Introduction
Hey folks, My name is Rijan Shrestha, and I am a computer science undergraduate student in my second year. I will be turning 20 years old in less than two weeks. Recently, I landed my first remote internship through LinkedIn, which I started a month ago.
I would like to share with you the account of how I obtained my initial internship. Throughout this narrative, you will also gain valuable insights on various strategies to enter this field successfully and secure your debut job or internship. Please allow me to present a brief overview of my journey.
At the time, I had been studying front-end development for roughly a year. However, I struggled to maintain a consistent learning regimen. I would make progress for a day, only to take a break for a week or even a month. Nevertheless, I resolved to make a change. I committed myself to a routine and even undertook a 100-day coding challenge. These efforts soon began to bear fruit. I was presented with an opportunity to participate in my first hackathon, followed by another. And after the second hackathon, I was offered an internship. This experience reinforced the notion that taking action and persevering through one's efforts can lead to favorable outcomes. Indeed, the fruits of one's labor will manifest themselves in due course.
Now I would like to summarize my key takeaways in a concise and actionable manner, to offer valuable insights to you. Here's how you can land your first job/internship with no prior experience in the field.
Start coding now
Remember, there's never a perfect time to start coding. The crux of the matter is that there may never be an ideal moment to begin coding. Waiting until you're taught in school or after graduation might mean missing out on opportunities. You could be left behind by peers who started earlier. So why wait? Start now. Sit down, turn on your computer, and start coding. Take it one step at a time and practice regularly.
Resources to learn
In this day and age, you have access to countless YouTube videos that teach you how to code in various programming languages. Moreover, you can find career mentorships, career guidance, and career roadmaps – all for free. Additionally, AI tools are advancing rapidly, providing you with comprehensive guidance and assistance throughout your journey. As such, there's no reason to let the scarcity of resources hold you back from achieving your goals.
Resume / CV
Once you've spent some time learning, you may feel ready to pursue an entry-level job, which is a great step forward. To increase your chances of landing the job, focus on building a strong resume that highlights the skills you've gained during this period, as well as some impressive personal projects. These projects need not be overly complex or extravagant, but they should demonstrate your passion and proficiency in the field. There are numerous project ideas available for every tech stack, but don't just copy the code - add your unique features to impress potential employers and further develop your skills.
Build up an online presence
Building an online presence can provide you with additional opportunities. Consider sharing your learning progress with the world through social media platforms such as Twitter or LinkedIn. LinkedIn, in particular, can be considered as your online resume and is gaining popularity as a platform for career opportunities. I was able to secure my first internship through LinkedIn by applying for a job and then getting called for an interview. Having a strong LinkedIn profile certainly helped me stand out among the 50+ applicants.
Portfolio Site
Although not mandatory, having a personal website where you can display your information, experience, projects, skills, and contact details can be incredibly beneficial. A well-crafted portfolio site can make you stand out from the crowd and leave a lasting impression on potential employers. I believe that my portfolio site played a role in securing my first internship. Check out the portfolio that got me a job here. ( Rijan Shrestha Portfolio )
Start with a friend
Collaborating with a friend who shares the same passion as you and discussing what you have learned can be highly beneficial in improving your skills. It was a game-changer for me, as my friend and I motivated each other to code every day, which eventually led us to secure internships. Sometimes, having someone to compete with can push you to work harder and consistently. However, if you prefer to work alone, that's perfectly fine too.
Build what you love
My advice to you is to pursue your passion when it comes to building projects. It is true that having an e-commerce site in your portfolio can be beneficial, but do not feel obligated to create one if it is not something that interests you. Instead, focus on building something that you are genuinely enthusiastic about. Perhaps you are a fan of anime and want to create a streaming platform dedicated to it. By building something that you love, you can showcase your unique skills and stand out from other candidates who may have similar projects in their portfolios. Remember, it is your passion that will drive your success.
Don't compare and never quit
It's important to stay motivated and not give up when you don't see immediate results. Don't compare your progress to others because everyone has their unique journey. Learning takes time and everyone learns at their own pace. It's okay if it takes you a little longer to achieve your goals than someone else. My friend ended up getting an internship at a better company. He got it a month later than I did but had he quitted, he would not have got it. What's important is to never give up and keep pushing forward. Trust that there's a plan for you and keep learning and growing.
Conclusion
Learning to code can be a daunting journey, but it is an exciting and rewarding one. As I have shared through this conversation, the key is to start small, be consistent, and never give up. With the abundance of online resources available, anyone can learn to code at their own pace and build up a solid skillset. Building personal projects and an online presence, showcasing your skills and experiences, can help you stand out from the crowd and increase your chances of landing your dream job. And most importantly, never compare yourself to others and never give up. As my personal experience and those of my friends have shown, success might take longer than expected, but with perseverance and hard work, you will get there eventually. So go ahead, start learning to code, build what you love, and never stop growing!
Happy coding! 😁
