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Finding a new job can be a daunting prospect, especially if it’s your first job or a first job in a new career. Focusing on junior software developer jobs, and entry level software developer jobs, we’re going to take a look at how to begin your search.
A couple of questions that you might ask yourself spring to mind: Where do you look? What does ‘good’ look like? What benefits am I interested in? Am I willing to commute, and if so, how far? Do I want to work remotely permanently, or have the option part of the time?
Step one. What is important to you?
Think about what industries excite you, or anything that you’re particularly excited about. For example, is healthcare technology something that fascinates you, or tech for good as an industry, or maybe you’re really into crypto and blockchain! Whatever your passions and interests, there will be companies out there that align to your values and interests and tech stack of course.
When speaking to StormX’s CEO, Calvin about working in a startup, and what advice he had for anyone looking to join a startup, he said:
“Startups are very different from corporations. Having the startup mindset is critical. There are types of people just not meant to work at a startup because of the personality or mindset. To work at a startup, you should be willing to sacrifice many hours to get things done, wear multiple hats, and step out of your comfort zone.”
Step two. Begin your search.
Knowing where to look can feel like finding a needle in a Haystack. If you’re looking to land your first junior software developer job, then take a look at tech-specific job boards like Haystack.
Entry level software developer jobs are very competitive, and companies often don’t have a hard time hiring for them and won’t spend a lot of time advertising them, so be on the ball and make sure you keep your eye on job boards every day.
Add companies and roles that sound interesting to your haystack, and move on to step three.
Step three. Refine your search.
Do your research! Chances are you won't apply for a job where you’ve not taken a look at the company in detail, or read reviews. So take a look at the companies’ careers pages, check out their LinkedIn profiles, and see if they have any reviews on Glassdoor - these are all places that companies often share information about their teams, ways of working, and it’ll allow you to get a better understanding of the company culture.
Step four. Apply!
You’ve seen a role, at a company you like - brilliant! Now it’s time to apply.
Be open and honest with your CV and portfolio, and understand your own strengths and weaknesses - any deceit will get found out at a later stage!
Step five. Put your best foot forward
When it comes to entry level software developer jobs, what hiring managers are looking for alongside a comprehensive portfolio, is personality and drive. You should show them what makes you, you, and what makes you tick. You might just be the best cultural fit for that business - even if you don’t have all the necessary skills.
When you apply for roles, double check your CV for errors, no matter how small - the hiring manager will likely pick up on it! Imagine how many CVs they see each day?
And repeat! Chances are, you won’t land your perfect entry level software developer role, but you might just be surprised, there are thousands of companies out there to be discovered, and hundreds of roles to be uncovered.
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