Career guide for beginners in IT from Beetroot Academy

2. CV

Curriculum Vitae (CV), or resume, is a short document that showcases your experience and skillset to a potential employer. It is meant to sell your strengths and prove you are the right person for the job.

We recommend using pre-designed templates, for example, from Canva, to add sleek design and clear structure to your CV. Here are the main components you should cover:

3. Cover Letter

A Cover Letter describes your motivation to work for a particular company and why you are the perfect fit for the position. It can be attached as part of the email you send with your application or sent as a separate document with your CV.

Take a look at the structure of a cover letter and what to write in each part. Use it as an example when writing your own.

We also advise you to use ready-made templates, in Canva or Resume.io, to make your cover letter look clean and professional.

4. Job search

Once you've completed your profile and crafted your CV, you're ready to start looking for a job. More on that in the "Glimpse ahead" section.

5. Interview

After submitting your application, CV, and cover letter, you will be contacted by a recruiter and invited to an interview (or a series of interviews) to get to know you as a candidate. Your hard and soft skills (i.e., your professional knowledge and abilities, along with other skills practical for work in general — time management, communication, etc.) will be assessed there.

How to handle interviews

Understand the stages of interviewing

In order to prepare for the interviewing process, you need to understand how it is organized and what stages it consists of. Let's take a quick look at the main stages:

Don't get alarmed by so many steps — a recruiter will accompany you at all these stages and inform you about the status of each of them.

Get to know the company

A frequently asked question from recruiters is about your knowledge of the company you want to work for. "What do you know about us?" or "Why did you choose our company?" will definitely come up during the interview, and it's worth preparing for these questions. Be sure to check out their website and familiarize yourself with the "About Us" section or other information about their activity. Pay attention to the company's vision and mission, whether the values resonate with you, and what points grasp your attention.

A word from our graduate

I studied the company I am applying to in detail. This background check will show my future employer what I know about their overall activity, who works there, what interests them, and what their product or services are.

Volodymyr Melnychenko

Front-end

Ask questions

Show that you’re genuinely interested in the job you’re applying for. Actively ask questions, both about what you’d like to know about the company and about your position and responsibilities, what tasks you have to perform, and how you can help the company.

Prepare 3 key selling points in advance

You need to cover three main points:
‍
1) I have successfully done this job before.

2) I admire the company.

3) I have ideas for how my future tasks will help achieve the company's goals more effectively.
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Three is the optimal number of points that a recruiter will be able to memorize, and you will reveal your potential as an employee quickly and clearly.

Focus on what’s most impressive

Bring attention to your most interesting projects and greatest achievements. That’s important to highlight if you want to stand out in recruiters’ eyes.

Prepare specific examples and cases

Learn to use stories and specific examples instead of vague and generalized statements. Don't say, "I really want to work for your company," but tell the story of how you found the job. Instead of "I love to work," give an example of completing a large task in a short time or learning quickly for a new role.

Express what you bring to the table in one sentence

It's like a sheriff's star in a Western movie — it's immediately clear who you're dealing with. With this short, prepared phrase, you can easily be presented to recruiters and employers. Put your best foot forward.

Have answers to common questions ready

You've probably come across collections of typical interview questions. They exist for a reason, as there are indeed general questions that you are likely to be asked, no matter what position you are applying for: tell us about yourself, why you left your last job, what responsibilities you had in your previous position, etc. Prepare for them, and remember to have specific examples for each answer.

Get ready for questions about soft and hard skills

As mentioned above, two types of interviews are HR and technical. The first will check your soft skills, such as organization, flexibility, communication, etc. The second one aims to determine your level of knowledge and competencies required for the position you're applying for.
‍
Note that the questions in these interviews will depend on the position at hand. Therefore, looking at what they might ask you as a beginner in your chosen field is worthwhile.

Practice entire interviews from start to finish

Practicing the interview process from the beginning will help you prepare for common questions, find the right words quickly, and make you less nervous. It's also a good idea to think about what could go wrong and how you would handle it. So ask friends or relatives to help you with this, or be your own interviewer.

Present past experience via skills required for the position

If you're a beginner in tech, you still should fill in the work experience field. In fact, you can mention any other experience in an interview if you present it correctly. Recall what you did at your last job and consider where your skills and qualities could apply to the new role.

