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How to gain experience for big tech companies
I have a Computer Science AS degree and do not have work experience. I find myself in a tough spot. However, I am still continuing my studies, but I need to start getting some real work experience according to my professors. I do not know where to start or where could I get accepted to get experience. My resume is pretty bland because of the lack of work experience. So, I kinda fear that I won't be accepted anywhere. #career #tech
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8 answers
Updated
Ricardo’s Answer
I would look for internships in order to get that work experience--you should be able to find some through your college or independently online. If there are any career fairs go to them and talk to the recruiters--this might be difficult with the current COVID19 situation. I would also make a list of any companies that you would want to be a part of and check if they have internship opportunities, sending out an email is totally fine. Don't rule out smaller companies as well, even if they don't have something online you could call or email them to find out. It's a numbers game as well so you can't just pick one company and hope that you'll get it, you need to apply to many in order to improve your odds of getting an internship. Keep applying year around, by the time summer comes around most internship spots are already filled.
Don't rule out open source as well, there are a lot of software projects that are eager to get participation from people. https://opensource.com/education/16/1/how-students-get-started-open-source might help point you in some direction.
Don't put this off until you're ready to graduate, this is preparation for when you start looking for a job since it's much easier to find a job once you have some initial experience.
Good luck!
Don't rule out open source as well, there are a lot of software projects that are eager to get participation from people. https://opensource.com/education/16/1/how-students-get-started-open-source might help point you in some direction.
Don't put this off until you're ready to graduate, this is preparation for when you start looking for a job since it's much easier to find a job once you have some initial experience.
Good luck!
Thank you, I will do my best to list thing appropriately by thorough research on companies I want to apply.
Ramiro
Updated
Nikita’s Answer
Hi Ramiro,
Here are a couple of things that might help you.
1. Independent Projects
-- I think practical experience doesn't only come through internships or jobs, projects also play a vital role in the implementation of your theoretical concepts to actual real-life working examples. Pick up any technology you like, grab some problem statement, and start building a solution from scratch. Trust me you will get to learn a lot if you try building something(some software/tool/application) from scratch. Companies definitely look for the projects that you have on your resume.
2. Online courses
-- There are good certification courses that also have some projects as part of their curriculum. You can look for such courses based on your liking and domain that you are interested in. Websites like courses, udacity, edx have some excellent Computer Science courses. I would suggest taking a look at them.
3. Volunteer work
-- During the current COVID times, there are some organizations that need help with building some apps or some kind of tools for them. Try searching for such opportunities. They might be unpaid but the experience that you would gain from them would be invaluable.
4. Learn some new Skill, programming language or concepts
-- You might also want to learn something new like a new programming language or some new technology that interests you. This is also counted as an experience as you would be learning something new which will be useful to you in the long run. There are a variety of topics and domains like Machine Learning and AI with a wide scope and a lot to learn.
5. Internships
-- Try searching for internship positions on websites like Linkedin, indeed, glassdoor which have a lot of listings for open positions. Feel free to message people on Linkedin if you spot any open job position that interests you. You can also reach out to your seniors or some connections on Linkedin who would be willing to refer you for a particular position. I would suggest you to keep applying to listings and network as much as possible. Networking would be challenging during these times but you can also connect with and talk to people on Linkedin. That way you get to know about what various companies are doing and get a headstart with industry life.
I hope this helps you. All the best!! :-)
Here are a couple of things that might help you.
1. Independent Projects
-- I think practical experience doesn't only come through internships or jobs, projects also play a vital role in the implementation of your theoretical concepts to actual real-life working examples. Pick up any technology you like, grab some problem statement, and start building a solution from scratch. Trust me you will get to learn a lot if you try building something(some software/tool/application) from scratch. Companies definitely look for the projects that you have on your resume.
2. Online courses
-- There are good certification courses that also have some projects as part of their curriculum. You can look for such courses based on your liking and domain that you are interested in. Websites like courses, udacity, edx have some excellent Computer Science courses. I would suggest taking a look at them.
3. Volunteer work
-- During the current COVID times, there are some organizations that need help with building some apps or some kind of tools for them. Try searching for such opportunities. They might be unpaid but the experience that you would gain from them would be invaluable.
4. Learn some new Skill, programming language or concepts
-- You might also want to learn something new like a new programming language or some new technology that interests you. This is also counted as an experience as you would be learning something new which will be useful to you in the long run. There are a variety of topics and domains like Machine Learning and AI with a wide scope and a lot to learn.
5. Internships
-- Try searching for internship positions on websites like Linkedin, indeed, glassdoor which have a lot of listings for open positions. Feel free to message people on Linkedin if you spot any open job position that interests you. You can also reach out to your seniors or some connections on Linkedin who would be willing to refer you for a particular position. I would suggest you to keep applying to listings and network as much as possible. Networking would be challenging during these times but you can also connect with and talk to people on Linkedin. That way you get to know about what various companies are doing and get a headstart with industry life.
I hope this helps you. All the best!! :-)
Thank you, I appreciate the informative suggestions. 2/5 suggestions are things I am already doing. Volunteer, Independent Projects, and Internships are the ones that I haven't tried yet. I will try to start an Independent Project or do Volunteer work.
Ramiro
Updated
Satinderjeet’s Answer
Try to look for internships, even though they may be hard to get at this time.
you can work on some collage automation projects. Try to publish content in your field like research work. Linked in can be a great place to start looking for even unpaid jobs for handson business experience. Look online for people who are looking for technical people to collaborate or join some technical NGO work. Good Luck!
you can work on some collage automation projects. Try to publish content in your field like research work. Linked in can be a great place to start looking for even unpaid jobs for handson business experience. Look online for people who are looking for technical people to collaborate or join some technical NGO work. Good Luck!
