Finding your first job is never easy; it takes persistence and tenacity, along with planning and perhaps a bit of luck. Often, potential candidates new to technology and seeking their first job in this industry do it wrong due to a lack of specific intent. Here is what I mean.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There are three common errors candidates right out of college or bootcamps looking for a new job in tech make:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Here is some guidance that will help you avoid making these errors.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Define the specific job you want.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Wrong: \u201cI want to be a full-stack developer for a company.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Correct: \u201cI want to work with React with a Nodejs backend and DynamoDB for a financial services startup with fewer than 100 employees.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Privately, write in roughly 300-word document about why that specific type of role interests you. Become proficient in explaining it verbally.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Double-down on learning the tech you\u2019ve specified<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Create:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You\u2019ll have content from 30-50 engineers in roughly the same niche that you defined, and 90-150 unique answers to the same three questions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What\u2019s common and what\u2019s different? Summarize your takeaways and insights. Publish this online (blog, LinkedIn, etc.) Share it with everyone who responded to your outreach with a thank-you note.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Why you apply to jobs, reference this body of work.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Profit.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nTrying to be appealing to <\/span><\/b>everyone <\/span><\/i><\/b>is a mistake<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n
Pick a niche that you likely will be okay with for one or two years. Be specific!<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Find 10 companies that have your niche and 3-5 engineers in each. One should be an engineering manager\/leader<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n
Distill the responses and apply<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/news.sophos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Copy-of-Featured-image-for-Sophos-News-Nak-Sec-38.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n