This is especially true for soft skills like communication, self-management, or time management. You've communicated a lot with clients, so you know how to find common ground and quickly resolve requests. Or you were a project manager, which means you know how to organize your time well and manage various processes. The field is less important here; the main thing is to think about how the skills you have acquired and your personal qualities can be demonstrated through past experiences.

Analyze past interviews and learn from them

After the interview, don't rush to relax. Instead, analyze how it went, what you did well and what you could improve. Learn from each new experience and develop your interview skills. Read more about it in “A glimpse ahead”, specifically in point 6. You may be turned down.

AI tools for job search

Job search may often seem an ordeal because you're all alone in it, and it's hard to assess your chances unbiasedly. There often needs to be an advisor to give you feedback and tips. The good news is that anyone can use AI (artificial intelligence) to get help with everything from company research to interview practice. Let's look at the most popular tools and understand how to use them to your advantage.

Chatbots (ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, etc.)

No talk about AI tools goes without mentioning OpenAI's ChatGPT. This pioneering instrument is affordable and easy to use, so many have already chosen it as a faithful companion in study and work. ChatGPT is a versatile tool, so a few use cases below will give you an idea of how to use it at multiple stages of your job search.

Crafting a CV and cover letter

Structure suggestions for CV and cover letter

Writing a CV summary

Creating a CV from scratch tailored to a specific vacancy

Getting ready for an interview

Preliminary research of the company

Generating possible questions for a particular position

Using a chatbot as an interview simulator

Creating a LinkedIn profile

Writing the summary section

Creating a headline

Updating the work experience section

Building a personal career roadmap

Personalized recommendations for development in your chosen career

Creating a plan with topics and resources to work through

The most important thing about using ChatGPT is writing prompts. The better you craft them, the more accurate the result will be. Here are some tips on how to up your prompting game:

1. Be specific. For example, describing the job and the company to which you’re applying with precision will help ChatGPT generate a corresponding CV.

2. Use keywords. The job posting will have a set of essential keywords that will be used to pre-screen CVs. To ensure that your CV passes this stage, ask the chatbot to check your CV in regard to those keywords and also help determine them for you.

3. Write prompts in English. Most chatbots are originally "trained" in English, so the results for prompts in English will be better (the Academy's content creators can attest to that!). If necessary, you can translate prompts from your native language using DeepL.

4. Check and rewrite. ChatGPT can indeed write a cover letter for you from scratch, but it lacks the human touch employers are looking for. We advise you to re-read the text and revise it to make it reflect your personality.

Please note that the free version of ChatGPT only operates with data up to 2022. This means it is worth checking other sources to verify the accuracy and relevance of what it generates (for example, this applies to research about the company.)

Interview Warmup from Google

We understand that only some can quickly answer questions when asked directly. We recommend practicing for interviews with someone who will ask realistic questions, not just an acquaintance. While you may not have access to industry experts to practice with, you can now do that quite easily with the help of AI.

Interview Warmup from Google is a tool made specifically for this kind of practice. Here's how you can use it to improve your interview skills:

Choose the industry where you plan to work and get typical questions on the cards;

You can either answer in voicemail or type;

The AI will analyze your answers and provide comments in three areas: working terminology, the most commonly used words, and the points that were covered (depending on the question);

After reviewing the comments, you can repeat the same questions or practice some other ones.

Please note that this resource is in English only.

The use of AI in job search is a broad topic beyond just a few paragraphs. Recognizing its importance and relevance, we’ve added a separate AI module to each of our courses, featuring tips on how to use it on the way to your dream job.

A glimpse ahead

Easy enough, right? However, there might be a few pitfalls ahead, so let’s see how you can avoid them.

Finding the right job posting takes a while

That’s right, even the job posting search can be an obstacle in itself. If you’re new to the industry, you may not know where to look for them. There sure is googling, but specialized websites and platforms will get you there faster.

Finding a few that are specific to your country is also a good prompt for ChatGPT or other AI tools we’ve already mentioned. And if we’re looking at the global and larger regional job platforms, here are some to keep in mind:

Tips from our students

Use any source of information to find a job. LinkedIn, Facebook, recruiting sites, contacting companies directly. Also, talk to your friends and tell them you’re looking for a job — they may in fact have a few recommendations for you.

