Today’s tech industry places a lot of weight on real skills and experience. So much so that the internet, in particular coding, has almost created a meritocracy in which tangible skills can equate to a four-year degree in an employer’s eyes.
However, as tech recruiters often say, “If it’s not public, then it doesn’t exist.” If you are trying to break into the tech industry, it’s crucial that you push everything you ever write/create, no matter how big or small, to the public.
Sharing your work will give you something to talk about in interviews, regardless of your formal education, previous internships, or professional experience in the field. For example, if a potential employer asks “What’s the toughest coding problem you’ve worked on,” or “What’s the top performing piece of content you’ve ever written,” you’ll have real examples you can point to. It’s almost more impressive if you, as a candidate, can talk about something you did just because you were passionate about it, not because it was required for a course or because it was an assigned project.
Not sure how to network? Here are some tips if you are new to the game:
Interview preparation is a crucial part of the job search process. The more you prepare and practice for the interview, the more confident you’ll be, and the more you’ll stand out to the recruiter.
Our Director of Recruiting here at HubSpot, Becky McCullough, gives this advice to candidates:
Technical interviews are a key part of the hiring process for our product team. The most important advice from our product recruiters is “Don’t be afraid to say ‘I don’t know’ and ask for clarification. Our interviewers know that you aren’t going to know everything (although we’d love it if you did!) and don’t want to see you fail, so being able to ask the right questions and respond accordingly with some prompting is an important skill for us to evaluate.”
Interview prep doesn’t stop with creating an elevator pitch and deciding what questions to ask your interviewer. It’s important to prepare yourself for success by dressing the part and eating properly before your big debut.
It’s an instant turn-off for employers if candidates don’t have any questions to ask at the end of the interview. Avoid getting stuck by brainstorming two or three questions to ask as you conclude your conversation with a recruiter or potential manger.
Your work is not finished even when you leave the interview. Create a lasting impression on the recruiters by sending a well-crafted follow-up note that not only expresses your gratitude for the opportunity, but also reinforces why you are the right person for the job
If you make it to the final stages of the hiring process, your future employer will almost certainly ask you to provide references. Choose people who will be your best advocates and can speak to the breadth and depth of your experience. Not sure who to choose? Read on for advice on how to decide.
Define success on your own term, achieve it by your own rules, and build a life you're proud to live.
Anne Sweeney
To help you plan confidently for your next five years, HubSpot has launched a career assessment tool called The Next Five. Tell us your interests, strengths, and working style, and we’ll help you identify a next step that’s right for you and your long-term professional goals, in tech or otherwise.
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