This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Eliot Sanford
How can anyone escape the tech chicken and the egg conundrum?
Like so many people these days, one of the hardest things is to get that first tech job with no experience. Whether you're a recent college grad, bootcamp grad, or a self-taught code newbie, most of these people are having this issue finding that first job.
It's the chicken and the egg problem. Which came first? It's the first job in tech and the lack of work experience problem. Which came first?
How does anyone get a job without experience? They have no experience and no one is letting them get experience. How can anyone break in then?
There are a few key ways to stop the chicken and the egg problems and the hang-ups that employers can have when hiring junior developers.
One important way to gain some of traction with LinkedIn and your resume is to volunteer to get relevant tech experience.
Review job descriptions for entry-level roles that you're applying for, then find ways to volunteer to gain primary skills related to those job descriptions.
Make sure that when you volunteer that you put your best value into making it a success for the people that you've volunteered. Show up early. Stay late. Do things that no one wants to do, and make sure that you communicate through the issue. Find ways to reduce the burden on the leader. If no one is stepping up to lead, then step up and lead. Seek ways to fill into the gaps that employers want to see from you.
If you're volunteering is 20+ hours per week, then it's worthy of "internship" work experience. If it's education, then it needs to be in the education section only. Aim to have tech volunteering experiences that can be put into work experience because it was worthy of internship work experience.
Along the way, plug all your big win volunteer experiences into your resume and the featured section on LinkedIn. Ideally, you've got some front facing production code that you can be proud of and can give you conversation starters for interviews.
Another important way to show your value is to learn how to tell your story well in written form and in conversation. Collect all your relevant experiences and make them shine.
Giving anyone reviewing your resume and LinkedIn profile a reason to think, "this person is a noob" (even if it is true) is the quickest way to be dismissed.
Give them reasons to believe that you're a professional with some valuable entry-level experience already.
See ways to again volunteer and remove this stigma.
Another great way to improve your chances of getting hired is through recommendations. Once you've finished that experience, seek feedback whether you brought them value. If they say "Thank you. You were amazing.", then don't be shy to ask for a recommendation and ask whether they know someone hiring.
This step can remove doubts from employers that you're a noob that will need lots of hand-holding because others are saying that you're not a noob but a profession.
Look at what they say about your skills and jot those down for yourself before you forget what you did. Add it to your LinkedIn and resume. Put those highlights into bullets.
The last thing is being active in your network to build your reputation as a person worthy of a referral.
Your network is filled with people that want to help you out. Get to know them. Find ways to help them out. Initially be genuine and seek nothing in return. Use the steps I've highlighted above and aim to be a helpful volunteer on a short-term basis.
Sometimes those people don't have opportunities to share in the now, but six months later something comes up where they know of a junior developer role that would be perfect for someone looking to break in. Who might be top of their mind at that moment? Aim to make that person you.
Build those experience to the next level, repeat. It won't happen overnight but start somewhere, then over time you'll build some experience and have better stories to tell in conversations with others in your network and in interviews.
Seize the opportunities. Play this out and see where it can take you. You can do it.
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Eliot Sanford
Eliot Sanford | Sciencx (2021-10-29T15:27:24+00:00) Which came first work experience or the first tech job?. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2021/10/29/which-came-first-work-experience-or-the-first-tech-job/
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