Volodymyr Melnychenko

Front-end

Actively develop your LinkedIn profile, as employers often look for new people there. Fill it out as fully as you can, update it regularly, write posts, add new experiences and projects, and build your presence on the market. You should also look for various thematic communities on Facebook, where you can find job offers and gain experience.

Natalia Baranova

QA Manual

Tens or even hundreds of applications sent out

Unfortunately, that’s the reality of today's labor market. Sending two, three, or five applications and waiting for a response from recruiters sounds like a dream, not a realistic story about job search.

Realistic job search for juniors

100 resumes sent

50 responses from recruiters

10 initial interviews

5 test tasks

1 job offer

Sending a new batch of applications every day should be akin to morning exercise. Get yourself into this habit and don't feel bad that you have to repeat it so much. Take a look at the median number of applications sent before receiving an offer:

Please note that the graph represents data from Djinni. However, we can say that the figures are representative of the labor market as a whole.

So gather your strength and send another batch of applications, perhaps it will be the one that the recruiter will respond to.

A word from our graduates

I also tried to send 5-10 job applications every day. I was looking for a trainee position everywhere, on the platforms specifically for my country and abroad.

Anna Doroshko

UI/UX Design

Fluent English is a must at work

While there are local tech companies in most countries, the industry is predominantly global, so English is a must for tech professionals for a few reasons. Firstly, you will need to constantly upgrade your skills, and the latest resources will be in English. Also, most software (Figma, VSCode, Pycharm, TestRail, Azure DevOps, Jira, etc.) have their default interface English and localization may not be available. And last but not least, there’s external communication with international clients and internal communication with colleagues from other countries. You’re quite likely to encounter both in most tech jobs.

So, if you’re not a native English speaker, we’d recommend taking an English placement test and investing some time and resources in building your knowledge from there.

A word from our graduate

I’d like to emphasize the importance of English in tech. You will surely need it because communication in the work chats is almost always in English.

Anna Doroshko

UI/UX design

Various extras, such as the English module, were also useful additions to the main course. I must admit that I could not find a schedule to complete it. But I advise you not to follow my example because now I have experience in the IT field, and I have to admit that English is necessary both for work and further education.

Vadym Stepanets

Front-end

Be ready for a test task and an additional technical interview

You mean, a CV is not enough? And what’s technical about the interview? Worry not, let's take it one step at a time.

A CV presents you on paper, and completing a test task will show recruiters that you can handle the typical tasks of the position.

As a rule, companies send a test task after reviewing your CV and before scheduling an interview. You will need to complete a task that is closely related to what awaits you on the job.

The advantages of completing a test task

Not only employers need a test task. It has its advantages for you as a candidate, too. Completing it will help you to:

get to know the company's objectives and approach;

understand what lies ahead at the workplace via specific examples;

find out the criteria a potential employer applies to determine work quality;

assess your knowledge;

get feedback and improve your weaknesses.

Here are the main recommendations for successful completion of the test task:

When you receive the test task, make sure you understand it in full. If something’s not clear, be sure to clarify it before you set out to complete the task. In addition, you may be given an incomplete assignment on purpose to see if you’re attentive enough to notice and ask questions.

Ask about the deadlines and the format of the finished task.

If you feel like you're not going to meet the deadline, don't ghost your potential employer until you complete it. Instead, communicate and ask for a bit more time.

Try to think outside of the box for the test task. If you can bring something of your own to the table or find an original solution, it will be an advantage. People with an innovative approach are needed in any company.

Don't give in to fear and panic. Sometimes you can fail a task simply because you’re confused and scared. Instead, keep a cool head and focus on the problem. Break it down into small steps and start executing them. The successful completion of each step will give you confidence.

Take a deep breath — you can do it. Think about what a test task for your position might look like and prepare for it. Or prepare your own project to showcase at the interview (read about it in “A handful of other tips”).

A word from our graduates

And then one day they messaged me on Instagram asking if I wanted to complete a paid test task. It turned out that they were in Lviv, just like me, so they invited me for an interview at the same time. They liked my approach and hired me for the first trial week.

Anna Doroshko

UI/UX design

The end of my efforts was a job posting on my wife's Facebook news feed, which I applied to. I recorded a video, adjusted my CV, added links to my portfolio and LinkedIn. I received a test task and then an invitation to the first interview, which I successfully completed online. I received an invitation to a second live interview, and after that I signed a contract with booncon PIXELS.

