newgrad_neil · 3 replies
i've been looking at Linear for a while and their engineering blog is incredible. but i can't tell if it's realistic to apply as a new grad. they barely ever post openings and when they do it all sounds like "we want someone who has already built this exact thing."
anybody have recent data on new grad hiring at Linear? is applying worth my time or should i just wait until i have 3+ years?
honest answer: mostly no. they have historically hired almost exclusively people who already have strong product instincts and can operate with very little direction. that's a hard bar for a new grad. not impossible, but the talent density they target usually requires some track record. watch for roles labeled "software engineer" rather than "senior" and apply anyway, the worst they say is no.
yeah that's what i figured. appreciate the honest take instead of the usual "just apply!!" energy.
i'd push back a little. if you've shipped something real (open source, a side project with actual users, an internship that left a mark), they do look at it. the resume matters less than the artifact. but you have to have an artifact.