In order to get into top tech companies as software engineers, the understanding of technical baseline material is just not enough.
You may know how to build a website in the MEAN stack, or put together an iOS or Android app for an agency, or you may have deep knowledge of data structures and algorithms. All these describe your knowledge of software engineering. It is definitely useful and important to understand these technical areas. In some jobs, you can excel with the knowledge of these basic things.
But at the top tech companies, this baseline knowledge is just half of the equation. The second half, which is more important, is the ability to combine this base knowledge to solve problems you have never come across before. This skill is most often overlooked. This skill helps a coding bootcamp graduate with a literature background to outperform a computer science graduate from a top university. This is the skill that equips a team of people with little direct experience to do better than larger companies.
So, this skill is to be developed first, meaning that you have to go beyond the baseline knowledge.
All tech working environments show a consistent trait and that is change. Fast-growing companies go through sea changes very quickly. At one time, you might be asked to optimize the performance on a highly trafficked app, next time you can be asked to make front end tweaks to optimize growth, next it may be to build out the backend for storing calendar data and so on.
A top tech company considers engineers who are able to figure it out, as a great resource. You must practice synthesizing solutions to unfamiliar problems. You will have to look into your toolbox and find out the best combination of tools to use, on being confronted with problems.
Following is the 6 step process for landing a job in a top tech company:
Learn to Code
The absolute minimum qualification you need to become a software engineer is to know how to code.
So, you must train in the programming fundamentals first and then learn the most advanced topics like web development, mobile development and game development, whatever interests you. Depending on your interests, you can learn any programming language.
Work on a few personal projects
Now, it’s time to put into practice whatever you’ve learned by building a few personal projects. First, you have to find out what you’re interested in building. If it’s photography, you can build a portfolio site for all your photos. If you are interested in trading stocks, you can build a system that analyzes stock charts for you. You can compete in a coding competition, if you enjoy problem-solving.
While working on a project, build as much as possible by yourself. Only if you get stuck on something, use online or offline resources for help.
Open Source Software projects provide an almost endless set of opportunities to practice the skill of software engineering.
Get your first programming job or internship
After you have built a few personal projects, try to grab your first programming job or internship. This will provide you with some experience before you start interviewing with top tech companies.
At first, it might be easier to get a job at a less well- known company, though getting a job at one of the top tech companies is also quite possible.
To get your first programming job, rather than applying for jobs online, use LinkedIn and in-person networking. On LinkedIn, you can find recruiters of the company you are interested in. You may ask them if you are qualified for the position of your interest and also how you can better prepare yourself if you’re not qualified yet. But this will be of help only, if you are applying for small-to-medium-sized companies.
For more popular companies, you must adopt the following strategies:
Attend career fairs and recruiting events
Get your friends working in those companies to refer you
Apply online
If you combine all the three strategies, chances are more of getting an interview with one of these top tech companies.
Learn Data structures and Algorithms
Algorithms and data structures are topics posed in interviews conducted by top tech companies like Google and Microsoft. So you must learn them.
Prepare for Coding Interview
At companies like Google and Microsoft, coding interviews are hard, but preparation is pretty straight-forward.
You must have a solid understanding of data structures and algorithms, you should practice coding problems, and after that start doing mock interviews. You can pair up with a friend and give each other problems. Then you can solve each problem on paper or on a Google doc and explain your solution to your friend. You should practice both as an interviewee and an interviewer.
After doing 20 or so mock interviews, you are fit for the real one.
Apply
Now, we are at the last step. Apply using all the strategies. You might not secure the job in the first attempt. Accept failures with grace. It is quite competitive to reach these companies. But you will make it one day.
Strong coding and problem-solving skills, a good understanding of CS fundamentals, and interesting projects and experience to show on your resume can help you land your dream job.