Volodymyr Melnychenko

Front-end

Now let's talk about the technical interview, which we’ve already alluded to in the interview stages. Unlike the HR interview, where they check your personal qualities and soft skills, the technical interview should show the employer your hard skills, or understanding of your field.

This often takes the form of a conversation with a technical expert who will ask you whether you know what a backlog, a function, or a complimentary color are. You should prepare for such an interview carefully, so here are a few tips:

Check out the list of questions a junior developer, manager, or designer might encounter. Nowadays, you can easily find collections of typical questions for your position. Here are just a few of them:
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- Python
- QA
- Business Analysis
- C#
- HR
- Project managment
- UI/UX
- DM
- JavaScript

Don’t shy away from admitting you’re nervous. Recruiters won't be surprised to see a real person who is nervous about the interview. If you get a bit anxious, ask for a pause before answering or take a second to drink water. Honesty will become another virtue that will be noted about you.

Speaking of honesty, in a technical interview, it's important to be honest about what you've encountered in practice and what you only know in theory. Talk about the frameworks/practices/approaches that you have used on projects. This way, neither you nor the company will have any unpleasant surprises when you start working.

The biggest secret of technical interviews is that no one expects you to have perfect knowledge. It's natural to not know something or to forget something because you're anxious. The difference lies in how you go about it. Don't plainly say, "I don't know." Instead, say "I haven't encountered this yet, but I think it can be solved like this..." It is important for recruiters to see your thought process and ability to analyze.

Please keep in mind

We have described the general flow, but there might be variations:

A technical interview and a test task can be interchangeable. So, one company will ask you to write code, and another will give you a quiz for your knowledge of Agile methodologies.

Successful completion of a test task can open doors to a technical interview. First, they'll look at your practical skills, and then they'll determine whether you're a good fit for the position at an interview.

You may be asked to complete a test task at the technical interview. Here, on the contrary, you will first be asked about the theory, and then tasked to confirm your knowledge in practice.

Whichever of these scenarios you face, remember that the secret to success is calmness, focus, and intentional preparation.

Not all interviews will be a success

This isn’t pessimism, but a realistic view of the job search. Recruitment has several stages, and a junior without work experience may not reach the final one right away.

Is this a reason to panic? Not at all. You saw the numbers at the beginning of the article, so you should be prepared for difficulties. Don't take it to heart and don't give up, but rather go back to practicing and send in a few more applications.

A few words about the tech job market

In Central Finland, it was difficult for a foreigner to find a job in my field. Basically, employment was mostly through acquaintances. Finns also tend to not trust strangers right away. According to the laws of Finland, there must be a competition for the position, and the job announcement must be public. I often encountered the situation when a person was already selected for the position, but the competition had to be officially held, so all the candidates who were interviewed were rejected.

Volodymyr Melnychenko

Front-end

I've noticed that if a company in Sweden doesn't know you, your background, and what you can do, they won't even give you a chance. And as a foreigner, it's even harder to get noticed if you don't have any connections and no one to recommend you.

Antonia Massara

UI/UX design

You may be turned down

Let's get back to numbers. The amount of job postings is now much lower than the number of candidates. The company may simply not need another sourcer or designer.

A word from our graduate

You need to prepare yourself for the fact that you will most likely get a lot of rejections before you are invited for an interview. But don't lose faith, it happens to all juniors.

Khrystyna Ianko

Business Analysis

But even a rejection may not be the last word. If you personalize your application and present yourself well, you may be given recommendations or referred to another company. Good preparation is the key to getting yourself talked about.

When a person wants to enter the profession – even in a crisis – they are ready for all options.

I also asked Elizaveta Lisobikova what she was looking for and got an answer: "All possible options for the position of a sourcer or recruiter, since there are not many vacancies for candidates without experience now, so I will be glad to hear any suggestions: outsourcing, product or agency."

Lisa messaged me to ask if we were looking for someone to join the team. Unfortunately, we are not.

I liked what she wrote and how she wrote it so much that I decided to try to tell about her candidacy in general – in case someone is looking for a great person to be a sourcer or recruiter.

She researched our website and social media, referring to how we are developing and what impression we make as a team. It was a personalized message, not just a mailing list for potential employers.

