Field notes

Field notes from the modern job market

Weekly intelligence on H-1B sponsorship, tech hiring shifts, interview signals, and the moves that keep your search ahead of stale advice.

30

latest articles indexed

5

topic tracks monitored

1 hr

freshness window

Editor's desk

Start with the latest signal

More stories

Browse the research library

Practical reads for applicants tracking sponsorship, market timing, company risk, and interview expectations.

H1B & Visa Intel
Calendar and Federal Register document symbolizing the H-1B fee comment deadline and official rulemaking filing.

DHS Files $103,265 H-1B Fee Rule: What Comes Next

On August 25, DHS officially registered its proposed $103,265 H-1B fee for cap-subject petitions. The 30-day comment period is now open—a critical window for stakeholders to weigh in before finalization.

Aug 27, 20265 min read
H1B & Visa Intel
Federal Register document showing proposed rulemaking notice

DHS's $103,265 H-1B Fee Proposal: What You Need to Know

DHS published a formal rulemaking proposal for a $103,265 fee on all cap-subject H-1B petitions, including master's degree exempt visas. Comment deadline is September 24, 2026.

Aug 26, 20265 min read
H1B & Visa Intel
Federal courthouse with classical columns and steps

Federal Judge Strikes Down 75-Country Visa Ban—EB & Family Sponsorship Resumed

A Manhattan federal judge ruled the Trump administration's January 2026 policy banning immigrant visas for 75 countries unlawful, clearing the way for thousands of employment and family-based green card applicants.

Aug 25, 20264 min read
H1B & Visa Intel
Legal documents and visa application materials with August 2026 calendar dates, representing the new executive orders and their visa impact timeline.

Trump's Birth Tourism & Birthright Orders: What Visa Applicants Need to Know Now

On August 6, Trump signed two executive orders targeting visa issuance for birth tourism and redefining birthright citizenship. The ACLU filed legal challenges days later. Here's what this means for your visa approval timeline.

Aug 21, 20266 min read
H1B & Visa Intel
Calendar marking September 15, 2026, with I-94 document and compressed timeline icon

F-1 Duration of Status Ends Sept 15: What OPT & STEM OPT Workers Need to Know

Starting September 15, 2026, F-1 students lose "duration of status" and get fixed I-94 expiration dates instead. The grace period drops from 60 to 30 days—critical for STEM OPT workers planning H-1B transitions.

Aug 19, 20265 min read
Job Market Pulse
Two-speed tech market visualization with contracting and growing trends

Two-Speed Tech Job Market: AI Roles Boom While General Dev Contracts

Machine learning jobs are up 59% since 2020, but general software engineer roles are down 49%. Here's how layoffs, AI premiums, and remote shifts are reshaping your job search.

Aug 18, 20265 min read
H1B & Visa Intel
Calendar marking July 2026 and H-1B visa cap closure

H1B FY 2027 Lottery Done: Cap Hit, No Second Round, Fee Uncertain

FY 2027 H-1B cap is officially full with no second lottery. Learn what this means for unselected candidates, the wage-weighted system that changed your odds, and the ongoing $100,000 fee litigation.

Aug 17, 20265 min read
Interview & Offers
Overlapping circles showing AI tools and human thinking symbols, representing modern tech interview formats

AI Changed Tech Interviews in 2026—Here's How to Win

Traditional code tests and take-home projects are failing interviewers. Companies are shifting to live interviews where they watch you think. Here's what's actually being tested.

Aug 14, 20265 min read
Tech Company Watch
Tech office showing selective hiring: some stations active, others unused, representing 2026 job market restructuring.

Tech Hiring Paradox: Freezes, Layoffs, and Where Jobs Still Open in 2026

Two-thirds of CEOs plan hiring cuts through 2026, yet AI-focused roles remain in demand. Here's where displaced engineers are landing—and which skill bets protect your career.

Aug 14, 20265 min read
Career Strategy
Workspace showing resume optimization, salary research, and job search strategy documents.

Master ATS, Salary Negotiation & Cold Outreach in 2026

ATS systems are smarter than ever. Learn how to optimize your resume for modern algorithms, negotiate like a data-backed professional, and master cold outreach for hidden job opportunities.

Aug 12, 20266 min read
Job Market Pulse
Contrasting charts showing tech layoff acceleration and rising demand for specialized remote roles in 2026

2026 Tech Layoffs Hit Record Pace—What Job Seekers Need to Know

Tech layoffs in 2026 have already surpassed all of 2025. We break down what's driving cuts, where demand is still strong, and how to position yourself—especially if you're on a visa.

Aug 12, 20264 min read
H1B & Visa Intel
Ascending and flat arrows representing wage-weighted H-1B lottery odds divergence

H-1B FY 2027 Cap Filled: What It Means for Your Job Search

USCIS has reached the H-1B cap for FY 2027. Learn what happens next, how the wage-weighted lottery changed selection odds, and what you need to know about the $100K fee dispute.

