Breaking into the tech world is tough, but it’s not impossible. Here’s how to make your first step a lot easier, with real stories, real advice, and a bit of grit.
Landing your first job in IT is like being thrown into an ocean and asked to swim while the waves crash over you. The demand is high, but so is the competition. It’s a tricky balance. It can feel like the world is conspiring against you when you’re fresh out of school or a coding bootcamp and job listings seem to scream “experience required.” But there’s hope. You’re not alone in this struggle, and plenty of junior IT specialists have paved the way for you. Let’s dive into some strategies that will make the process smoother—and maybe, just maybe, a little more enjoyable.
Start with What You’ve Got: Your Skills are Enough
It’s easy to feel like you don’t know enough, especially in a field as fast-moving as IT. But here’s the truth: you’re ready. You’ve got skills, whether that’s in programming, troubleshooting, or knowing the ins and outs of a specific system. Don’t let self-doubt cloud your vision. Focus on what you can do. If you’re applying for a junior front-end developer role and you’re great at HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, own it. You’re not expected to know everything on day one. Companies hiring junior roles expect a learning curve, and they want to see potential.
Take Laura’s story. She finished a three-month coding bootcamp in San Francisco, unsure if she’d learned enough to land a real job. She applied for an entry-level position at a small startup, thinking she was punching above her weight. But during the interview, she focused on her passion for front-end design and the projects she built during her course. That’s what got her hired. Now, she’s been working at that company, WonderTech, for over two years, and she’s grown into a lead developer. Her takeaway? “Don’t sell yourself short. Apply, even if you think you’re not ready—you probably are.”
Get Smart with Networking: It’s More Than LinkedIn
Networking is the holy grail, but not the way people think. You don’t need to cold-message CEOs on LinkedIn with a generic, robotic “I’d love to connect” message. No, thank you. Instead, look for more organic ways to build relationships in the industry. Attend meetups, hackathons, and webinars. These events are full of people in the same boat as you—people who can recommend you for jobs or share an insider tip about upcoming openings. It’s a smaller world than you think.
Take John, for example. After finishing his computer science degree in Dublin, he attended a local JavaScript meetup every month. Over time, he got to know a few regulars, one of whom turned out to be a hiring manager at Accenture. They hit it off, and when a junior developer role opened, John was at the top of the list, all thanks to that monthly meetup.
Sometimes, it’s the human connection that makes all the difference. If you’re nervous about putting yourself out there, remember—everyone is. If you go to an event, there are people who are just as anxious as you are. But they’re there to connect, and they’re more likely to help than you might think.
Build a Portfolio: The Key to Show, Don’t Tell
In IT, a resume isn’t enough. Companies want to see what you’ve done. That’s why having a portfolio is essential. You don’t need to have years of professional experience to create one—just include the projects you’ve worked on during your studies, personal time, or any freelance work you may have done. The more hands-on experience you can showcase, the better.
Tony, a junior developer from Toronto, took a proactive approach. Even before landing his first full-time job, he built a portfolio with projects he created on the side—small websites, a chatbot for a friend’s business, and an app that tracked his fitness progress. By the time he interviewed at Shopify, his portfolio spoke volumes. He didn’t just say he could code. He showed them. And that’s how he got his foot in the door. Tony says, “I wasn’t sure if those personal projects would be impressive enough, but they were. It’s about showing that you love what you do, not just about having professional experience.”
Customize Your Applications: Quality Over Quantity
It’s tempting to apply for 50 jobs at once, thinking you’ll get more chances. But this scattergun approach rarely works. Instead, tailor each application. Hiring managers can tell when they’ve received a generic cover letter. Spend time researching the company and position. Tailor your resume and cover letter to fit the job description, and show how your skills align with what they need.
Anna from Berlin was stuck in a cycle of sending out hundreds of resumes with no luck. But after a career coach advised her to apply for fewer roles and personalize each application, her job hunt turned around. She landed a junior quality assurance position at Zalando after just three focused applications. “It’s more effort, but it works,” she shares.
Real-life Experience: Internship, Freelancing, and Volunteering
You may not have a full-time job yet, but you can get experience in other ways. Internships, freelance gigs, and volunteer work are golden opportunities. Even if it’s unpaid, you’re gaining practical knowledge and building a network. Look for companies that offer internships with the possibility of a full-time offer afterward.
Nick, a systems admin in Sydney, started with a part-time internship while studying. It wasn’t glamorous, and at times it was frustrating, but by the end of the six months, he had learned more than he could have imagined. His company, CyberTech, offered him a full-time role, and now he’s running a whole team of junior admins.
Freelancing is another way to gain experience while waiting for that full-time role. Sites like Upwork and Fiverr offer short-term gigs that can boost your portfolio and add a bit of cash to your pocket. Plus, you never know when a short-term project can turn into something long-term.
Stay Resilient: It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint
The job search can be soul-crushing. Rejections, ghosted applications, and long silences from recruiters can take a toll. But keep going. IT is an industry where resilience pays off. Keep honing your skills, building relationships, and sending out applications. Sometimes, the right opportunity takes time to appear.
Remember, Maya, who was applying for jobs in Los Angeles, got 20 rejections before she landed her role as a junior systems analyst at Google. “It’s hard not to take it personally, but if you keep improving and keep trying, it works out. Trust the process.”
Conclusion: Your Time Will Come
Breaking into the IT field as a junior specialist may feel like an uphill battle, but the key is persistence. By building your skills, networking smartly, and showing your passion through a portfolio, you can carve your own path. Everyone starts somewhere. Your journey may take twists and turns, but eventually, you’ll get there.
The IT world is waiting for you—it’s just about finding the right door to knock on.
Now, go find it.