This alone is worthy of attention.

Eugene Haiduchenko

COO at Don't Panic Recruiting Agency & Juniverse

ДSource: LinkedIn post by Eugene Haiduchenko

In addition, after a rejection, you should ask for feedback on your preparation. This feedback from the recruiter will help you determine what you need to improve in your self-presentation or technical skills.

A handful of other tips

In addition to what we discussed earlier, here are a few more tips and tricks that will help you on your way to an offer.

Create an A/B/Z plan for your career

To move forward in your career, you have to understand where you’re going. It's inefficient to have a one and only plan these days, so we recommend that you create a flexible framework using the A/B/Z system:

- Plan A is the best option you would like to achieve. This is your dream job.

Note:

If you’re relatively sure about what you want to do in the long run, your focus should be here. And if you haven’t decided yet, write a few of your top options for this part.

- Plan B is the closest alternative that you can switch to if Plan A doesn't go exactly as you’d want.

- Plan Z is a temporary backup option. It's worth considering in case things go awry.

Think of it as cooking lasagna. The proper recipe takes a while but the result is quite rewarding.

If you can’t invest in making the real thing, there are plenty of recipes for lazy quick lasagna. Yes, it's not exactly as planned, but it's close.

And sometimes even making a lazy lasagna is too much of a commitment, so you pull out a ready-made one out of the freezer and heat it up in a microwave. It's far from being exquisite, but it’s still food that gives you energy to move on about your life.

Use your connections

Think about how you choose a movie for the night. Quite likely, you'll ask your friends or recall a recent conversation with them where they mentioned something they enjoyed. Such recommendations are more trustworthy than the "Top 10 movies of this spring" lists, because they’re personal picks from people you trust and relate to.

Employers also prefer personalized recommendations, so you should enlist the support of those who already work in tech. Talk to your friends and ask if their company is hiring within your specialization. Maybe you or your friends know someone from the company — that can be checked via LinkedIn search. Don’t be shy to reach out to those people. In short, look for those who can personally recommend you for the position you want.

Get experience

Don't reject the opportunity to gain experience or do an internship, even if it's for free. The value of such programs is the work experience that you can add to your CV, which will then distinguish you from other job seekers.

In addition, sometimes companies hire those who have completed internships and shown good results. A good incentive, isn’t it?

A word from our graduates

At the end of the course, I got an internship as a UX/UI designer in a small startup project. It was an interesting experience, as the design team consisted of only me and one other person, and I had the freedom and space to work and learn hands-on.

Antonia Massara

UI/UX design

I actively followed various communities and groups on Facebook and LinkedIn. People there are usually looking for young professionals willing to work on small projects for little or no compensation to gain the necessary work experience. That's what I did in the beginning — a great way to add more examples of practical skills to my resume.

Natalia Baranova

QA Manual

Personalize your CVs when sending them out

It’s impossible to please all recruiters with the same CV.

Instead, create several versions of it for different positions and companies, and focus on the skills required for each particular position. This will make you stand out among other candidates because you will have a stronger CV, tailored specifically for that position in the company.

Also, don't forget to add new skills to your social media profiles, portfolio, and CV. Your constant development defines you as a strong player.

Add a video presentation of your project to social media

At Beetroot Academy, we encourage our students to make video presentations of their graduation projects. This way:
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- You'll practice your presentation and public speaking skills (but without the real crowd to intimidate you);
- You can re-record the video until you’re happy with the result;
- You'll have one more ace up your sleeve for the job search.
‍
We've already mentioned the importance of standing out from the crowd of job seekers. A short presentation video where you tell about yourself and demonstrate your work is way more impressive than nondescript cookie cutter documents.

Keep track of your job search status

This way, you won't get confused by the number of applications and CVs you've sent out. Besides, organizing your digital workspace can be a soothing activity in itself!

You can check out examples of tools in 6 Free Job Tracking Templates to Organize Your Job Search. Our personal favorite is Huntr. You can also use a template for Google Sheets, like Jobscan.co Job Tracker Spreadsheet or Job Application Tracker Spreadsheet. Even such simple spreadsheets will make it easier for you to keep track of applications.

A word from our graduate

I’d recommend creating a database of companies to which you apply. I was submitting 1-2 applications a day throughout several months. Of course, it's easy to forget where I applied. So I created a small Excel file and logged when, where, and how I applied. I also noted down the contact person for each company and what I wrote about myself. It helped tremendously.

