How to Get Your First Job

“They rejected me because I had no experience.” But how do you get experience without someone first giving you a chance? 🤔 This is the loop every student & fresher struggles with. I’ve been there too. And after 8+ years in tech + mentoring 1000s of students, here are some unique strategies that actually work to crack your first internship or job : ✨ 1. Build “Proof of Work” Don’t just say you know coding/finance/design, show it. Small projects, GitHub repos, case studies, or even writing your learnings on LinkedIn builds trust. Detailed explanation : https://lnkd.in/gqhmkfFb ✨ 2. Create a “Skill Portfolio” Instead of listing random certificates, make a 1-page portfolio with projects, visuals & outcomes. Recruiters notice impact, not paper. ✨ 3. Network the Smart Way Instead of cold “please refer me” DMs, write posts, share insights, and engage with industry people. When they see you show up, opportunities come naturally. ✨ 4. Use Reverse Applications Don’t just wait for job portals. Make a short pitch mail + attach portfolio → directly to startups, NGOs, or small firms. Hidden market > job boards. ✨ 5. Document Your Journey Online If you’re learning Python, post your Day 1 → Day 30 journey. This not only keeps you consistent but also attracts mentors + recruiters. ✨ 6. Hackathons & Open Source Even without prior job experience, hackathons and open-source projects prove your teamwork, problem-solving, and coding skills. That’s “real-world experience” most resumes miss. ✨ 7. Learn Skills Recruiters Value Today 2025 is skill-first, not degree-first. Breaking into your first role isn’t about luck - t’s about strategy + visibility + proof. Don’t wait for HR to give you permission to start. Start building your career assets today. I’ve guided thousands of students into their first role, and I’ll keep sharing what works. Follow for more. 👉 Tell me, what’s the BIGGEST challenge you’re facing in landing your first role? #career #guidance #freshers

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐍𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞? 𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐈𝐭. Ever feel stuck in the catch-22 of starting a career? You need experience to get a job, but you need a job to gain experience. 😅 When I was just starting out, I felt the same way—frustrated and unsure about how to move forward. But here’s the thing: building experience doesn’t always mean landing your dream job right away. Sometimes, it means getting creative with what’s in front of you. Here are three strategies that helped me and might help you: 🔸  𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 & 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 I get it—working for free isn’t ideal. But these opportunities taught me so much more than I expected. By volunteering with local organizations and taking internships, I built my confidence, developed soft skills, and added real projects to my resume. 🔸 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭-𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐛𝐬 & 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 Every job is a learning experience, even if it’s not in your field. I worked at a supermarket once, and let me tell you—the customer service skills I picked up there? I still use them today when building relationships and managing clients. 🔸 𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 This is where you can really shine. If no one’s giving you opportunities, create your own. Love marketing? Offer to help a local business with their social media. Passionate about design? Start a personal project you can showcase online. Employers love seeing self-starters who take initiative. The truth is, every bit of experience counts—even if it doesn’t feel big at first. The key is to start somewhere and trust that those small steps will lead to bigger ones. What’s one way you’re building experience right now?

Let’s talk about “Entry-Level” roles. Too often, job postings labeled entry-level ask for: - 2–5 years of professional experience - Multiple internships - Advanced certifications But let’s be clear: entry-level means zero years of experience. 🎓 Graduates today are under immense pressure. Many are leaving university already feeling “behind” because they don’t have years of work history. That’s not fair, and it’s not realistic. Advice for grads: 💯 Focus on transferable skills (projects, leadership roles, part-time jobs all count). 💯 Highlight your ability to learn quickly and adapt, often more valuable than years of experience. 💯 Don’t be afraid to apply even if you don’t check every box. 💯 Network intentionally, connect with alumni, attend virtual events, and ask for informational chats. 💯 Tailor your resume for each role (showing why you want THIS job). 💯 Build an online presence (LinkedIn posts, GitHub, portfolio sites) that showcases your skills beyond a resume. Advice for employers: ✅ Rethink what entry-level really means. ✅ Hire for potential, not just experience. ✅ Invest in training programs that support new talent. Remember: someone once gave you your first chance, too. 🔄 Repost if you believe more grads deserve a fair first chance, your share might land on the feed of someone who can open a door. What was YOUR first professional experience? And how did it shape your career? Please share in the comments. Thanks!

