With new companies launching daily, renewed public and private investment in the industry and a growing community of people who support one another, now’s a pretty great time to break into the tech world.
If you’re looking for a job with a tech company but don’t really know where to begin, we’d recommend starting here on Built In — connecting tech companies and talented people like you is our specialty, after all.
But it’s not just about us. Scoring your next gig is more than just visiting our website, so we’ve created a guide to help you get a job in tech, from updating your resume to nailing networking events and more.
Just like entrepreneurs have to pitch their companies to partners and investors, you need to know how to pitch your skillset to potential employers. Figure out a few words to describe who you are and what you’re looking for — something as simple as “I just graduated from DU and I’m looking for a job as a junior developer” works just fine.
Once you’ve got a pitch locked down, it’s time to get your docs together. Create a resume that’s chock-full of your experience, accomplishments and interests. Make sure the format will allow you to customize it later on — more on that later. Look up some resume “power words,” and use numbers wherever you can. Typically, hiring managers only take a few seconds to look at your resume, so numbers will help you stand out.
It doesn’t hurt to spruce up your social media presence, either. Update your LinkedIn with a fresh avi, some recommendations from your peers and and more details about your previous work.
But having a hirable online presence goes beyond LinkedIn; if you’re a developer, consider cleaning up your GitHub profile. Designer? Dribbble it up. And if you signed up for Twitter in 2011 but haven’t touched it since, try taking a stab at sharing some content related to your field and connecting with people in the local tech community.
You’re likely to make an impression on hiring managers and other people in the field if you build a relationship with them. That means you’ve got to (net)work your ass off — in person, and online. Check out different community events and pick one or two to attend each week (we’re big fans of this little thing called Built In Brews). When you’re there, don’t be that person who walks up to someone and shoves a business card in their face before moving onto the next. Grab some food, make eye contact, and say hi to someone around you.
Want to really make an impression? Avoid asking people what they do; instead, ask about their interests, hobbies or opinions on a topic you also care about. Online, check out local Twitter chats and Slack teams. Most national, discipline-specific Slack teams have local channels, too, so be sure to join the conversation there as well.
Tech talent is in high demand in Colorado, but looking for available jobs isn’t always easy. You can find open positions on the big sites like Indeed and LinkedIn, but don’t forget about local sites, too: there are plenty of sites (including Built In Colorado) that all have plenty of jobs listed, from engineering to marketing and everything in between. Most sites also let you opt-in to email alerts, so you don’t even have to visit the sites every day to see what’s new.
Remember that ultra-detailed resume you made earlier? Now it’s time to pare it down. Tailor your documents to each job you apply to: pull out keywords from the job description, include any required technical skills you have and select the stats that best demonstrate why you’re a good fit. Research everything there is to know about the company and the position — not only does it give you a better idea of what you’re getting yourself into, but it’ll also help you when it comes time for the interview.
Photo CC0 licensed via Pixabay.
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