Updated
Nicole’s Answer
Ramiro
1. Try and find an internship- This allows you not only to get on the job experience but allows you to get to know how a tech company works. This could also get you some new people that work in the industry to get advice from (a Mentor)
2. Try and find a part time job or volunteer. The more that you can get on the job experience the better you will be.
3. Ask professors and classmates if they know of any projects that are going on that you could use your skill set. This may be another way to find some real life experience.
Good luck in your search!
Nicole
1. Try and find an internship- This allows you not only to get on the job experience but allows you to get to know how a tech company works. This could also get you some new people that work in the industry to get advice from (a Mentor)
2. Try and find a part time job or volunteer. The more that you can get on the job experience the better you will be.
3. Ask professors and classmates if they know of any projects that are going on that you could use your skill set. This may be another way to find some real life experience.
Good luck in your search!
Nicole
Updated
Pratim’s Answer
Hi Ramiro,
I had a similar feeling when too when I was starting out in college.
1. Keep working on up-skilling yourself with programming languages and the technologies used in industries.
2. Participate in college competitions and hackathons. This shows that your interest beyond books.
3. There are always opportunities available where you study, maybe with your professor or other Computer Science projects that the college is working on. You can put this on your resume too.
4. Try to find Internships, paid or unpaid. Its still an experience you will have. Even if the project assigned is something you don't like, look beyond as there is always something to learn from it.
5. Do self projects on Machine Learning or any other field of your choice, post the code on GitHub.
6. Participate and contribute to Open Source Software. There are communities that are looking for new developers. Google Summer of Code is an excellent program for doing this which pays you for participating in Open Source. There are other such online programs as well.
Keep working towards it, ask your peers/connections on what opportunities would be best for you.
All the Best! Have an exciting journey.
I had a similar feeling when too when I was starting out in college.
1. Keep working on up-skilling yourself with programming languages and the technologies used in industries.
2. Participate in college competitions and hackathons. This shows that your interest beyond books.
3. There are always opportunities available where you study, maybe with your professor or other Computer Science projects that the college is working on. You can put this on your resume too.
4. Try to find Internships, paid or unpaid. Its still an experience you will have. Even if the project assigned is something you don't like, look beyond as there is always something to learn from it.
5. Do self projects on Machine Learning or any other field of your choice, post the code on GitHub.
6. Participate and contribute to Open Source Software. There are communities that are looking for new developers. Google Summer of Code is an excellent program for doing this which pays you for participating in Open Source. There are other such online programs as well.
Keep working towards it, ask your peers/connections on what opportunities would be best for you.
All the Best! Have an exciting journey.
Updated
Hamish’s Answer
Hi Ramiro,
Start your portfolio / body of work today.
Start a blog (public) but don't tell anyone about it if you want (wordpress.com)
Pick a field.
Give yourself mini project, one a week or one a month.
Publish, publish, publish.
You don't need permission, you just need to decide. Start today.
Your body of work, is more powerful then a resume.
Start your portfolio / body of work today.
Start a blog (public) but don't tell anyone about it if you want (wordpress.com)
Pick a field.
Give yourself mini project, one a week or one a month.
Publish, publish, publish.
You don't need permission, you just need to decide. Start today.
Your body of work, is more powerful then a resume.
Updated
Patrick’s Answer
Hi Ramiro!
I am more on the business end of tech, not coding but I can tell you there is nothing more valuable than work experience. I would seek an internship anywhere (even unpaid) just to get some experience under your belt. The more an employer sees on your resume the better shot you have at getting hired. The first internship or project doesn't have to be the last, I view it as a latter. Every new opportunity is a step further up the latter. My biggest advice would be experience over anything. Even if you created a company on your own, that would show major work ethic and create value for your personal brand. Best of luck!
Take on side projects
Find internship work
Be active on LinkedIn
I am more on the business end of tech, not coding but I can tell you there is nothing more valuable than work experience. I would seek an internship anywhere (even unpaid) just to get some experience under your belt. The more an employer sees on your resume the better shot you have at getting hired. The first internship or project doesn't have to be the last, I view it as a latter. Every new opportunity is a step further up the latter. My biggest advice would be experience over anything. Even if you created a company on your own, that would show major work ethic and create value for your personal brand. Best of luck!
Patrick recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Amy’s Answer
While this may seem different from other advise you receive, I recommend digging into your passions and joining groups or organizations so you can make connections. For example, a chess club or a rock climbing group, whatever you do on your leisure time. I do not have a science degree, but have worked in technology for a long time and I find that my outside passions have made me a unique, memorable individual and therefore a "stand-out" candidate. I'm passionate about the environment and, specifically, ornithology. I joined the Audubon society in my area and have met many biologists and people in a wide range of fields. I also volunteer and know many people across many fields of work. When you're with a group in a team setting and show yourself as an enthusiastic and reliable volunteer, you exhibit your work ethic and can easily network. You will be amazed at who you meet and the doors that will open.
Remember that every company uses technology. If you need to work to support yourself, don't limit yourself to a "tech" job. For example, if you became a barista at Starbucks you could get to know the manager and see what he/she needs help with, technology-wise. Bring your skills to whatever job you have, and if you do it well, you will be noticed. And don't be afraid to ask for what you want, you may be surprised that there is a match for your skills. Be open to what comes your way and then work hard.
Amy recommends the following next steps: