How to Get Your First Software Developer Job

I’m sure you know that getting your first software developer job is the hardest. On average, it takes new software developers 5–12 months to get hired.

If you’re trying to get your first software developer job, the high-level steps are:

1. Find job openings that most closely match your skills
2. Educate yourself to close any gaps between your skills and the job requirements
3. Apply for positions where your skills overlap
4. Research the target companies to give yourself an edge during the interview
5. Network with current employees at the companies in an attempt to stand out, using:

• Cold emails
• LinkedIn
• In-person events (meetups, conferences, etc.)

1. Pass the interview
2. Accept the offer (possibly for a salary below market)

The tech world is constantly evolving, and that means your job prospects as a software developer will change along with it.

Many new programmers enter the field every year but unemployment rates for new developers are high.

The good news is that despite being one of the most competitive positions out there, landing your first software developer position isn’t impossible either.

Below, we’ll cover everything from finding an entry-level programming job to negotiating salary, benefits, and more.

What is a software developer?

A software developer is someone who helps to create new software for a company. Software developers are involved in every stage of the development process, from idea conception and design to implementation.

Many software developers spend their time writing code at work, but it’s not solely a desk job; some software developers also work on research, design, marketing, testing, and more.

Find entry-level programming jobs

While landing your first software developer position won’t be easy, you should start by searching for open positions.

Your best bet is to search on Indeed or LinkedIn, where you can find openings that match your skill set. If you’re interested in a particular company, make sure to research the company’s specific needs and requirements for software development positions.

You should try to find at least 20 job postings that have overlapping requirements rather than applying to many different positions.

If the majority of the job postings list a skill or technology you do not have experience in, you should do your best to learn the skill and add it to your resume while you’re job-hunting to improve your qualifications.

Research the company

As you’re looking at job postings, be sure to check out the company’s website if it has one.

By looking at their website, you can see what projects they’re working on, which technologies they use, and how much experience will be necessary for that position.

Read about the company — specifically target their about page, figure out what their mission and vision are, and try to understand what problem they’re trying to solve by filling their open role.

• Are they trying to implement a new application like a financial system?
• Research the new application for a high-level understanding
• Are they growing fast and need more software developers to keep up with product demand?
• Try to learn what has led to increased demand for their product
• Are they switching between two different technologies and need someone who understands the old or new one?
• Learn about the old and new technologies for context in the interview

If you can answer the question of why they’re hiring, you can better prepare for the interview by tailoring your generic responses to what you believe the company is seeking.

Additionally, when it’s your turn to ask questions, you can ask much more specific questions, which will show interest in the company and increase your chances of impressing the hiring manager or team.

Be sure to check out the company on review sites and social media as well. You never know what you’ll learn about their culture or team.

The good, the bad, and the ugly of job search strategies

The first thing you need to know about getting your first software developer position is that it’s not going to happen overnight.

The tech industry is constantly evolving.

The process of finding a job as a software developer will be different than what people experienced just five years ago. What used to be an easy way to enter the field has gotten harder and many new programmers are struggling.

With this said, there are some online strategies you can use to help land your first software developer position.

There are three main strategies that you can use in your job search:

• Cold emailing
• Attending events
• Reaching out on social media

Cold emailing is a good strategy if you have something unique or clever on your resume that makes you stand out from the crowd. An example of this would be if you were able to find an interesting algorithm that could help with self-driving cars; this would make for a unique experience in the field that no one else has done before.

Attending events is also a good strategy but it’s more for people who already have connections in the community or have been involved with open source software development communities. These types of opportunities may not exist for you yet but by putting yourself in these environments, you can start building those connections.

Social media is another great tool at your disposal when trying to get your first software developer position because it provides people with a platform where they can showcase their skills and achievements within their field. You can also find recruiters and hiring managers on social media and reach out to them directly.

Negotiating salary on your first job

To start, you should do your research and learn what other software developers in the same industry are making. You’ll have to make an educated guess to determine where you are in terms of experience and skill level, but it’s better to aim too high rather than too low.

Make sure your salary is reasonable by clarifying expectations during the start of the interview process — preferably during the first call or conversation with the recruiter.

Here’s some advice on how to get a higher starting salary: Negotiate growth opportunities.

Since this is your first job as a software developer, you’ll have the opportunity to work within a company that can provide future advancement opportunities.

For example, ask for more training budget or the job training time in order to get more out of your career as a software developer.

If there’s something you’re not satisfied with during the negotiation process (lack of learning opportunities, delayed benefits, vacation time), negotiate for upgrades in skills or compensation accordingly.

Don’t let the hiring company dictate their salary: Find out what they expect before negotiating and stick to those expectations (for example, don’t offer a lower starting salary if they want something higher).

Simply letting the company dictate the salary is rarely effective because the recruiter’s job is to help the company find employees while protecting its budget. This doesn’t mean every company wants the cheapest candidates possible, it just means the recruiter will start with a low number to see if it meets your expectations.

Get creative: Sometimes it helps if you think outside the box when negotiating. Many candidates will ask for a higher salary, but not every candidate will ask for:

• A higher bonus
• Increased stock options
• More paid time off
• Relocation assistance
• More training budget/time
• A home office stipend
• Cell phone or internet reimbursement

Benefits of working in your first software developer job

The most obvious benefit of working in your first programming job is the experience that you gain.

It’s not just a set-up salary and benefits, it’s an opportunity to learn everything there is to know about software development.

The more experience you have, the better chance you have of landing a job at a bigger company with more resources. This means potential higher pay in the future as well as a larger network of contacts and opportunities for advancement.

For your first job, you should prioritize growth and learning over compensation.

Ideally, you will get exposure to a fair number of programming languages, multiple technology stacks, cloud development, and more.

Take advantage of opportunities to grow.

Also, be sure to network with other employees once you get hired and stay in touch when you or they leave. Your network will be extremely valuable as you move forward and upward in your career. If getting a job offer without interviewing is appealing to you, networking is the way to do it.

Final thoughts on how to get your first software developer job

Regardless of where you start, it’s important to know what types of jobs are available in the field and what you need to do to get them.

The first thing you should do is figure out what kind of software development position you want.

Next, do some research on the companies hiring for that type of position, get a good understanding of their company history and culture, and find out about their company values.

After that, create a list of all the skills required for the position and shadow or practice technical interviews with potential employers if possible.

You may not get everything you want out of your first job, but each job in the future will be easier because you’ll have experience.

Be prepared to put in the work throughout your career and have a positive attitude towards everything you do! Good luck on your job hunt!

If you have any other questions that I can help answer, please let me know in the comments below.

How to Get Your First Software Developer Job - Career Beast