Landing Your First Tech Job

Photo by Resume Genius on Unsplash

In today’s job market, where companies are increasingly focused on cutting costs, finding a job might feel like a daunting challenge. However, with the U.S. and global economies still strong, there are plenty of opportunities out there—you just need the right strategy to stand out. In this article, I’ll share practical ways to boost your chances of landing an interview or job. These tips may seem like common sense, but as a senior leader in data with over 30 years of experience, I find that I’m consistently asked the same questions during university career panels or one-on-one coaching sessions with students. So, here are my top suggestions to help you succeed.

1. Start Early

Getting an early start is super important when it comes to landing a summer internship or a job, especially in STEM. Believe it or not, most university career fairs happen in October—yep, just a few weeks into the semester! That means if you wait too long, you might miss out on meeting recruiters for some of the best opportunities. For freshmen, this can be even tougher because you're probably still figuring out where your classes are, let alone prepping for a career fair. By starting early, you’ll have time to update your resume, research companies, and get comfortable talking to recruiters, so you can walk into those events feeling confident and ready to stand out.

2. Portfolio of projects

When you’re just starting out and don’t have much (or any) work experience to show off, building a strong portfolio of personal projects is a total game-changer for landing a summer internship. For STEM students, your projects can show recruiters what you’re capable of and give them a real sense of your skills. This could mean building apps, creating software, designing hardware, lab work or even getting creative with unique ideas—like coding a set of specialized programmable holiday ornaments or configuring a censor to count how many times you or your roommates have opened your mini-fridge. These projects are more than just fun; they’re proof that you can take initiative, solve problems, and apply what you’ve learned in the classroom to real-world challenges. Plus, they give you great material to talk about in interviews.

3. Networking

Building a strong network is one of the most powerful ways to set yourself up for landing that summer internship or job—and it’s something you can start right now. Don’t be shy about reaching out to anyone, whether it’s your brothers, sisters, cousins, friends of friends, parents, uncles/aunts or neighbors. These people can be valuable connections who can introduce you to others in your field or offer advice based on their own experiences. Start building your network today; you never know who might know someone at a company you’re interested in. Also, get involved with school clubs, whether they’re academic or recreational. Volunteering in these groups not only helps you gain leadership experience but also allows you to meet people with similar interests who can become part of your network.

Beyond campus clubs, consider volunteering at local meetups or conferences related to your field. This is a great way to meet professionals and even score opportunities for internships or jobs down the road. For example, a friend of mine in academia, who wanted to transition into industry, volunteered at a tech conference, DataCon LA, and a few months later, he was hired by one of the companies he helped out at the event. Volunteering can lead to unexpected connections and opportunities. As for when to start networking—don’t wait! You’re already building your network through your friends and classmates, and that’s a solid foundation. In just a few years, many of them will be working at startups or big Fortune 1000 companies, and staying in touch with them could be key when you’re looking for a referral or a job opportunity in the future. So start now, keep those connections strong, and remember .. you never know when someone might be able to help you land your dream job or vice versa.

4. LinkedIn Profile

Customizing your LinkedIn profile for your field of study or the industry where you want to land a job is vital. Your LinkedIn is often the first thing recruiters check, so you want it to look professional and tailored to your goals. Start with a solid profile picture—something clear and professional, not a party photo where you’ve cropped out your friends (trust me, recruiters will notice). Make sure your headline reflects what you’re studying or aspiring to do, like “Computer Science Student | Software Developer | Environmental Advocate.” Add a section for your skills, list any certifications you’ve earned or online courses you've completed, and showcase your projects, like apps, research, or designs, in the featured section. This gives recruiters a snapshot of what you can do and makes your profile stand out in your field. A polished LinkedIn profile can be your ticket to being discovered on the platform.

5. Customized Your Resume

Customizing your resume for each job opening is super important because it shows recruiters you’re serious about the role, have exactly what they’re looking for, and have taken the time to research the company. This extra effort demonstrates your commitment to the application and helps you stand out from other candidates. Start by making sure your resume looks professional and includes a clear headline that summarizes who you are and what you bring to the table—like “Computer Science Student with Experience in App Development” or “Aspiring Mechanical Engineer with Strong CAD Skills.”

It’s also critical to include the specific skills mentioned in the job description—such as SQL, Java, React, or IoT Development—right on your resume. Most companies use Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to screen resumes before they even reach a recruiter. Including these keywords ensures your resume scores as highly as possible, increasing your chances of moving to the next stage. Tailor your skills and experience to match the job description, and highlight your projects—whether it’s an app you built, a research project, or something creative like a hardware prototype. Your projects are proof of what you can actually do, so list them front and center. Take the time to align your resume with each specific role can be all the difference to make it to a human recruiter.

6. Skill Development

I often get the same questions: “What kind of skills do I need to get a job in data science or data analytics?” My response is always the same—I ask them which companies they’d like to work for. Students usually have an answer right away, mentioning companies like Deloitte, Facebook/Meta, Google, Apple, or Goldman Sachs. My advice? Look at the job descriptions for the roles you’d want to apply to after graduation and start building those skills now such as Cloud services, R, Jupyter Notebook, specialized algorithms you'll need to know (e.g. Bayesian Inference, Deep Learning, VR programming, realtime engine technology, etc.). It will likely take a few years to master the tools and techniques those companies are looking for, so the earlier you start, the better prepared you’ll be.

7. Interview

Interview skills are just as important as the technical skills you bring to the table when it comes to landing a job or internship. For technical interviews, you need to have your skills locked down—you might even be asked to share your LeetCode or HackerRank profile to showcase your coding abilities. Start now by building your tech skill portfolio and practicing problem-solving. But don’t forget about the behavioral portion of the interview. This part is designed to evaluate how well you communicate, handle feedback, or react to tough situations. The key to nailing it is practice. Ask a friend to mock interview you, record yourself answering questions to review your performance and watch other mock interview videos on YouTube to see how candidates answer questions and respond under pressure. Watching yourself can feel awkward, but it’s one of the best ways to improve and be more comfortable in an actual interview. You'll only get one chance in an interview so leave a strong impression.

Final Word

Landing an internship or job is a journey with countless paths to success. If you receive a polite “no, thank you” email, don’t let it discourage you. It’s not a reflection of your worth—it’s often the result of companies being overwhelmed with thousands of applications within days of posting a position. Remember, landing a job is a numbers game—the more you apply, the better your chances. Stay creative, patient, and persistent, and keep refining your skills and approach. With dedication and effort, you’ll find the role that’s meant for you!

Do you need a career coach? You can contact me here.