So my last post I focused on what kind of careers you can have as a Software Engineer Bootcamp graduate. Now I will focus on how to land an interview and start your career in this vast field of possibilities. Some of you may already know that all boot camps are not created equally. Some boot camps focus on providing the skills that are in demand and some focus on both the skills that are in demand as well as the skills to prepare you for the interviewing stage. Either way, it is good to have a solid game plan to put yourself in the best position to land that first job or company you really want to grow with.
Best Approach for Job Interviews
Some Bootcamps will encourage one to apply to as many job listings as possible for a certain period of time with little guidance. For instance, I came across an article where an individual stated that when he came out of Bootcamp he would apply to upwards of 10 to 15 jobs a day on the various job posting sites. He did this for 3 months straight and it resulted in a handful of interviews. Other Bootcamps, however, are set up to support and provide the skills/tools to land get and an interview and ultimately a job
While this approach does get results you end up putting out 100s of resumes and in return get only ten interviews. The return on investment is less than 10%. This is because when applying to jobs through these websites they go through these algorithms that match keywords and end up in someone’s box who gets hundreds of resumes a day and most often gets deleted if your resume doesn’t stand out in some unique way.
A better way to go about getting in front of employers is to network. I don’t necessarily mean to go to every event in all five boroughs in the city to get an interview. I mean network in the scene of reaching out to individuals in companies you are interested in that might be interested in what you have to offer.
There are several ways you can do this via social media. One option is to do a little investigation into what groups that individual is a part of and join that group. Learn what they are into and see if you have anything in common and strike up a conversation with them or share a post that they might find interesting. For some, this approach is perfect because it allows you to increase your online presence as well as your network in incremental steps.
Another approach is to reach out directly to CEOs, Managers, or anyone in the hiring department of a company of interest. Tell them why you are interested in a position and why you believe you are a good fit for the company and leave your resume. It’s also a good idea to check out companies' LinkedIn profiles to check for an email address.
Students and other job seekers that have reached out to a person at a company versus applying for a job through a job search platform have approximately a 20% greater chance of getting a response for an interview.
Maximize Your Time
While you are working to make contact with different organizations you definitely what to keep your skills sharp which means practice, practice, practice! This is the perfect time to work on skills you are not strong in as well as keeping on top of what you are good in should new features come out in a particular programming language. It is no secret that Bootcamp graduates are generally not as strong in algorithms and data structures as those with a Computer Science degree, so if it’s a great time for them now if you fall in that category.
There are several great tools online that can help you prepare for technical interviews and working algorithms below is a list of a few:
You could also work with your cohorts from your Bootcamp to study together and practice interviewing each other. This gives you a chance to practice your technical speak and solidify your understanding of concepts. You also want to take care of yourself as well.
Some people may have to work another job until they can land a job in their chosen field. In this instance, it’s recommended you use a free coding program and work daily for an hour or two every day so as not to get rusty.
Above all, you want to take care of yourself so you can be sharp and ready with an adequate amount of rest and balanced meals (ideally), and don’t overdo it!
Putting Your Best Foot Forward
Breaking into a new industry is always hard because you have to prove you have what it takes. What’s even more challenging is that you have to believe in yourself and know that you can in fact take on the challenges. Just remember how much you love to code and all that you have accomplished up until now and it should get a lot easier to put your best foot forward.
While your main goal is to convince the employer you are a good fit, the employer’s main goal is to win you over so this is a two-way exchange of questions and answers so ask questions like how are the teams structured or what was the last challenge you faced?
It is unrealistic to expect to land a job within a few weeks of graduating your Bootcamp so be prepared to plan for at least 3 months in most cases 3–6 months and in some cases up to a year. The point here is that this is not a sprint but rather a marathon so pace yourself accordingly.
Sum It Up
You invested a lot of time and money into developing and honing your coding skills and expanding your knowledge of the fundamental concepts behind the different programming languages and how to solve problems. You did this because you genuinely enjoy coding and solving problems. So the take away is
- Take the best approach for landing interviews by contacting people versus job search platforms.
- Maximize your time while looking to land your first job by studying the areas you need to improve on with your cohorts and on your own.
- Put your best foot forward and show off what you know, ask questions, and remember your love for coding!
Resources:
https://angel.co/job-collections/companies-that-hire-coding-bootcamp-graduates
