3-12 Months
Next Steps!
Make sure you are exposing yourself to the right kinds of projects and opportunities to make you stand out as a candidate. Continue building on your independent project work and expanding your network, but also introduce the following:
Get Involved with Hackathons
Hackathons are a great way to gain experience in programming, while working in a collaborative environment. These events will teach you to how work efficiently under a tight deadline, broaden your professional network and lead you to create something amazing. Be sure to check take advantage of these unique and challenging experiences by finding hackathons through Meetup, Eventbrite, Hacker League or Startup Weekend.
Recommended resources: What is a Hackathon (video), Using Hackathons to your Advantage!
Draft Your Resume
Create a resume and format it in a way that you think will best reflect your skills in a concise manner. You can find many sample resumes online pertaining to the industry that can help you along the way. Monster.com and JobSearch both have a great selection of sample resumes that are sorted by professions and job titles within tech.
Recommended resources: Resume Tips for Technology Professionals, Five Apps for Building Your Resume and Keeping it Tuned Up (video)
Mock Interviews
Practice makes perfect...sense. There’s no way you can prepare for every possible question that may be asked of you. However, by participating in mock interviews, you can improve on your presentation skills and learn what key parts of your background may work for specific situations. Be sure to treat them as you would an actual interview. That means dressing up in the right attire as well. Practice sessions like these will increase your confidence, make you more articulate and better equip you for questions and problems presented in an interview.
Recommended resources: Mock Interviews Can Help Secure the Job, Interview Practice Makes Perfect
Research Tech Companies
Have you thought about what specific companies you would want to work for? Remember, internships are a great way to get your foot in the door and they can often lead to full-time job opportunities after college. Take the time to research companies that may interest you—not just their products, but also their mission and the kind of work environment they offer. You want to make sure you work for a company that aligns with your professional goals and offers you great experience and growth.
Recommended resources: CrunchBase, Glassdoor
Make sure you are exposing yourself to the right kinds of projects and opportunities to make you stand out as a candidate. Continue building on your independent project work and expanding your network, but also introduce the following:
Get Involved with Hackathons
Hackathons are a great way to gain experience in programming, while working in a collaborative environment. These events will teach you to how work efficiently under a tight deadline, broaden your professional network and lead you to create something amazing. Be sure to check take advantage of these unique and challenging experiences by finding hackathons through Meetup, Eventbrite, Hacker League or Startup Weekend.
Recommended resources: What is a Hackathon (video), Using Hackathons to your Advantage!
Draft Your Resume
Create a resume and format it in a way that you think will best reflect your skills in a concise manner. You can find many sample resumes online pertaining to the industry that can help you along the way. Monster.com and JobSearch both have a great selection of sample resumes that are sorted by professions and job titles within tech.
Recommended resources: Resume Tips for Technology Professionals, Five Apps for Building Your Resume and Keeping it Tuned Up (video)
Mock Interviews
Practice makes perfect...sense. There’s no way you can prepare for every possible question that may be asked of you. However, by participating in mock interviews, you can improve on your presentation skills and learn what key parts of your background may work for specific situations. Be sure to treat them as you would an actual interview. That means dressing up in the right attire as well. Practice sessions like these will increase your confidence, make you more articulate and better equip you for questions and problems presented in an interview.
Recommended resources: Mock Interviews Can Help Secure the Job, Interview Practice Makes Perfect
Research Tech Companies
Have you thought about what specific companies you would want to work for? Remember, internships are a great way to get your foot in the door and they can often lead to full-time job opportunities after college. Take the time to research companies that may interest you—not just their products, but also their mission and the kind of work environment they offer. You want to make sure you work for a company that aligns with your professional goals and offers you great experience and growth.
Recommended resources: CrunchBase, Glassdoor
