The journey to your first Tech Role.

So you’ve just finished your bachelor’s degree. Now what? With so many different fields in the industry, how can you choose what type of role to pursue? Do you know all the roles that are out there? It might be natural to try and apply to every available position out there–just to get in. And while there isn’t a single correct answer, there are some crucial aspects you’ll need to pay attention to before you apply–and choose the right role for you.

First, let’s begin with my own journey. My name is Orel Bello, and for the last year, I’ve been working as a DevOps Engineer on the SRE team in Melio. I started out as a Deputy Commander of the Technological Control Center in Israel Police in my military service. I then completed my BS.c In computer science, and started working as Storage And Virtualization Engineer. After a year and a half, I realized that I want to be a Devops engineer, and got into my first Devops position, right before I got into Melio.

I have a passion for assisting individuals in finding their next position, and through this blog post, I aspire to reach and help as many people as possible.

Now, let’s dive in.

Self Confidence:

The primary thing you need when job-seeking is self-confidence. One common sentence I often hear from individuals attempting to enter the High Tech industry is, “Why should anyone hire me? What do I have to offer?”

Let HR decide if you’re a good fit for the job; don’t do it for them. Believe in yourself and take pride in your accomplishments; don’t underestimate their value.

Preferred Field:

Now, it’s time to choose your preferred field. It’s okay if you don’t have one yet. Consider two essential aspects:

• What advantages do you have compared to others? Think about your unique experiences, such as self-projects, military service, or Udemy courses, which may not be traditionally defined as experience but are valuable nonetheless.
• Identify what you enjoy doing and what you excel at. If you can think of several fields of interest, that’s a good starting point. Make sure to research these fields thoroughly, and be ready with an answer when the interviewer asks why you want to be an X? If you won’t have a good answer, trust me, they will know.

Resume:

Create multiple versions of your CV for each position. For instance, if your technological stack includes C++, Java, Assembly, Python, and Android development, and you’re applying for a Data Scientist position, many of these skills might be irrelevant. It’s best to focus on Python and provide more detail about it, rather than adding unrelated programming languages to your resume.

Apply to every related position, even if you meet only 30% of the requirements. Don’t hesitate just because you’re missing a few details; apply anyway. After the process, if they want you, you’ll be in a strong position to negotiate.

LinkedIn:

One of the first challenges you will encounter will be getting an interview. So, ensure you have a proper LinkedIn profile. Here are some tips:

• Start with a good profile picture and a valid title (if you’re currently unemployed, you can use a future position title, like ‘Junior XX’).
• Connect with individuals related to your preferred fields, such as people working in companies where you’d like to work, senior programmers in your desired position, or HR professionals from various companies.
• Aim for at least 500 connections, but focus on making valid connections rather than adding everyone you come across.
• Provide details about your technical skills, technological stack, prior experience (even if it doesn’t directly relate to your preferred fields), education, courses, and certifications.

Interviews:

Interviews can be quite intimidating at first, but with enough experience, you’ll discover that most of them follow a similar pattern, and you’ll be able to handle them almost effortlessly. Your elevator speech is crucial and should be a 60-second introduction where you persuade the interviewer to hire you. It should include a brief summary of your experience, knowledge, strengths, and what you’ll bring to the position.

Prepare a project you’re proud of, whether it’s from previous roles, college, or personal time, and be ready to discuss it. Anticipate questions like ‘Why did you choose to implement it that way?’ You’ll be asked general knowledge questions, which you can practice on platforms like Glassdoor. Or, you might receive a situational question for which you’ll need to debug a problem or propose a solution.

If you’re uncertain about an answer to a general knowledge question, it’s acceptable to admit it, but avoid making something up. For situational questions, it’s recommended to think out loud, saying something like “Hmm, let’s see” or “Let’s think together,” and then propose possible solutions.

Gain experience through interviews. Each one will enhance your chances, knowledge, and self-confidence. Even if an interview goes poorly, view it as a learning experience to improve for the next time.

Improve yourself:

What can you do until you get your first position? In Israel, it may take 6 months up to a year and a half to find your first job [Hebrew]. In the meantime, consider these steps to make yourself more marketable:

• Certifications: In the IT and DevOps fields, certifications are common and can boost your resume. Look for certifications in your spare time, like AWS, to expand your knowledge and skills. Some certifications are valid for a lifetime, while others last for three years. There are different levels, such as Associate, Specialist, or Professional.
• Projects and hands-on experience: Work on projects and gain hands-on experience. Showcase your projects on GitHub to demonstrate your skills to potential employers.
• Networking: Attend meetups to learn and meet professionals from the industry. Networking can lead to new connections and opportunities in the future.
• Online learning: Utilize platforms like Udemy for affordable or free courses to gain relevant skills.
• Consider an entry-level position: Starting in an entry-level position related to your preferred field can be beneficial. It might not be your dream job, but the experience gained can set you on the right career path. For instance, if you aim to be a DevOps engineer, positions like Automation or IT (even a help-desk role) can be a stepping stone. However, if your goal is to become a Data scientist, starting as QA might not be so beneficial.
• Consider enrolling in a bootcamp, but be aware of the two kinds available:
• Paid bootcamps: These can be expensive, costing a few thousand dollars or even more (up to 20,000 NIS). They do not guarantee a job at the end of the course, but you can quit without an additional fee (although you won’t get a refund for the course fee).
• Company-backed bootcamps: Some bootcamps are free and offer guaranteed job placement at their company or other partnering firms, but this is usually limited to exceptional students. If you join, be prepared to work at the company for 2–3 years, often at a lower salary compared to other companies. Quitting early may result in a significant penalty (up to 90,000 NIS).
• As a recommendation, bootcamps can be optional and may vary in value depending on your field of interest. They can be beneficial for those without prior experience or relevant education (like a bachelor’s degree). However, if you have self-discipline and can learn independently, it might be better to consider a bootcamp as a last resort.

Never give up

Securing your first tech role may not always be easy. However, the key is to never give up, keep trying and put in effort every single day. Stay committed to the process, and success will come eventually! Best of luck!

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