Why 2023 Is the Hardest Year Yet for IT Programmers

Hello, I’m Jensen, a programmer who wants to level up together with you.

Three years of pandemic have drained capital across most industries, leaving only a few surviving companies in China. From last year to this year, the IT workforce has been in constant turmoil, with massive graduate waves at big firms and reshuffles like Google’s n+9.

Phenomenon: Recruitment platforms now have a reply rate below 5%, meaning most applications disappear into the void. A single hot position typically attracts dozens to hundreds of candidates, forcing HR to sift through hundreds of resumes daily. Companies have raised baseline requirements to full‑time bachelor degrees verified on the academic network, with many large firms demanding 211/985 or master’s degrees, effectively eliminating junior candidates.

Even if you browse Douyin for “Java interview questions,” you’ll see many live interview streams because domestic technical interviews are extremely rigorous; interviewers themselves are under pressure and lack deep expertise.

For content creators, the trend also encourages selling courses and gaining followers, but that is a side note.

Advice 1 – Adjust Your Mindset: Normally a job switch brings a 20‑30% salary increase, but in this special period even a flat salary or a pay cut is common. The market has become a buyer’s market with limited open headcounts; recruiters now evaluate candidates based on cost‑performance.

Advice 2 – Do Your Homework: Use the resignation period to reflect on yourself and assess your competitiveness. Review key knowledge points, practice intensively, and stay ready for interviews. After a failed interview, analyse the experience, identify weak spots, and target those areas in subsequent preparation. If the recruiter remains hesitant after the first or second interview, proactively express your interest and expectations.

Free technical short videos on Douyin and other platforms provide valuable summaries and real‑world interview experiences. Bookmark useful clips for future review when you need a quick refresher.

Advice 3 – Exhaust All Job Resources: Reach out to former colleagues, past HR contacts, and headhunters; ask for internal referrals wherever possible. Scan all recruitment platforms daily, apply not only locally but nationwide, and target fully remote positions.

If you have decent foreign language skills, consider foreign companies. They often filter out many domestic competitors, offering higher stability, though the entry barrier is higher and requires time to overcome.

Finally, I wish everyone smooth sailing through this extremely challenging period and hope you can successfully land a new role.