Job searching is hard. Believe me, I know. Since graduating 3 years ago, I've job searched successfully 5 times. Here's my #1 tip that most people skip: Don't start with job postings. In fact, don’t even look at them at first. Start by figuring out where you want to work. This is how I cold emailed my way into one of the top art galleries in San Francisco with zero art background. Here’s how I approach job searching: Pick 3-5 companies you'd love to work for, even if they aren't publicly hiring. Then start reaching out to people who work there. Ask them about their roles, their company, their industry and tell them that you are looking for opportunities (important: people can’t help you if they don’t know what you want). You never know when a company is quietly looking to fill a role they haven't posted yet, when they're planning to expand in the coming months, or who in their network might be looking to hire someone exactly like you. When my husband and I found out we were moving to San Francisco two years ago, I decided I really wanted to work in an art gallery. So I cold emailed 40 art galleries. I sent my resume, was upfront that I had no art experience, and simply asked if anyone would be willing to talk. I got 2 job offers. Meanwhile, I applied to over 100 posted openings around SF, many of which I was arguably more qualified for. I didn't hear back from a single one. Especially in the age of AI-assisted applying, job postings are getting hundreds, sometimes thousands of submissions overnight. Standing out in that pile is nearly impossible. The people who win job searches aren't always the most qualified. They're the ones who had the right relationships and the right timing. And the only way to get there is to start before a company is actively hiring.

Here’s a more effective way to apply for startups — not just by sending your resume, but by proving what you can do. When I was trying to land my first job in the U.S., I stopped sending generic resumes. Instead, I showed my work. Every time I reached out to a founder or hiring manager, I attached something I’d already built: a small project, a product teardown, even a quick market analysis. That changed everything. Because in startups, nobody hires you for your degree. They hire you for your initiative. If you’re trying to land a role at an AI startup or a YC-backed company in 2025–2026, here’s what actually works 👇 1. Find startups that just raised funding. If they’ve got fresh capital, they’re hiring, even if no roles are posted. 2. Understand their pain points. Play with the product. Look for bugs, gaps, or missing features. 3. Build something. Design a mockup, run user research, or write a short market insight report. Anything that shows you thought deeply. 4. Reach out directly. Skip HR. DM the founder, PM, or engineer. Here’s a message that works: “Hi [Name], I really admire what you’re building. I took some time to try the product and run a quick analysis - here are a few insights and suggestions I put together. Would love to hear your thoughts and happy to contribute further if helpful!” That’s how real startup hiring happens. No long pipelines. No ATS. Just showing up with proof of value. Yes, the job market is competitive. But initiative still wins. Don’t wait for the perfect role. Build one. Create your opportunity. #SFTechWeek #Jobright #StartUps #JobSearchTips

I landed my first internship at a Fortune 100 with NO prior work experience. Everyone has to start somewhere, but what the #&%@ do you put on a resume when you have no work experience? 😂 Here's what I did & how you can replicate it ⬇️ Getting the first internship [or first job] is, in my opinion, one of the hardest you'll ever do in your career. It's a perpetual "chicken before the egg" problem ~ how do you get experience if everyone requires prior experience? The reality that no one talks about is that you can't apply to a role with a blank/empty resume, so you have to get *some* form of experience. This is the step that people often skip over: resume *building*. Here are three areas you can build your resume in, all of which I have done: 🛠️ Project experience -- projects are the EASIEST way to gain experience since you don't need anyone's permission, approval, or supervision to do it. Here are some example projects for different career paths ~ mobile & web apps (software engineering), investment memo or thesis (venture capital), product prototype/design, and strategy (product management). 🛠️ Competition experience -- want to test your abilities under pressure? And potentially win awards & cash prizes? Enter competitions! I won $12K+ from hackathons (SWE/PM), engineering pitch competitions (ENGR/Biz), startup pitch competitions (PM/Biz) and case competitions (Consulting). 🛠️ Work *Lite* experience -- fellowships, externships, micro-internships, etc. Basically, any form of "relevant" experience. These types of opportunities typically have less competition, can be slightly easier to attain, and don't have the same type of requirements/requisites as internships and full-time roles. You have to start somewhere; not only will these experiences fill your resume, but they'll also give you more confidence in the job search! Once you've built your resume, write it like a pro using these guidelines: ✅ Use the Google XYZ method ~ this is like the golden rule for resumes, and it goes, "Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y], by doing [Z]." ✅ Use your resume to TELL A STORY ~ use descriptive adjectives, strong verbs, and consistent bullet points to create a cohesive story that makes you look like THE perfect candidate for the job. ✅ Use an ATS-friendly format ~ this isn't too difficult, but it's a HUGE stumbling block for applicants. If your resume can't be read by an ATS, you will likely get auto-rejected. 😳 🧠 Want to avoid the mistakes I made & see THE resume that got me my first internship at an F100 with NO work experience? Comment your email & I'll send a copy straight to your inbox! 📥 #internships #earlycareer #newgrad #summerinternship

