 Interviews are about connection as much as competence, show up calm, confident, and curious.
@richard_stockley 🌟 If you are looking to nail an interview, here are 6 top tips and some insights that will really help you! 🌟 But, the absolute key to success is in your preparation - checkout the previous post for more information. Interviews can be nerve-wracking, but try to remember that being an interviewer can be scary too! Lots of interviewers don't have much experience, but there can be tremendous pressure to hire the right candidates. You interviewer may actually be more nervous than you are! 😱 1️⃣ Arrive early, be that physically or virtually. The last thing you want to do in a potentially stressful situation is be late - it will just set your heart racing. Arrive early, show that you are keen, but more importantly slow everything down; keep your nerves under control 2️⃣ Make the right entrance. Sort out what you are wearing long before your interview, so again, you’re not worrying and raising your heart rate. If you are meeting physically, you need a solid handshake and a confident hello. If you are meeting virtually, make you sure test your technology beforehand and your workspace is tidy, professional, and you are not going to be interrupted 3️⃣ Take your time, slow things down. Again, you are trying to keep your heart rate under control. Give yourself time to think. To you, pausing for one or two seconds before you respond will feel like an eternity. To your interviewers it will be nothing. Take your time and you will respond well 4️⃣ If you don't understand the question, ask! A good interviewer will ask high-level, open questions to give you the most scope to show your knowledge. Sometimes their questions are too high-level and you need more clarity, or you don't understand what you are being asked. Don't provide a random answer. Seek clarity and answer the right question 5️⃣ Answer with examples. You need to be able to answer questions well, but if you can relate your answers to your experience, your interviewers will be able to visualise you in the role 6️⃣ Don't waffle! As soon as you start to waffle you will lose your interviewers. Keep your answers concise, precise, and focussed, so your interviewers know when you have finished answering their questions 🔗 Don't forget to check out the previous posts covering: Finding a new (IT) role in 2025 Applying for a job Preparing for an interview 📬 You can ask any job specific or tech questions through our Ask Me Anything (AMA), #TechMate. Submit your question through the website. 🍀 Good luck🍀 #JobHunt #CareerAdvice #TechCareers #Networking #LinkedInTips #ResumeTips #TechMate #TechJobs #CompanyCulture #JobInterview
♬ original sound - archi.tech - Richard Stockley
Finish Strong
One of the biggest pitfalls I see candidates make is not finishing strong in their job hunt.
👉 A few years ago, you could apply for 10 jobs, land 4 interviews, and walk away with 2 offers.
But today? The market is far more competitive. You’re lucky to get shortlisted, and interviews don’t guarantee offers anymore.
Here’s the trap many fall into:
✨ They get 3–4 interviews lined up
✨ They assume one of them will work out
✨ They stop applying…
Weeks later, with no offers, they’re back at square one.
💡 My advice: keep applying right through the interview process – only stop once you’ve secured an offer. That’s how you finish strong.
🎯 Stay consistent. Stay proactive. And don’t let momentum slip away.
@richard_stockley 🚀 Don’t make this mistake when job hunting! One of the biggest pitfalls I see candidates make is 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 in their job search. 👉 A few years ago, you could apply for 10 jobs, land 4 interviews, and walk away with 2 offers. But today? The market is far more competitive. You’re lucky to get shortlisted, and interviews don’t guarantee offers anymore. Here’s the trap many fall into: ✨ They get 3–4 interviews lined up. ✨ They assume one of them will work out. ✨ They stop applying… Weeks later, with no offers, they’re back at square one. 💡 My advice: Keep applying right through the interview process - only stop once you’ve secured an offer. That’s how you finish strong. 🎯 Stay consistent. Stay proactive. And don’t let momentum slip away. #JobSearch #CareerAdvice #InterviewTips #JobHunting #CareerGrowth #FinishStrong
♬ original sound - Richard Stockley
Passing a Coding Test
🎯 Passing coding tests is a skill! Like any skill, you can develop it. Here are a few ways to level up:
✅ Practice, practice, practice
- Use platforms like Codewars or HackerRank
- 10 minutes a day or a focused Friday session works wonders
- Small, consistent effort = big improvement
📖 Read (and plan) before you code
- Slow down and really understand the question
- It’s not meant to trick you
- Write pseudo code as comments, it’s your plan before diving in
🗣️ Think out loud
- You will make mistakes, it’s normal!
- Explain your thought process; interviewers want to see how you approach problems
- Just like a maths test: show your working, not just your answer
🔴🟢 Use Test Driven Development (TDD)
- Most interviewers expect it
- Write the test first (it fails = 🔴), then code until it passes (🟢)
- Practicing TDD shows structure, confidence, and discipline
📚 Know your fundamentals
- Brush up on language standards and SOLID principles
- SOLID = clean, maintainable, flexible code – that’s what impresses interviewers
- Following standards shows you’ll fit easily into a dev team
@richard_stockley 🎯 Love them or hate them, passing a coding test is a skill. You can develop that skill by following these tips… 🚀 ✅ Practice: there are lots of different platforms where you can practice coding tests e.g., Codewars. The best way to practice is little and often; 10 minutes a day, or dedicate some time on a Friday afternoon. Your coding skills will improve no end, and you'll be practicing to smash a coding test! 📖 Read the Question: it sounds obvious, but take your time, take some deep breaths, and concentrate on the question. It isn't designed to trick you! I like to write some pseudo code as code comments - it acts like my plan before I write a line 🗣️ Talk: you'll be nervous, you will make simple, sometimes stupid mistakes. Coding tests are a bit like maths tests; even if you don't get the right answer, you can get lots of marks for showing your working out! Your interviewer should be more interested in how you approach the problem than the result, so monologue - tell them what you're thinking and why 🔴🟢 Test Driven Development: most organisations and interviewers will expect a TDD approach. Start with tests, and if you're not used to this, practice! Follow a red-green approach: write the test before writing the code. The test will fail (red) as the code doesn't exist! Now write the code for the test to pass (green) 📚 Standards and Fundamentals: brush up on the standards for your language(s). If you follow the standards, you will show you are current and that you can slot into the team easily 🔧 SOLID: it is easy to define the acronym in an interview, but show SOLID principles in your test. SOLID is designed to make code more understandable, flexible, and maintainable, which is what your interviewer wants to see 🤔 Any recommendations for other ways to pass a coding test, or great platforms you use? 🍀 Best of luck! #CareerDevelopment #Coding #CodePractice #SkillBuilding #ProblemSolving #CodingTips #InterviewTips #CodingInterviews #TDD #SoftwareDevelopment #CodingStandards #BestPractices #SOLIDPrinciples #SoftwareEngineering #JobHunt #CareerAdvice #TechCareers #Networking #LinkedInTips #ResumeTips #TechMate #TechJobs #CompanyCulture #JobInterview
♬ original sound - archi.tech - Richard Stockley
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