How to get your first job, without a college degree (Part 1)

How to get your first job, without a college degree (Part 1)

Here's a simple playbook to getting your first job in tech without a college degree. Warning: "simple" does not mean "easy". There is no shortcut.

This post is for you if …

  • You have zero paid job experience in Tech.
  • You don't have a university degree, or a degree that matches the job you're pursuing.
  • You have "imposter syndrome" which means you feel like you don't have what it takes to get a job because you don't have enough experience or knowledge. (Spoiler alert: everyone has imposter syndrome, no matter how much they know or who they are. You're not alone.)

I'm going to focus on how you can get your first job as a Software Developer (also called an "Engineer") but you can use this same playbook for any job that doesn't require higher education. (Surgeons and Doctors, please keep going to University!)

Why am I qualified to write on this topic? I'm the CEO and Founder of Treehouse and we've taught 650,000 people how to code and design. We've seen thousands of our students get their first job without a university degree or previous experience. This post is based on my first-hand real-world experience both hiring people myself and seeing our students get hired.

Weeks 1-4: Create a simple one-page web site or app 

If you’re enrolled in a Treehouse Techdegree, you will accomplish this by completing Unit One. If you’re enrolled in Treehouse Courses, you’ll be ready after completing a couple Courses in a Track.

A couple of tips … 

  1. As you’re watching videos, tackling Code Challenges, and passing Quizzes, you should start building your very first simple web site or app. Do not wait until the end of the course. This will cement your knowledge and help you feel like you’re making progress. I use a Treehouse Workspace to make this super easy. By week four, you’ve already built something, because you’ve been building a little bit every day as you learn, instead of waiting till the end and then feeling overwhelmed.
  2. Your first site or app does not need to be impressive. It will actually feel pretty pathetic and small, and that’s 100% OK. All that matters is that you complete it. Remember that you’re not a full-time developer yet, so you shouldn’t expect yourself to be building something that a professional would create.
  3. Use Pomodoro Timers to make learning feel less daunting. A Pomodoro Timer is simply this: set a timer for 25 minutes, and work on your learning until the timer goes off. Turn off your notifications and focus 100%. Instead of feeling like you have to climb a huge mountain of learning all at once, you simply have to learn for 25 minutes, and then you’re done for the day.
  4. Add a “Learning” calendar appointment to your calendar, at least five days a week, for at least 30 minutes. Put this at a time in the day when you have mental energy and you can focus. All of you parents: this is a great time to give your kiddos some screen time so you’re not interrupted.
  5. Tell a friend that you’d like them to help hold you accountable to complete your 5-6 learning sessions each week. Create an agreement with them by asking if you can text them every Friday at 9am to tell them if you completed your learning sessions the previous week. Just knowing you’re going to have to tell someone whether you kept your commitment will help encourage you to stick to it. Even more effective is asking them if you can text them every day at 9am to report how you did yesterday.

In my next newsletter, I'll dive into weeks 5-12, where you'll begin to create your resume experience.

Please share this article with all your friends who are looking for their first job 🙏🏻😃

Felix Morara

Web & SEO | Networking | Cyber Security

3y

This is interesting!!

Anderson Lee I thought of you as I read this post and wondered what your recommendations would be regarding this topic. I agree with most of what has already been said, but I would like to suggest a properly organized skills sheet. Because unless you are being referred, you are going to need to apply online and your skills sheet would help those algorithms choose you.

nice article and https://www.koresume.com #koresume can help you customize your resume

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Glenn Cole

Software Developer at Moebius Solutions, Inc.

3y

It's a question that has haunted job seekers for decades, even those with a degree. It seems times are changing, though: there was a time when graduates of Computer Learning Center (for example) were seen as not having had nearly enough training. Today, there are many avenues for acquiring tech skills without needing a four-year degree. And for all their advanced training, today's CS grads don't necessarily do any better at the practical test. So this is certainly a welcome topic.

Emmett Naughton

Frontend/Full-Stack Developer (React, Vue, and Node)

3y

Yes!!!!

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