🚀Entering Tech #002: How to land your first tech job

Some trivia before we begin. Answers are at the bottom of this newsletter. 

The first thing you need to know about landing your first tech job as an entry-level applicant is that it’ll probably take you months to land, and you’ll get a lot of rejection in the process. 

Don’t be worried though; this is where all your previous romantic rejections will pay off. 

As our guest, tech recruiter Joseph Gichuhi, will tell you today, there are not a lot of entry-level roles for tech on the continent. Everyone is building something and they need hands to help. 

There are a few of these roles available across the continent and in this newsletter, we’ll talk about how you can position yourself to be in the very top 1% of applicants. This is, after all, one of the few places sticking out like a sore thumb helps!

1. Build your profile: Or help the stars align. Right from the start, you need to build your profile and portfolio to match the industry and job you’re looking for. For example, designers can work on projects and showcase them on Behance while software developers or data analysts should build profiles on GitHub. Building your profile on the right platforms can help connect you with the right people. Your profile also includes your CV and the kind of information you capture on it. Information about past internships is more important than your secondary school certificate or your date of birth; capture the flag right information.

2. Take online courses: Even though they can take weeks to complete 😭.

One of the things that can set you apart from other applicants is taking the right courses. Online courses give you an intro and practical working knowledge on some key things you’ll need to work on the job. There are thousands of free courses online from places like AptLearn, Udemy, Coursera and even Google. There are also some that cost a little bit of money. If you’re applying for jobs at important companies, having certifications on certain skill sets will give you an added advantage.

For every job advert, recruiters receive hundreds of applications and they spend less than 30 seconds reviewing each application. Having the required certifications can help you stand out from the crowd and it shows you have what recruiters call a “growth mindset”.

3. Be visible, or put yourself out there: If you like talking about yourself and sharing information no one asked for—jk, don’t unsubscribe please—then take this point to heart.

One of the best ways to land your first job in tech is by making sure you’re visible. Post your certifications on LinkedIn, GitHub, and especially Twitter. Recruiters often use social media to headhunt, so make sure you’re an easy target! Share your projects, journeys, learnings from internships, and other tangible information other than your love life on social media. 

4. Follow the right people: There’s tons of important information online, like this Twitter thread about 50 free Udemy courses. Regardless of what tech role you’re looking for, there are already a bunch of experienced people who are sharing information and opportunities you can use to better yourself.

If you follow the right people in your field, like Adora Nwodo who shares opportunities in Cloud Engineering or Ire Aderinokun who runs an annual scholarship, you’ll get freebies that will help you land your first job. 

1. Don’t be a jack of all trades: Jack of all trades, master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one. This is not one of those times. If you’re looking to land your first tech job, don’t do too many things at once. Don’t start off learning UX design and port to product management just two months after. Don’t try to be a full-stack developer in your first year of coding. 

Why? Well, first because you’re learning the role and it’ll be harder to get proficient enough in one if you’re focused on too many things. Second, and most importantly, companies want to hire people who are experts at what they do; specialists. 

💡If you’re wondering what a full stack developer does, check out our quick easy-to-learn explainer on TechCabal. 

Your job applications and interviews will show how well you can explain the one role you want to be hired for, not how well you can juggle five other roles you’re not very good at. So don’t do too much, bestie.

2. Don’t wait for opportunities: Unfortunately, the world is not your oyster. It’s one oyster with one pearl, and there are many farmers who want that pearl.

Like we’ve said, there are not a lot of opportunities for entry-level tech roles so you’ll have to chase after the ones that are available. Unlike your dating pool options, there are not many fishes in the ocean. Aggressively chase your options and look for opportunities. In this edition of #EnteringTech, we’ve listed out some job boards that frequently show tech jobs; check them out every week, and apply as frequently as you can. 

3. Don’t expect things to turn out your way:You probably won’t get the first job you apply for…or the first 50 you apply for. Like any other sector, you have to be patient and consistent with your application and learning if you really want to work in tech.

It’s a long process and it may not turn out the way you expect. Elon Musk might not decide to take you under his wing as his mentee and heir 😭. Paystack probably won’t shut down because they don’t have you on the team. But if you put in the work and time, you’ll find opportunities that you can take advantage of. 

4. Don’t be afraid: to ask questions, or to fail. Birds don’t just fly, they’re constantly falling down and getting back up: that’s what progress looks like. Everyone who works in tech started off like you, with internships, with courses, or even learning on the job. The only difference is the time apart. So don’t shy away from challenges and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.