Top 5 Places To Find Entry Level Tech Roles

Navigating the job scene as someone looking for an entry-level tech role can be challenging 😥.

It can feel like companies are looking for candidates who will require the least effort on their part, i.e., someone with years of experience (sometimes even more than the existence of a programming language), to avoid training time and costs.

In fact, this issue was so widely recognized that in my Code First Girls group project, we created a website that filtered through jobs to present only entry-level ones to applicants, along with other features that allowed them to save and track applications.

So where can you successfully find tech jobs?

I have curated a list from my research and my own experience.

1. Otta

Otta is a job board...but with a twist.

Think Tinder...but for jobs (and with a higher success rate). They follow a 'match' based approach where you go through a detailed, but short enough to keep your attention span, survey. Here you can express your current experience level, what's important to you in a company (e.g., flexibility, development, leadership progression), minimum desired salary, location (including remote options), and more. After you submit this, they'll show you a list of 'matches' who meet your key criteria. You can then look through the company profile which has all the key information you'd need to know about the company you are considering working for in one place. This includes the company mission, job benefits, diversity and inclusion policies and so on. You can save the job and come back to it or apply. They make the application process so easy too!

2. LinkedIn

Do you ever feel like you are submitting job applications into a void? 😱 You spend hours answering their questions, filling out forms but you don't hear anything back - not even a rejection, sometimes not even a generic automated email. This can be very disheartening. LinkedIn takes this feeling away by often having the profiles of recruiters linked to jobs. This means you can start a conversation with someone handling the applications, and connect with a real human (this is getting rarer nowadays so jump at the opportunity!). Even if the recruiter isn’t directly linked, a simple search will help you find someone who works in the HR department within the company you’re applying to. LinkedIn is honestly a goldmine when it comes to finding jobs 🌟. If I found a role that suited me, I would message the recruiter, showing my interest and asking any additional questions I had. I would apply to the role and then message the recruiter once again, letting them know I had applied and how much their answers helped me realize this was a perfect fit. Your application is less likely to be passed over if they know you.

3. Company Websites

I found company websites to be more successful than most job boards (aside from Otta). I think using a third party can get expensive for these companies, and it often seems they don’t regularly update the applications coming through them. I would search for my role on Google and click on the links that directed me to the company’s job application directly.

4. Networking

Around 20% of available jobs are actually posted on job boards 🤔. Where do people find out about the other 80%? Through networking! Similar to LinkedIn, it’s easier to connect with a person standing in front of you, being able to actually hear your story, rather than just reading a one-page black-and-white CV. Getting in front of the right people who are hiring can really improve your chances of landing a tech role. Attend tech events and job fairs.

Some that come to mind include Coding Black Females Tech Fest, The Black Business Show, and Nova and Boba networking events.

I have seen firsthand how genuine conversations can turn into exchanges of business cards and even job offers. If you’ve done a bootcamp, reach out to alumni and see if their company is hiring. The fact that the company already has a junior developer from your bootcamp shows they are eager to hire new talent and have the infrastructure to do so.

5. Freelance Work

Do not underestimate the power of freelance work. People are making a fortune by offering their services. Tech skills are so valuable that many people are looking for someone to do things for them. It can be as simple as checking your immediate network to see who needs these services, building your portfolio from there, and eventually getting people to come to you. You don’t always have to wait for an employer to believe in or invest in your skills. If you believe in yourself enough, take the lead and offer your services. As a beginner, it may be daunting, but failure is a great lesson. Start with small projects. For example, as a UI designer, this might mean designing a blog page. As a web developer, this might mean creating a landing page for your friend’s product. Set up a website for yourself and a social media page. Display your work here so people can find you.

When I was working as a freelance graphic designer, I was learning along the way. Over time, I was able to sharpen my skills, refine my process, and keep my clients happy.

So there you go! Places where you can find your first tech job!

Let me know which one works for you.

Until next time,

Ruth x