Entering the job market as a fresher can be daunting, but with the right approach, you can stand out and secure your first job. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate this crucial phase of your career: 𝟏. 𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞: Customize your resume for each job application, highlighting relevant skills and projects. Use keywords from the job description to increase your chances of passing through applicant tracking systems (ATS). 𝟐. 𝐔𝐩𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲:Take online courses and certifications to stay updated and relevant in your chosen field. 𝟑. 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 & 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: Gaining practical experience is crucial. Internships and volunteer work provide hands-on experience and demonstrate your commitment to your field. 𝟒. 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲: Networking is a powerful tool in job hunting. Create a professional LinkedIn profile and connect with industry professionals. Attend virtual and in-person industry events, seminars, and webinars. 𝟓. 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫: A well-written cover letter can set you apart from other candidates. Use it to showcase your enthusiasm for the role and explain how your skills and experiences make you a perfect fit for the company. 𝟔. 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬: Practice common interview questions, and research the company to impress your interviewers. 𝟕. 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬: Create a portfolio of your projects to demonstrate your skills and accomplishments. 𝟖. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 & 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭: The job search process can be challenging and filled with rejections. It’s important to stay positive and persistent. Learn from each experience, seek feedback, and continuously improve. 𝟗. 𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐟𝐭 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬: Employers value soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Participate in group projects, join clubs or organizations, and take on leadership roles to develop these skills. 𝟏𝟎. 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐧 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞:In addition to LinkedIn, consider creating a personal website or blog where you can showcase your projects, write about industry trends, and share your thoughts on relevant topics. 𝟏𝟏. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬: Before applying, research potential employers to understand their values, culture, and the skills they prioritize. Tailor your application to reflect how you align with their needs and demonstrate your genuine interest in working for them. Always seek feedback from interviews and use it to improve for your next opportunity. Starting your career journey may seem overwhelming, but with these strategies, you’ll be well-equipped to secure your first job. Remember, every step you take is a learning experience that brings you closer to your goal. #fresher #job #interview #learning #experience #carrer #resume

You don't need a degree to get your first IT job. You need proof you're serious. Here are 3 things you can do this month — starting today: 1. Get CompTIA A+ certified (or start studying for it). This is still the most recognized entry-level IT credential out there. Free study resources exist. Professor Messer alone can get you most of the way there. No excuses. 2. Build a home lab. Download VirtualBox. Set up a Windows VM. Break something. Fix it. Document what you did. That process is real experience — and you can talk about it in interviews. 3. Update your LinkedIn to reflect where you're going, not just where you've been. Change your headline. Add your certifications. Connect with people in IT. Recruiters are watching. Your profile is your digital handshake. None of this requires money you don't have. It requires time and consistency. The people who get hired aren't always the most qualified. They're the ones who showed up, put in the work, and made it easy for a hiring manager to say yes. Which one of these are you starting first? #ITCareers #BeyondTheHelpDesk #CompTIA

