Feb 12, 2025

The Job Hunt: Landing My First Software Engineering Role

From Bootcamp to Job Applications

Graduating from General Assembly was a huge milestone, but let’s be honest—the real challenge starts **after** the bootcamp. Now, I’m diving into the world of job applications, technical interviews, and LinkedIn networking.

Job hunting is **a full-time job in itself**, and I’ve quickly learned that **consistency and strategy** are key. Here’s a breakdown of what I’ve been doing to land my first software engineering role.

Optimizing My LinkedIn Profile

If you’re job hunting in tech, your **LinkedIn profile is everything**. I made sure mine was fully updated with:

✅ A professional (but approachable) **profile picture**
✅ A compelling **headline** (e.g., "Full-Stack Engineer | JavaScript, Python, Django, React")
✅ A summary that **tells my story**—how I transitioned from finance to coding
✅ **Featured projects** with live links and GitHub repos
✅ Engaging **posts** about my learning journey

I’ve also been **actively networking**, reaching out to recruiters, and commenting on posts to stay visible. If you’re also job searching, **don’t sleep on LinkedIn!**

Applying Smart, Not Just Applying More

One of the biggest mistakes people make is **applying to 100+ jobs with the same generic resume**. Instead, I’m focusing on:

🎯 **Quality over quantity** – Tailoring my resume for each job
🎯 Using **keywords from job descriptions** to beat ATS filters
🎯 Reaching out directly to hiring managers and engineers
🎯 Applying to companies that align with my **tech stack and values**

It's tempting to apply everywhere, but focusing on **intentional applications** actually increases my chances of getting interviews.

Preparing for Technical Interviews

Coding interviews can be intimidating, but they’re also **just another skill to learn**. My prep routine includes:

💡 **LeetCode (Easy & Medium)** – Focusing on arrays, strings, and recursion
💡 **System design basics** – Understanding REST APIs, databases, and caching
💡 **Mock interviews** – Practicing whiteboarding with friends & mentors
💡 **Behavioral questions** – Using the **STAR method** (Situation, Task, Action, Result)

Interviews are nerve-wracking, but I’m taking it one step at a time. Progress over perfection!

Job Hunting: The Emotional Side

Let’s be real—job searching can be **mentally exhausting**. Some days I feel confident, and other days I get rejection emails before my coffee even kicks in. But here’s what’s helping me stay motivated:

💙 Celebrating **small wins** – Every interview, networking call, and coding challenge counts.
💙 Connecting with **other job seekers** – We’re all in this together.
💙 **Taking breaks** – Stepping away from the screen helps prevent burnout.

If you’re in the job search grind too, just know—**you’re not alone**. Keep going, because the right opportunity is out there!