You can build, you have real-team experience, and you've practiced the loops. Time to apply. Do it strategically — the order and the materials matter.
Update your résumé
I'm happy to review yours, but here are the rules I'd apply:
- Remove the fluff. Most résumés are read and evaluated in about 20 seconds. Your job is to convince them in that window — don't make them read everything. Ask yourself: why does my résumé stand out?
- Length is fine past one page. Two to three pages is perfectly good. Don't cramp it.
- Highlight accomplishments, not duties. For each role, surface the relevant facts and accomplishments — the highlights, not the day-to-day. Make it interesting to read, not a boring list of responsibilities.
- Lead with proof. Your projects and open-source contributions are your strongest evidence — feature them prominently, with links.
Start applying — strategically
What to expect
The process is usually a sequence: a recruiter call, then technical screens (coding and/or architecture), then an on-site or final loop, then an offer. Knowing the shape removes a lot of anxiety.
Sequence your interviews deliberately
Don't interview first at the job you want most. Apply to the least interesting companies first.
Your early interviews will be rough — that's normal, and that's the point. Use the companies you care least about as practice so that by the time you reach your dream company, you're sharp. Treat every early interview as data, not a verdict.
Pick two ideal companies to aim for, and build toward them.
A candid tier list (Japan)
This is my honest read of the landscape — use it to calibrate, not as gospel:
| Tier | Companies |
|---|---|
| S | Indeed, Google |
| A | PayPay, LINE, Microsoft, Mercari, Rakuten |
| B–F | Everyone else |
There are great engineering jobs at every tier — plenty of "B–F" companies are excellent places to start and grow. The tiers are about competitiveness and compensation ceilings, not whether a job is worth taking.
⚠️ A note on Google: Google gives exploding offers — roughly 4 days to decide, after which the offer is gone and you may be locked out from reapplying for a while. Because of that, interview at Google last, once you have other offers in hand to compare against and negotiate with.
Do this now
Write the first draft of your résumé built around projects and contributions, then cut every line that doesn't earn its place in a 20-second read. Make a target list: two dream companies, and a handful of low-stakes ones to practice on first. Share the résumé in the Discord before you send it anywhere — I'll review it with you. Then apply to three practice companies this week.