How To Land Your First Dev Job 👩💻
Setting the stage 🎭
- Think of yourself as a startup
- Think of employers as investors
- You have to be able to create value
- You have to prove that you can create value
Email Address 📨
- Stick to first and last name
- Avoid numbers and nicknames
- Stick to a modern email provider (e.g. outlook, gmail)
- An Aol or Yahoo address can make you look dated
- Using a custom domain is a great option
- Set up takes some technical know how
- Makes it easy for people to find your website
Professional Headshot 📸
- No group photos or crops from group photos
- Shoulders up
- Business casual
- Plain, non-distracting background
Github
- Great place to store and show off your work
- Contributing to open source adds to your portfolio
- Good practice for working with a future team
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LinkedIn
- Used by recruiters and hiring managers
- Makes your resume searchable
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Twitter
- Used heavily by developers
- Great way to pick up tips/tricks
- Potential avenue to share your own content
Wes Bos - CSS Tricks
Projects 🛠️
- Your website is a project
- Scratch your own itch
- Find a technology to learn more about
- Try your hand at freelance
- Search Twitter for "I wish there was an app"
Blog 📖
- Content is king
- Makes you look like an expert
- SEO
- Do a 30 day blogging challenge
- Add to your website
- Or use a platform like Dev.to
Resume 📄
- Work history, education, languages, tools, contact info etc.
- Keep formatting consistent
- Black and white version for automated systems
- Proofread! Proofread! Proofread!
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Cover Letter 📃
- Gives you a chance to
- Tell a bit about yourself
- Show your excitement for the opportunity
- Customize it for each job application
- Keep it to a single page
Example 1 - Example 2
Applying 📋
- You don't need to hit every requirement
- Don't try to "spray and pray"
- Do your research
- Customize each application
- File names (e.g. resume, cover letter)
- Introduction email
Interview 🤝
- Be prepared to answer technical questions
- Don't be afraid to admit you don't know
- Bring questions to ask
- Offer to do a test project
Interview Followup 🗓️
- Always send a thank you email
- Followup if you don't hear back
- Don't be afraid to ask for feedback/advice
- Always be polite after a rejection
