As freshers worldwide scramble to make their first breakthrough in tech, one question remains:
How do you prove your worth as a fresher?
I have done this twice. I broke into tech again after a 1-year gap in my resume. I did it a couple of more times for my friends. So, let me tell you how.
But it won't be possible without a carefully devised plan.
I am sharing my tried and tested framework for breaking into tech with this article.
Everything is distilled into actionable steps to help you make your first breakthrough.
Let's get into it.
What are you doing wrong?
What most freshers are doing wrong is they apply to job postings where there are already hundreds of applicants.
Tell me this,
Where do you stand in that crowd without any professional experience?
So, here are the prerequisites to the main framework. Make sure to have these points in place first.
- Stop applying to every job posting mindlessly.
- Learn to create pixel-perfect designs with CSS.
- Learn to make web pages interactive with JS.
- Learn one JS framework/library, preferably ReactJs.
It's time to stand out, not to get lost among hundreds of resumes.
Your 3-step breakthrough roadmap
- Build projects beyond todo apps.
- Be the LinkedIn profile recruiters are looking for.
- Learn to network and reach out.
Step #1: Build projects beyond todo apps.
As a fresher, you must show this to your potential employer. So, pay careful attention to building projects.
Build projects which clearly show your:
- UI/CSS Skills
- Frontend Skills
- Handling 3rd party APIs and integrations Build projects beyond todo apps.
For reference, check the pinned projects on my GitHub profile.
Step #2: Be the LinkedIn profile recruiters are looking for.
If you ask me to choose only one platform to build my social presence as a developer, I will choose LinkedIn every single time.
LinkedIn is a goldmine of opportunities if used properly.
It's time to optimize and fix your LinkedIn profile. So let's make every aspect of your profile count.
Your banner
The LinkedIn banner is the most underutilized real estate by developers.
It is not to show the creative art or your NFT (leave that stuff for Twitter guys).
Your LinkedIn banner should give all your contact details to the visitor. Here is mine, for example.
Note: This is not how my profile is set up currently. I keep changing my profile. I will revert to these suggestions if I again start looking for a job.
Your headshot
The profile picture is the most straightforward section. Yet, so many devs get it wrong.
Avoid the following type of picture:
- A cartoon version of you.
- You looking sideways.
- No selfie, please. Your headshot should have a white/blue/black background and a great smile. That's it.
Your tagline
Your tagline should be succinct and clearly state:
- What you do. ex: JavaScript Developer
- Avoid using words like "aspiring". You are already a developer if you can build a simple web page.
- What technologies do you work with? Your profile won't show in search results without this.
- Don't write Frontend or Backend because no one is searching for those keywords. Mention exactly what you work with.
- You can mention an interesting project you are working on. Ex: Building a real-time feedback platform with socket.io.
Here is my tagline:
Your featured section
Most developers use it the wrong way by featuring some posts or articles.
This is where you showcase your projects. The featured section is where your portfolio goes.
I don't suggest showing your projects in the LinkedIn project section because the project section is visible at the end of the profile page. Instead, use the featured section.
Here is my featured section. I have live projects & GitHub codebase. Let's decode. Don't miss the Pro Tip.
- Code samples, GitHub, live projects. Something that you have to show.
- Recruiters want to know what you have already done.
- If you have backend projects, share the code on GitHub.
- If you have frontend projects, make sure to add screenshots of your UIs. Pro tips:
100DaysOfCode is not for LinkedIn. Position yourself as a confident developer. (Perception is reality)
Record a 30-second video and put it as the first thing in the featured section.
I haven't done this personally. But I will do it if I again start a job search.
In those 30 seconds, answer the most common interview question: "Tell me about yourself".
Now when a recruiter sees it, they will know about you more than they know about any other candidate.
Spoon-feed the recruiters.
Your About section
This is where you brag about your achievements, even the smallest of achievements.
Here also include relevant tech keywords. But do not overdo it. Overdoing it will kill your profile. Integrate keywords in the natural flow of writing.
This is my LinkedIn about section. Let's decode it.
- See how I naturally integrated my technologies. (Highlighted in yellow)
- Notice how I mentioned even small achievements. (Highlighted in green)
- Explain something interesting about yourself. (Highlighted in light blue)
- Avoid too much use of fluff words like "I am a passionate developer". Don't tell, show the passion in your work.
You may feel like you have no significant achievements. And it is normal, with more experience, you will have more achievements to talk about.
Here is what you need to do now if you aren't that experienced.
Sit down and reflect on your past experiences and projects. Write down every single achievement no matter how small they are. Then list the relevant ones on LinkedIn.
Ex: Created a RestAPI design, implemented the UI from Figma wireframe, etc.
Step #3: Learn to network and reach out.
LinkedIn is a great place to make connections and network with people that bring value to the conversation.
You never know where one conversation can lead you.
Here is how you should apply for job postings. This method is pure gold.
- If you see a company’s job posting that you’re interested in.
- Immediately go to LinkedIn, type the company’s name in the search bar, and hit enter.
- Filter by people, and you will have a list of around 300 people from that company.
- Start DMing these people.
- You: “Hey, I saw you have a job posting up. So, like, who do I really need to talk to?”
- They: “You need to get in touch with XYZ. He is managing the job posting and hiring.” (They will probably introduce you to the manager themselves. If they don’t, there is no harm in asking.)
- You: “Oh okay, do you mind if I ask you to introduce me to him? Like over email or LinkedIn, anything works for me.”
- They: “Yeah, sure.”
- Introduction done, and boom. You have an interview lined up.
This method never fails. (Trust me) I have done this many times, and it works every single time. But please do not overdo this method, Use it in some situations only.
There you have it — an actionable, effective framework to make your breakthrough into tech.
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