Useful tips on how to find a job in IT in 2025

Sep 17, 2025

Thinking about your next career move? Or maybe you’re about to flip that “open to work” label on LinkedIn and see what happens? Here are a few tips that might help you land a job that actually fits you. And while we're at it, we’ll spill how hiring works at Applifting.

Before you start

Hammering out CVs and doom-scrolling job boards won’t get you any closer to your dream job. Take a minute to think about what you’re really looking for.

These questions might help:

What kind of environment do I feel good in, and why?
Do I want stability or a dynamic ride?
What type of work gives me joy? Is it specific tech, one product or lots of projects?
Where do I want to grow? Do I need mentoring?
Are there parts of the job I no longer want to do?

💡 TIP: Don’t just keep this in your head. Write it down on paper, in Notion, in Excel… whatever works. It helps clear your thoughts and makes it easier to see what’s a “nice to have” and what’s an absolute deal-breaker.

Got it? Let the hunt begin!

You don’t need to sit around waiting for the “perfect job post.” If a company looks interesting, just reach out. Many teams are flexible these days, and you never know when your proactive message will hit the right moment.

Step 1: Find companies that feel right

Where to look?

GitHub and Stack Overflow: Check out active companies, open-source repos, and technical blogs.
StartupJobs, Welcome to the Jungle, CzechCrunch Jobs, Cocuma: Platforms where companies show off their culture, values, and people. It's not just “we want a senior full-stack ninja”.
Conferences, meetups, podcasts: Great for spotting interesting projects.

Step 2: Choose the company and do your research

Stalk with intent—scroll through their GitHub, LinkedIn, Instagram, or company podcast.

Check their projects, tech stack, and what their people write about. Do you like what you find?

Step 3: Say hi even if there’s no open role

Send a short, specific message: “This [something you genuinely find cool] caught my eye, I’d love to do [this and that].” That’s what recruiters love to see.

💡 TIP: Always drop your GitHub, portfolio, or LinkedIn link.

Step 4: The interview—chat or interrogation?

Congrats! You got a reply. Now it’s interview time. Every company runs it differently. Some are done in a week; others take a month, and you meet half the company along the way.

Ask upfront about the process. It saves you frustration:

How many rounds are there?
Will there be a technical part—live coding, pair programming, or take-home task?
How long does it all take, and who will I meet?

Also, don’t just answer questions—bring your own. Base them on your stalking… err, research, and focus on what matters most to you.

Here’s a starter pack of 5 areas to ask about:

The team: Who’s on it, what’s the seniority mix, how do they work together?
The classics: Benefits, flexibility (remote vs. office), what working hours really look like.
Tech setup: Main stack, who decides on tech choices, how they handle technical debt (because, let’s be honest, there’s always one).
Growth: Budget for learning, mentoring, and how they’ll support your development.
Project reality: How tasks are divided, agile vs. waterfall, who’s on the team, and how they keep documentation alive.

How do we do it at Applifting?

If we’re already on your radar, here’s what our hiring process usually looks like:

First interview: ~45 minutes with the recruiter
Technical task: A few hours, depending on your skills
Final round: ~90 minutes with your future team and tech lead

For us, hiring’s a two-way chat. We want to see how you think, how you work in a team, and what matters to you. And we want to show you who we are and what we care about.

Technical check

We’re not always looking for “the most senior person in the room.” What matters is your general overview and problem-solving skills. Show us how you think. You’ll cover the technical side in your task and later in a discussion during the final round.

Culture check

We want to know what you value at work. For us, it’s teamwork, responsibility, openness, and communication. It’s not about being an introvert or extrovert; it’s about trust and working well together.

And yes, we sometimes use the pizza test: Imagine we just spent a whole day fixing a nasty bug, it’s 11 p.m., and we finally squash it. Do we still feel like grabbing a late-night pizza together? If so, it’s a fit!

Admin check

Prepare for the practical stuff every recruiter has to ask: when you can start, contract type, and office vs. remote preference.

And of course—money. Let’s not kid ourselves, it’s one of the main reasons people look for a job. Come prepared with your own market research. We’re pretty open here, and thanks to our competency models, we can talk salaries openly.

Offer’s on the table

Congrats! You made it! Last email, done and dusted.

TL;DR

Were we too long and boring? No worries, here's the quick lowdown of everything you need to know:

Figure out what you want.
Do your homework on companies.
Don’t be shy about reaching out, even if there isn't an open role.
Prepare technically, but also bring good questions to see if the human side fits.
Didn’t work out the first time? No stress. Every interview is practice and a step closer.

Good luck with the job hunt. And if Applifting feels like your place, skip straight to step three and just write to us.