Volodymyr Melnychenko

Front-end

Suggest a trial period

If you notice that the recruiter is still in two minds about your application, suggest doing a trial period (two to four weeks) for a reduced fee or as an intern. Mention that this is where you want to work and that you are confident that you can handle the role. If, after the trial period, the employers are not satisfied with the quality of your work, you will move on.

Note:

Go for this option only if you see that the recruiter is still in doubt. Otherwise, it may come across as undervaluing yourself.

Go for related positions

If you can't get the position you want, think about related roles: perhaps there is an option to freelance or do project work for the company or try a role one step below your aspiration to get you started.

This way, you can get to know the company and prove your motivation, as well as fit into the work environment. It will be easier for the management to promote someone from the existing employees than to start the search and hiring process from scratch.

Prepare a project before the interview

You know what’s the best way to prove you can do a certain job? Doing it.

This goes hand in hand with test tasks. Through such practice, employers can check if you have the necessary practical skills. But you can outsmart the system and demonstrate a small project to recruiters during the interview.

Look at what your role is and what problems you have to help solve. Think about how you can solve these problems and prepare a small project. Developers can use open source services to add and modify ready-made code. QA testers can check the company's website, add the test results to their cover letter, and demonstrate them during the interview. And designers can create a sketch of a new design for existing website pages or application screens. This way, you will stand out from other candidates who often don’t fully understand what is required of them.

Have a portfolio ready

Talking about what you can do is one thing, but demonstrating it is much more impactful. It is quite handy to have a selection of your projects and works to show to a recruiter or potential client when the opportunity arises.
‍
Portfolio, i.e. a selection of your work is an essential asset for designers, photographers, architects, and other artists. If you’re a UI/UX designer, creating a Behance account and sharing your work there is common practice.

"But I'm not a designer," you might say. While your type of work may not require a portfolio in the common understanding, you can still find a way to showcase your work. Create an account on Github if you're a developer, or make your own business card website and post your best cases there. Such visual proof of your work will present you to recruiters in the best possible way.

Don’t get discouraged

Looking for a job is a grand quest. Sending your CV and constantly passing test stages may feel like a perpetual loop and believing the dream offer is still ahead can be tough. But there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.

Set yourself a clear goal (we recommend using the PACT method) and a reward for reaching each stage. It's also a great idea to collaborate with someone who’s also looking for a job. Check in on each other's progress and share tips or useful contacts.

A word from our graduates

- Be realistic in your requests for salary, perks, etc.
‍
- Record a video for self-presentation. In 2-3 minutes, cover who you are, what you would like to do in a new company, and what value you would bring to the company.
‍
- Look for job fairs, workshops from companies or universities, and internship programs. In short, anything that gives you additional experience.

- Job search is painstaking. If you feel tired, take a step back and rest so that you can start again tomorrow with renewed vigor.

Volodymyr Melnychenko

Front-end

Job hunting is often a roller coaster. The best way to stay motivated and cheer yourself up is to recognize your achievements. Think about how much you have already accomplished, and praise yourself for your achievements, even if they are small. Your positive attitude is what you need to keep searching, and it is important to maintain it.

Antonia Massara

UI/UX design

Things you can already start doing as a Beetroot Academy student

While still studying, you can already start preparing for your job search. Here are some simple steps you can take:

Join the Study Buddy initiative

We organize students into small groups of two or three people to increase your academic motivation and support you in your job search.

Be sure to attend career counseling

Here we share even more useful information to help you craft a strong CV and complete all stages of the interview process (ask your group coordinator how to do this)

Let’s wrap it up

Finding a job as a junior has never been easy. We understand how difficult it can be, so we’ve equipped you with the very basics to get you started. To sum it up, here’s a checklist of the first steps to find a job. Save it or print it out and make it an action plan!

