Hacking the Tech Job Market: How to Stand Out and Get Noticed
Alright, I’m going to say the quiet part out loud: “Getting your first job in tech takes a lot of luck.” Unless you’re born lucky, with amazing connections right out of university and a padded resume, finding your first job after university will be tough.
I was lucky. My brother studied Electrical Engineering and is 11 years older than me. Without him, I wouldn’t have gotten into tech, most likely growing old on the farm I was born and raised on. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, I own a farm myself now, but my life would have been completely different without that luck.
He helped me get an internship. While it was pure nepotism, since he owned the tiny 12-employee finance company, I was happy to be his IT support and apprentice programmer. I got even more lucky, landing a job at Microsoft’s Tellme Networks as my very first “big kid job.” What a story that was, I was living in L.A. flying up to Mountain View, got into a car accident on my drive to the airport, and went to the wrong Microsoft office. I walked 45 minutes to my interview because I couldn’t afford a cab. Sweaty and sulking, I was sure I wouldn’t get the gig. They appreciated my tenacity and I started three weeks later as av-dash or contractor, which eventually turned into full-time employment. I slept in my truck for the first month in the Google parking lot before I had enough to get my first apartment.
Regardless the amount of luck we’ve been dealt, there are tips and tricks to landing that first job. Cracking the Coding Interview, the holy grail of technical coding interview by Gayle Laakmann McDowell comes to mind, but even before that, your resume is what gets your foot in the door.
Now, who am I to talk to you about getting a job in Tech? No one, really, but I have had my fair share of incredible tech jobs throughout my 17 years of experience in Silicon Valley. I’ve also conducted at least 1,500 interviews in my career, a majority of those coming from my time at Uber, where 4 interviews a week weren’t uncommon.
So, let’s talk about your resume. In my experience, recruiters are the ones looking at your resume, so make sure you know your target audience.
Here are a few tips to make your resume stand out
1. Tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for. Highlight the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the position. This shows that you’ve done your research and are genuinely interested in the role. Here’s a sample of my resume from my time at Scale AI. Notice how I can tailor my resume by highlighting the parts I think would be most interesting to a hiring manager.
2. Quantify your achievements whenever possible. Instead of simply listing your responsibilities, focus on the impact you made. Notice how “improved latency from 900ms down to 400ms” is more powerful than “decreased latency.” Read more about the Reverse Proxy that made it happen.
3. Keep it concise and easy to read. Recruiters and hiring managers often have to sift through hundreds of resumes. Make sure yours is easy to scan by using clear headings, bullet points, and a clean layout. I recently just condensed all of my experience at Google down to my title and tenure. It was a sad day, marking 3 amazing years at my first startup into a bullet point, but if your resume is over 2 pages, even with nearly 20 years of experience, you’re doing something wrong.
4. Showcase your personal projects. Add your GitHub profile. If you have any relevant side projects or open-source contributions, make sure to include them. This demonstrates your passion for technology and your ability to take initiative.
5. Don’t forget the basics. Double-check for typos, ensure consistent formatting, and include your contact information. A small mistake can be the difference between getting an interview and getting passed over. Pass your resume through an LLM and ask for feedback. Use every tool at your disposal. Every other candidate is. You don’t even need a complicated prompt, something like: “Please review my resume and give me constructive feedback.” If you have a job description you’re applying for you can include that too. The LLM can help you tailor your content (see bullet point 1).
Remember, your resume is your first impression. It’s worth investing time to get it right.
Cast a wide net
When you’re just starting out in tech, it’s crucial to cast a wide net. Don’t get too hung up on finding the perfect job in your desired discipline right off the bat. Trust me, I’ve been there. My first gig was an IT internship at my brother’s small finance company. It wasn’t glamorous, but it got my foot in the door.
From there, I jumped to a Network Operations Center (NOC), then transitioned into Site Reliability Engineering (SRE). From there, I kept exploring and wound up writing provisioning infrastructure, both in a physical data center and in the cloud, then I explored life as a distributed systems programmer, then moved into security, and now I’m focused on AI Security Risk. Each of these roles taught me something new and valuable, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without that diverse experience.
