Steps to getting your First Tech Job

Steps to getting your First Tech Job
Steps to getting your First Tech Job

Graduating from college and stepping into the world of work can be a bit overwhelming, and looking for your first job can be even more overwhelming. As this will be your first job, you don’t know what and how to approach the companies you want to apply for. 

The job hunting process can be short as well as long, and it will be stressful for any first-timers. But to reduce your stress and save your time, we’ve compiled a list of things that you should know and do before you head for the hunt! 

Key Steps to land your First Tech Job

1. Prepare a portfolio of a few standout projects

Prepare a portfolio of the projects you think is your best work, and have fun doing it. It doesn’t matter if it is not a complete project. Your portfolio should show how much you have accomplished as a Software engineer.


Try to add the projects you had the most fun with while working on it because when talking about your project, it will show your enthusiasm when describing it to the interviewer. 

Also, be prepared to talk about the strengths and weaknesses of the projects you worked on. Because they might ask you to walk through the codes with them, and you should be well-versed.

2. Prepare for Technical Interview

Practice, practice, practice… The only thing that is going to help you through the technical interview is Practice. There are several platforms where you can prepare for the technical round like- CodeStudio.

The white-boarding interview method in technical rounds is going to stay for a while, and you might go blank due to pressure. So the best thing to do is to practice thinking out loud. Awkward silence at an interview is the last thing you want. The more you think out loud, the more the interviewer will know how far you’ve gotten.

3. Decide what kind of company you want or role you want

When you begin a job search as a first-timer, you think anything, for now, will be good for you. But that is not a good decision; you need to make a list of priorities for your new job. Because no matter what, you are going to be the majority of your time at work.

So, make a list of your priorities like opportunities to solve challenging problems that interest you, good work/life balance, opportunities to work with a modern tech stack, and whatever you think is applicable. 

This list will help you to stay in charge of your job hunt, and you won’t feel that you are all over the place!

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4. Keep everything organized and trackable

Now that you have your portfolio in place- have companies in mind- the ones you want to apply to, and you are prepped for the technical round. But how are you going to keep track of dozens of applications? Keeping track of these applications can be a nightmare!

You can create a spreadsheet and line up accordingly with the date of application, the status of the application, contact details of the HRs, the number of rounds cleared, and much more. 

5. Write a meaningful resume and cover letter

Instead of wasting time on writing tons of low-quality applications, spend more time writing one highly-tailored application. Resumes and cover letters with typos and grammatical errors get rejected instantly. 

Try to write resumes within one page because resumes more than one page often get rejected. For cover letters, edit them according to the companies you applied for. Visit the company websites, and come up with a genuine reason why you’d like to work for that specific company. Try to be creative while writing one. 

6. Avoid settling for less, and negotiate

When interviewing for jobs, HR might ask you about your salary expectations. As a fresher, you might think of swelling with whatever the company is offering, but don’t do that. Research about your position, research about the company’s funding, and what is the maximum amount they can offer.

Researching about the company and pay scale will help you to negotiate better and land you your desired salary job. And your research will show your enthusiasm and hard work. 

Look for a job in a company that treats its employees well and involves working with technologies you love. Getting both at your first tech job might not always be possible, but once you get your foot in the door, pursuing the next opportunity becomes much easier. It only gets better from here.

And there is one more way to land your first tech job is by enrolling in Career Camp Freshers. A 9-month coding Bootcamp for anyone who wants to land their first tech job at a Product Based Company, regardless of current experience.