"Just focus on networking." This annoyed the hell out of my 22-year-old me, desperate for a job. The most annoying part? Those people were 100% right. I got lucky and landed my first job through a LinkedIn application - something that's way harder today with ATS systems and thousands of applicants per role. If I were starting my job search today, here's exactly how I'd network my way into a job in under 90 days: 🎯 GET LASER FOCUSED Stop saying "I want a job in tech." Get specific: "QA Engineer at mid-size SaaS companies." The more focused you are, the easier it becomes to find the right people. Use ChatGPT if you need help narrowing down your target. 🖇️ BUILD YOUR BRAND Your LinkedIn profile should scream your target role. Make sure everything aligns - headline, summary, experience. You can use Prentus to get a free AI analysis of how well your profile matches your target. 📅 ATTEND EVERYTHING Search LinkedIn Events, Eventbrite, Meetup for anything related to your field. Show up, ask questions, take notes. Then here's the key: Connect with people after every event and ask a follow-up question about something they said. People love feeling smart. 📄 DOCUMENT THE JOURNEY This feels cringe, but it works. Share your networking wins, lessons learned, even failures. Every industry connection sees your posts and thinks of you when opportunities come up. Their network sees you too. It's compound networking. 🔎 GO ON THE OFFENSIVE Use Apollo.io (free) to find people in your target role with under 3 years of experience at mid-size companies. Send LinkedIn DMs asking a non-generic question about their job. Most people are surprisingly willing to help someone starting out. The brutal truth: Relying on job applications alone is like playing the lottery. Networking gives you actual odds. Every coffee chat is a potential connection to your dream job. The job market is brutal right now, but relationships still open doors that applications can't. The only thing you'll regret is not starting sooner.

My 5-step job search system to land the job you want. (Most people skip steps 1 and 2) 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟭: 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 Most people jump straight into job searching. That's like going straight into a game without stretching. ➝ Find places to volunteer ➝ Know your financial runway ➝ Identify your job search fears ➝ Identify sources of good information ➝ Create a schedule you can maintain ➝ Identify successful job seeker characteristics ➝ Prepare yourself for how you'll handle rejection ➝ Understand the hard decisions you're putting off This is a guard against burnout. It's not the fastest who wins the race, but the one who slows down the least. 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟮: 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 Most people pursue jobs that resemble their last job. That's like breaking up because you're not a match. Then trying to date someone who's exactly the same. ➝ Set goals for what you want your life to look like ➝ Perform an analysis of prior roles (look for trends) ➝ Do an assessment of your skills & experience ➝ Use that to craft an ideal job description Clarity makes it • Easier to find the RIGHT role. • Easier not to spend time on the WRONG roles. • Easier for others to help you. 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟯: 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 No one wants to dance with the desperate person. They want to dance with the cool cat on the side. The one who knows what they have to offer. ➝ Use publicly available data to know your worth ($$) ➝ Write and rehearse how you tell your story ➝ Optimize your LinkedIn profile so you're proud of it ➝ Optimize your resume to showcase your highlight reel ➝ Collect testimonials from people you've worked with Develop a deep sense of "enoughness". You have tremendous value to deliver. It's about finding the right fit. 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟰: 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 It's not about who you know. It's about who knows you. ➝ Start by reaching out to your existing network ➝ Apply to roles at target companies ➝ Then, start cold outreach to target companies ➝ Be genuine, specific, and targeted ➝ Use videos and value to stand out ➝ Expand your reach by posting & engaging on LinkedIn It's not about blending in. It's about letting your personality shine. It's about standing out. 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟱: 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻 Don't leave anything up to chance. Identify any gaps or weak spots. Practice, practice, practice. ➝ Do deep research on your interviewers. ➝ Listen to podcasts from founders/investors. ➝ Do mock interviews w/ friends or using AI. ➝ Write out answers then rehearse verbally. ➝ Send thank you videos. ➝ Send value deliverables. Your goal is to exit every interview saying... There's nothing more I could have done to land that job. This is the process I used to land all my jobs. It's tough out there. But it works. ♻️ Share this to help job hunters with their strategy. ➕ Follow Kyle Thomas for more.