Checklist of first steps to finding a job in IT

Social media

- Sign up on LinkedIn

- Create a profile according to our tips
‍
- Add your colleagues and friends who work in the field you want

CV and cover letter

- Write down three of your strengths and think about what situations at work/study they have already manifested themselves in

- Select or take a good photo

- Think back and write down all the work situations where you managed to accomplish a difficult task or improve work processes

Job search

- Register and add your profile to at least three job search platforms

- Submit your CV to the desired vacancies

- Talk to those who already work in the desired field/company: there might be open vacancies, or can they recommend you

- Prepare your portfolio: collect all of your best work, demonstrate cases, if possible, make a small presentation website

English (if you’re not a native English speaker)

- Take the test to determine your level

- Set your device’s language to English

- Install DeepL for translation and Grammarly or LanguageTool for grammar & spell check (still applies if you’re a native speaker)

Interviews

- Write down a list of common interview questions and prepare answers to them

- Have an elevator pitch ready (a short story about yourself, your work experience (if any) and key skills) to present yourself effectively

- Practice with friends and go through an interview from start to finish

Bonus: useful resources and further reading

In this article, we have taken on a task to narrow down a really broad topic. There are hundreds of resources on preparing for interviews, making CVs, and finding jobs in tech. We’ve tried to provide a general understanding of the job search process and summarize the most important points. However, if you want some further reading on this topic, here are some places to check out:

1. We have some articles on our blog, here are a few you might find useful:

- Lifelong education: what is it?
‍
- How to develop soft skills and find motivation?

- How to overcome impostor syndrome and boost self-confidence

‍
‍We also advise you to check out our YouTube channel, where you can find recordings of webinars and workshops:
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- Як здобути досвід роботи, якщо ти джун
‍
- Співбесіда в ІТ: як налаштуватись на діалог замість допиту

- Job offer: як домовитись про вигідні умови співпраці та обійти підводні камені?

Also, pay attention to the stories of our alumni, who share their experiences of studying and finding a job:

- Proactive approach and a bit of luck: Front-end graduate’s journey to the job offer

- Why our graduate came to study though he already had a job: an example of not changing but improving your career

- From recruiting to design: how persistence and a proactive approach lead to a new job in design

- The habit of constantly learning new things and improving as a key to success: about the transition from medicine to tech

-From university lecturer to business analyst: about burnout, fear of change, and carpe diem

4. Books
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- 80’000 Hours: Find a Fullfilling Career That Does Good

- What Color Is Your Parachute? 2023: Your Guide to a Lifetime of Meaningful Work and Career Success

- Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One

- Switchers: How Smart Professionals Change Careers – and Seize Success
‍‍

5. Podcasts

- Find Your Dream Job: Insider Tips for Finding Work, Advancing your Career, and Loving Your Job
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- Insider's Career Club Podcast – Sindy Thomas
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- Job Search with James

Career Counseling

The big picture of tech field

Who we are and why it matters to us

A bit of statistics

Company types and roles in tech

Job search process

1. Social media profile

2. CV

3. Cover Letter

4. Job search

5. Interview

How to handle interviews

Understand the stages of interviewing

Get to know the company

A word from our graduate

Ask questions

Prepare 3 key selling points in advance

Focus on what’s most impressive

Prepare specific examples and cases

Express what you bring to the table in one sentence

Have answers to common questions ready

Get ready for questions about soft and hard skills

Practice entire interviews from start to finish

Present past experience via skills required for the position

Analyze past interviews and learn from them

AI tools for job search

Chatbots (ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, etc.)

Interview Warmup from Google

A glimpse ahead

Finding the right job posting takes a while

Tips from our students

Tens or even hundreds of applications sent out

Realistic job search for juniors

A word from our graduates

Fluent English is a must at work

A word from our graduate

Be ready for a test task and an additional technical interview

A word from our graduates

Not all interviews will be a success

A few words about the tech job market

You may be turned down

A word from our graduate

A handful of other tips

Create an A/B/Z plan for your career

Use your connections

Get experience

A word from our graduates

Personalize your CVs when sending them out

Add a video presentation of your project to social media

Keep track of your job search status

A word from our graduate

Suggest a trial period

Go for related positions

Prepare a project before the interview

Have a portfolio ready

Don’t get discouraged

A word from our graduates

Things you can already start doing as a Beetroot Academy student

Join the Study Buddy initiative

Be sure to attend career counseling

Let’s wrap it up

Checklist of first steps to finding a job in IT

Social media

CV and cover letter

Job search

English (if you’re not a native English speaker)

Interviews

Bonus: useful resources and further reading

And last but not least, don't give up and keep moving forward. Your dream offer is waiting for you and we have your back!