How to Get a Great Tech Job

Every few weeks, I get an email from someone asking if I can get them a job at their favorite tech company. Sometimes I can get this process started for them, sometimes I can’t, but either way, the process of getting a job is about far more than just submitting your resume. So, here it is: getting a job in ten not-always-easy steps.  I’m going to write about each one of these in more detail.

  1. Build Raw Skills Think a few years out about what position you’d like. What do you need to do to get there?
  2. Prepare a *good* resume Great experience isn’t enough. You need to show this in your resume. Remember – a resume is not a timeline of everything you’ve done; it’s a proof of your skills.
  3. Picking the right companies To list just a few things to think about: company size, company culture, the role of someone in your position, how long the company has been around, what the company actually does, growth of the company, location, etc.
  4. Prepare a cover letter This is a company’s first introduction to you, so make it perfect.
  5. Apply! Getting your foot in the door at a company isn’t always easy, but there are a few tricks I’ve learned...
  6. Preparing for the interview Know what to expect and prepare accordingly. If you’re reading CareerCup, you’re probably off to a great start.
  7. Interview This is what it all comes down, and there’s a lot you can do to shape the outcome.
  8. Negotiate You can negotiate (almost) any offer – even if they say it’s "non-negotiable"
  9. Make a decision If you have several offers, you’re in a great spot. How do you pick the one that’s right for you?
  10. Accepting & Denying Accepting an offer is easy, but don’t forget – it’s important that you decline the offer the right way too.

Stay tuned – I’ll elaborate on each one of these in the upcoming weeks.