How to land your first job in software development

Wondering what it takes to get a foot in the door with a tech business? Working in a dead-end industry and thinking you’d be better off future-proofing yourself by learning how to code? Applying for developer jobs but not hearing back? Then read on!

It’s hard to hire developers at the moment.

The low unemployment rate, gargantuan skills gap and continued messy political situation (I know ‘Brexit is done’, but let’s be honest, it’s not really) all mean that there are fewer qualified or experienced people applying for specialist jobs than ever before.

We’ve also seen EU net migration drop to its lowest level for 16 years. While it’s tricky to find data for the skillsets that have chosen to relocate to other EU countries, it’s not hard to imagine that if you’re an in-demand, well-traveled, international software engineer, you might choose to go someone that’s perceived to be less hostile than post-Brexit Britain.

It’s hard enough for global and wealthy businesses to hire developers in 2020, so what hope does a small start-up or local digital agency that no one has heard of have?

The best companies are having to think outside the box when hiring technical talent. That’s where you come in.

What does this all mean for you?

Businesses need developers and technical skillsets. Hell, the country needs them, too.

You know all those job ads you read that state: “Junior Developer — 2 years’ experience needed”? I’ll let you in on a little secret. It’s rare that they hire someone with 2 years’ actual experience. It’s far more likely that they’ll hire someone with one-year open-source or hobbyist experience.

Hiring managers want to speak with people who are committed to a career in technology. If you’ve played around with a bit of HTML and CSS, and have decided that a career in tech is for you, that’s brilliant — but you need more to go on before you start applying for your first role. To get the best jobs in the best development teams, it’s important that you have something to show when you reach out to them.

Spend a year learning how to code in your preferred language and build up your portfolio. Your first creation should be your personal website, with links to your GitHub, Stack Overflow and any personal projects you’ve worked on. If you’re involved in any open-source stuff, put it on here.

A personal website showcasing all the stuff you’ve been working on will carry more weight than a CV will. It shows you’re committed and demonstrates your level of ability.

What to look for in your first job

There’s no definitive route into software engineering, but here are some pointers that will help you get your career off on the right foot.

• You will have spent a year (or more) learning how to code by yourself, so when you take your first job, choose somewhere with a mentor you respect — you’ll learn so much more than if you listened to someone you already don’t think is up to scratch.
• Choose somewhere with a track record of progressing Juniors to Seniors.
• Go somewhere that interests you! You’re going to be committing a minimum of 2 years to this place, so if it’s not somewhere you’re bought in to, that time will drag.
• Beware of businesses that offer to take you on at a really low salary so you can get experience. If they’re offering, say, £18,000, chances are that they’re underpaying their Senior Devs, too. You’ll be learning from people who don’t recognise their value, which means they’re probably not as strong as they could be. If you’re going to learn from someone, make sure they know their stuff.
• Focus on the places that will give you a solid foundation in software engineering instead of going with who’s using the latest JavaScript framework. Don’t get me wrong, it’s important that you’re working with modern technologies (stay clear of VB and Perl!), but building quality software in a well-drilled team should be your number one priority

What should be on your CV?

Whilst you’re personal website is the best way to showcase your skills, a CV still has it’s place. Every recruiter and hiring manager has a different idea about what a good CV looks like, so instead of recommending a format, I’m going to focus on what’s important — the content.

Your personal profile is a short snapshot that tells your personal story. A lot of people skim over this, or include meaningless statements along the lines of “team player but still brilliant alone”. Don’t! This is your opportunity to tell a story beyond your education and work experience.

Things to think about in your profile include:

• Why would someone hire you over someone else?
• What made you want to learn to code?
• What are you like to work with?
• What transferable skills do you have?
• What are your ambitions?

Make your profile set the tone for the CV ahead. Keep it to a short paragraph, or a few lines, so the hiring manager’s eyes don’t drift over it. You can use it on your personal website, too.

Aside from a personal profile, make sure you include the following info:

• Key skills (technical and soft)
• Links to personal website, personal projects and open-source
• Education and courses (completed Udemy or Pluralsight courses? Make sure you include them, too!)
• Career-to-date

How to find your first job?

So, you’ve been coding for around a year and you’re ready to start applying. You’ve put together a personal website and a CV you’re proud of. What should you do next?

Keep an eye on the usual job boards so you know when relevant vacancies come up. Set up alerts on Stack Overflow, Google for Jobs, Reed and any leading local job boards to make sure you know when new junior vacancies are released. While it’s good to know what’s out there, it’s rare that you’ll land your dream job this way.

Instead, focus your energy on building out your professional network. Attend meetups and events, find businesses that you identify with and connect with them, and ask for recommendations from people working in the industry.

Most cities host regular programming user groups. In Brighton, we’re lucky to have PHP Sussex, Brighton Kotlin, Async, Brighton Java and .NET South East. All are free to attend and will welcome newcomers with open arms. Hays Digital Tech co-host and sponsor PHP Sussex and Brighton Kotlin, so if you read this and come along, make sure you say hello!

Not only will you learn, but you’ll also meet people in your community who are working with technologies you’re trying to master. They could suggest open-source projects for you to work on, other developers to connect with, or vacancies they’ve heard of.

If you’re learning how to code still, and are from a group of people who are underrepresented in tech, take a look at Codebar. They meet every week to help juniors learn how to code and operate out of cities across the UK. This article is based on notes from a workshop I put together to help their Brighton members find their first job. They’ll do all they can to support you getting into the industry,

The more you build out your personal network, the more opportunities you’ll find. Instead of waiting for vacancies to appear on job boards, you’ll be able to hear about them first, before others do.

If you find a business or organisation that you really identify with, but they’re not recruiting, still reach out to them. Connect with their development team on LinkedIn or Twitter and let them know you’re interested in them. If you’re making an approach this way, make sure you personalise it — 20 identical messages to 20 different businesses will never have as much impact as one unique message to a business you’ve investigated. They might not be recruiting now, but when they are, you’ll be top of the pile.

Things to keep in mind when applying for jobs

It’s worth noting that it’s incredibly rare for candidates to tick every box on a job specification, so if you don’t think you’re quite strong enough but love the look of the business, still apply. It won’t do any harm!

The same goes for mid-weight jobs that look like they need a bit more experience. If you see a job advert posted repeatedly, chances are they’re struggling to find the right person. Instead of applying, reach out to their dev team to see if they’d be open to a conversation. It could turn out that they don’t really need someone with a couple of years’ experience and the stuff you’ve been doing on the side is more than enough for their requirements.

If you’ve spent hundreds of hours learning how to code, attending meetups and building personal projects, you’ve proven that you care about the industry. Can you think of many other jobs where people learn their trade for the love of it?

Any organisation would be lucky to hire someone who’s put this much effort into their potential career, so be confident in your job search. Passion and motivation count for a lot. Be proud of the work you’ve put in, and you’ll find your dream job in no time!

Luke is a tech recruiter who has operated both in-house and agency side. Now, he helps businesses hire the best software engineers in Sussex. You’ll usually find him advising devs on potential career moves in a pub or coffee shop somewhere in The Lanes.

Kicking off your job search or looking to hire? Connect with him on LinkedIn here, follow him on Twitter here or email him at Luke.Thompson@hays.com.