2025-04-03T08:57:02Z

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In a bold and unconventional move, software engineers Argenis De La Rosa and Ryan Prescott have taken their job hunt to new heights by offering a $10,000 bounty for anyone who can help them land a six-figure software developer position. The duo made headlines recently after De La Rosa posted his offer on LinkedIn, a professional networking platform, igniting interest and conversation among job seekers and recruiters alike.

De La Rosa's original LinkedIn post outlined his proposal with remarkable clarity. He stated, "I'll pay someone $10,000 if they find me a six-figure software developer role." He went on to explain that he would draft a formal contract outlining the payment structure, promising bi-weekly payments correlating with his earnings. He emphasized the straightforwardness of the arrangement, insisting, "It's that simple. No hidden BS." In this proposition, he aimed to attract not only recruiters but also individuals who may know of open positions or are well-connected within the industry.

Following De La Rosa's lead, Prescott and other job seekers soon joined in, echoing the same offer on their LinkedIn profiles. This collaborative effort reflects an emerging trend where job seekers utilize innovative strategies to navigate a competitive employment landscape. De La Rosa himself explained that he conceived the idea as a desperate yet humorous attempt to grab attention during an increasingly challenging job search.

"I was kind of being a little bit sarcastic, but I guess everyone received it somewhat well, and I just kind of went with it,” he told Business Insider. The response was overwhelming—within just 24 hours, he reported receiving a flood of messages ranging from dubious sales pitches to solid offers for mentorship and referrals from experienced engineers within major tech companies.

Remarkably, De La Rosa managed to secure three job interviews almost immediately after posting. He noted, "I've gotten so much career advice like polish your résumé, make a portfolio, try to send these messages to people you don't know — and that doesn't work. This has gotten more attention, ironically enough, than trying to do what they recommend." On the other hand, Prescott, who was initially skeptical about the concept, found value in its potential to cut through the noise of the saturated job market. "This could be a really good way to cut through the noise and have my voice heard," he reasoned.

While some individuals attempted to exploit the offer for personal monetary gain, Prescott was pleasantly surprised by the generosity displayed by many respondents who offered their assistance without any expectation of payment. He described the experience as "really interesting and super heartwarming to see the altruism" at play.

The surge of applicants seeking new opportunities can be attributed largely to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to extensive hiring during its peak, followed by widespread layoffs that have since flooded the tech job market. De La Rosa remarked on the dramatic shift, stating, "Before the pandemic hit, you could get tech interviews left and right. Now, I have to do so much more and get such a low ROI on my job search practices." His bounty offer represents a fresh approach to a drastically altered job market, where traditional methods of job hunting may no longer suffice.

Ryan Prescott echoed this sentiment, asserting that the current market demands job seekers to adapt their strategies significantly. "It basically seems like everything you thought you knew about job hunting a year ago or two years ago, do the opposite," he advised. In his view, employers are now seeking ideal candidates who meet every single requirement outlined in their job descriptions, creating an atmosphere where the competition is fierce and often discouraging.

In this new landscape, Prescott and De La Rosa believe that their proposition empowers job applicants by allowing them to determine what a job is worth to them. "The candidate can decide what it's worth and work those terms out themselves," Prescott explained. De La Rosa added, "If I give up maybe six weeks of work in exchange for an opportunity at a reputable company, I would trade that every day of the week."

Ultimately, Prescott successfully secured a job after a startup CEO reached out to him, leading to several rounds of interviews. Notably, he did not have to pay his new employer the $10,000 he had initially offered; instead, the attention gained from his LinkedIn post served its purpose of helping him stand out in a sea of applicants. "Anything that's driving traffic to your LinkedIn profile is going to be beneficial in a market where cold applications and more traditional methods of job hunting are just falling flat," he stated.

Reflecting on the experience, both De La Rosa and Prescott encourage other job seekers to embrace unique and creative ways to distinguish themselves from the competition. "I would really just encourage more people to differentiate themselves in strange and remarkable ways," Prescott suggested. "It takes a degree of confidence and a willingness and ability to take risks to succeed in the market that we're in." While De La Rosa continues to search for a full-time position, he has managed to secure contract work in the interim. He stands by his belief that being open about one’s job search journey can resonate with others, helping create connections and opportunities. "If you're posting where you're at in your journey, I think a lot of people would generally want to help. The interviews I've gotten in the last week alone were more than the last four months," he concluded.