Aug 10, 20266 min read
Interview & Offers
Developer on a live technical interview video call showing real-time code collaboration

2026 Tech Interviews: AI, Live Coding & What You Must Know

The playbook for tech interviews changed in 2026. AI disrupted take-homes, salary transparency mandates arrived, and live system-thinking beats algorithm grinding. Here's how to prepare.

Aug 10, 20267 min read
Tech Company Watch
Visual representation of hiring freeze vs. growth areas in tech 2026

Tech Hiring in 2026: Which Companies Are Freezing vs. Hiring

Over 120,000 tech roles have been cut in 2026 amid an industry-wide hiring pause. But AI teams, Databricks, and Reddit are still aggressively hiring. Here's where the jobs actually are.

Aug 6, 20265 min read
Career Strategy
Organized desk with resume, market research notes, and laptop—representing the three pillars of job search strategy in 2026.

Optimize Your Resume, Master Cold Outreach & Negotiate Hard: Career Strategy for Tech in 2026

ATS systems now use AI ranking. Salary negotiation pays off big. Cold outreach requires signal-based targeting. Here's the complete playbook for tech job seekers in 2026.

Aug 5, 20267 min read
Job Market Pulse
Tech job market volatility in 2026: layoffs declining against AI adoption growth

The AI Reckoning: 170K+ Layoffs, Salary Cuts, and the Remote Work Penalty in 2026

Nearly 170,000 tech workers have been laid off in 2026 as companies race to deploy AI. But the picture is complex: remote roles pay less, AI specialists command premiums, and opportunities still exist for those who upskill.

Aug 4, 20265 min read
H1B & Visa Intel
Illustration of a narrowing selection funnel showing H-1B cap competition

FY 2027 H-1B Cap Reached: What It Means for Job Seekers

USCIS hit the FY 2027 H-1B cap in mid-July. Fewer registrations, no second lottery, and a new wage-weighted system reshape your sponsorship odds—here's what you need to know.

Aug 3, 20265 min read
Interview & Offers
Engineer at desk with code editor and AI chat window visible on screens

AI-Aware Coding Interviews in 2026: How to Prepare and Thrive

Tech interviews are no longer testing raw coding—they're testing your ability to work with AI. Learn the format shift, what interviewers are grading, and how to prepare for live AI-assisted rounds at Google, Meta, and beyond.

Jul 31, 20266 min read
Career Strategy
Clean, evidence-based resume template on tablet with metrics and data visualization

ATS & Evidence: How to Build a Resume That Works in 2026

Keyword stuffing is dead. Learn how modern ATS systems now prioritize measurable impact, semantic context, and real proof of competence—and how to structure your resume to win both machines and recruiters.

Jul 29, 20266 min read
Job Market Pulse
Graph showing layoff trends contrasted with salary growth arrows

AI-Driven Layoffs & The Salary Paradox: What Tech Workers Need to Know

Over 200,000 tech workers laid off this year, yet salaries aren't dropping—and specialized roles command premium pay. Here's how to navigate the 2026 job market.

Jul 28, 20266 min read
H1B & Visa Intel
Closed padlock over a calendar showing the March 2026 H-1B registration period, symbolizing the filled cap.

H-1B FY 2027 Cap Filled: What It Means for Your Job Search

USCIS closed out FY 2027 H-1B registrations ahead of schedule. No second lottery round is happening. Here's what this means for job seekers and what to do next.

Jul 27, 20264 min read
Interview & Offers
Coding interview with AI assistant panel visible on the side of screen

AI-Assisted Coding Interviews: What to Expect & How to Win

Google, Meta, and other top tech companies are replacing traditional take-home tests with live, AI-enabled coding interviews. Learn how to prepare for this new format and demonstrate the skills interviewers actually care about.

Jul 24, 20266 min read
Tech Company Watch
Data center contrasted with empty office representing big tech's 2026 shift to AI infrastructure spending over hiring

The AI Reckoning: Where Tech Companies Are Hiring vs Freezing in July 2026

As 2026 enters its second half, big tech is at a crossroads: massive AI spending paired with aggressive headcount cuts. We map who's freezing, who's hiring, and what it means for your job search.

Jul 23, 20266 min read
Career Strategy
Optimized resume on screen with ATS-friendly formatting and metrics.

How to Beat AI ATS Scanners: 2026 Resume Strategy for Tech Pros

With 98% of Fortune 500 companies using ATS, your resume must prove measurable impact—not just list tasks. Learn the 2026 tactics that actually get past AI and into human hands.

Jul 23, 20266 min read
Job Market Pulse
Two diverging trend lines representing the AI-driven job market split in 2026

Tech Job Market in July 2026: The AI Divide Accelerates

AI engineer demand surges 59% while general software roles collapse. Layoffs continue, but hiring budgets rise—it's not one market, it's two. What this means for your job search.

Jul 21, 20264 min read
H1B & Visa Intel
H-1B lottery selection visualization with wage-level tiers

H1B FY 2027 Cap Reached: What You Need to Know Right Now

USCIS has hit the fiscal year 2027 H-1B visa cap after just months of petition filing. Here's what it means for your sponsorship strategy and what you can do if you weren't selected.

Jul 21, 20267 min read