So, my advice? Don’t pigeonhole yourself. Unless you’re a specialist like a Machine Learning Engineer (MLE), be open to trying different roles and disciplines. You might discover a passion for something you never even considered. And even if a job doesn’t seem like your dream gig, it can still provide valuable experience and skills that will serve you well throughout your career. Hell, the goal early in your career should really be to attach yourself to the most talented team you can find. Speaking of Scale is hiring.
When you’re looking for your first job, apply to anything and everything that seems even remotely interesting. Attend job fairs, join online communities, and keep an eye on job boards. You never know where an opportunity might lead. And if a job comes along that seems like a good fit, even if it’s not exactly what you had in mind? Jump on it. Every experience is a chance to learn and grow. I’ve always been partial to startups, but they aren’t for everyone. Apply anyways.
Remember, your career is a journey. I took an entire year off in 2017 and traveled around the world. I took the opportunity to explore other careers entirely. I explored different paths and tried new things. The more diverse your experience, the more valuable you’ll be as an employee and the better equipped you’ll be to handle whatever challenges come your way. So cast that net wide, and see what amazing opportunities you can reel in!
Leverage your network
I know it sounds cliche, but it’s true: who you know matters. In fact, every job I’ve gotten since my first gig at Tellme has been through a friend or connection. Talent works with talent, so once you’ve got your foot in the door, your network becomes your most valuable asset. It is also paramount that you establish and maintain your brand.
Start building your network early. Attend industry events, join relevant organizations, and connect with people in your field. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people you admire for informational interviews. These conversations can provide valuable insights into the industry and may even lead to job opportunities down the line.
LinkedIn is a powerful tool for building your professional network, so make sure your profile is up-to-date and engage with others in your field. Share your thoughts on industry trends, comment on others’ posts, and join relevant groups. The more active you are, the more likely you are to get noticed by potential employers or collaborators.
And don’t forget about your existing connections. Stay in touch with former colleagues, classmates, and even friends from other industries. You never know when someone might know of a job opening or be able to introduce you to a key contact. The tech world is smaller than you think, and your next big break could come from an unexpected place.
Remember, building a strong network takes time and effort, but it’s well worth the investment. Your connections can open doors, provide valuable advice, and support you throughout your career. So start building those relationships now, and watch your career opportunities grow.
Note: I realized I skipped over the interview process in this post. That’s a whole topic in itself and one that I’ll definitely cover in a future article. In the meantime, let me know in the comments what specific aspects of the interview process you’d like me to address, whether it’s tips for conducting interviews as a hiring manager or strategies for acing your own job interviews. I’m here to share my experience and insights, so don’t be shy about asking!
From crafting a standout resume to casting a wide net and leveraging your network, these strategies have been key to my own success in the tech industry. But the truth is, everyone’s journey is different. The most important thing is to stay open to opportunities, keep learning and growing, and never be afraid to take a chance on yourself.
Now, I want to hear from you. What’s your biggest challenge when it comes to landing a job in tech? What tips or tricks have worked for you? And if there’s a topic you’d like me to dive into in a future post, let me know in the comments. I’m here to share my knowledge and experiences, but I’m also always eager to learn from others.
If you’d like to connect with me directly, feel free to reach out on LinkedIn. But before you do, think about how you can provide value. Share an article you think I’d find interesting, offer a unique perspective on a topic I’ve written about, or even just share a funny meme that made you think of me. The best connections are built on mutual value and respect, not just a random add.
Speaking of providing value, I want to give a special shout-out to Hamad Ur Rehman, who encouraged me to start writing on Medium. Not only did that advice help me reach a wider audience and monetize my content, but it also sparked the idea for this very post. Thank you, Hamad. Your input and support mean more than you know.
To everyone else, keep hustling, keep learning, and keep being your awesome selves. The tech world needs your unique talents and perspectives, so don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. And if you ever need a pep talk or some advice from someone who’s been there? You know where to find me.
