This is Part 2 of the “Stand out from the crowd”. Check out the Part 1 of this post for the first 5 tips on things you could do to distinguish yourself from the crowd, and here are the rest. These tips are not just for college students, but any working professional could draw parallels.
Build Projects / Apps / Websites
Similar to Hackathons, another great way to beef up your portfolio is by building some apps or websites on the side. The size of the project doesn’t matter. It could be as small as a simple c program to implement a bare bones unix shell, a simple website using WordPress or a fully functioning mobile app to track your expenses. Make sure that you publish your code on the sites like Github and include the links on your resume. Even if you code is not of ultra high quality, just mere presence of it online will set you apart from the rest.
Learn new Tech
Keep yourself up-to-date with the changes in technology. You could try to go either wide or deep. Going wide means having some knowledge of various technologies in some area, like machine learning or cloud computing. Going deep means focusing on a niche and become an expert at it. Find your interest, find the job area you are targeting and learn what’s relevant for that. It could be as narrow as becoming an expert in 1 programming language of your choice.
Certifications
Pursuing certifications like AWS certified cloud practitioner or IBM machine learning professional certificate etc are great ways to increase your knowledge and get an official stamp on it. If you a re student, identify certifications that are appropriate for your level of experience. Entry level certifications like AWS certified cloud practitioner could be a good start since it doesn’t need a ton of time commitment. The key again is identifying area of your interest and opportunity. If you never plan to pursue a career in cloud computing, there is hardly any benefit in going after cloud certifications.
Research what companies want
Different companies look for different things. For example, FAANG companies focus on Data Structures and Algorithms while financial firms may look for language specific skills. It is practically impossible to be really good at everything. If you are, more power to you! For the rest of us, if you know your target companies, spend some time on understanding what they want, and prepare and showcase your resume accordingly. Knowing some key things about the company will also come in handy in asking good, informed questions during the interviews.
Network
It is important to be good at something, but it is also equally important for others to know about your expertise and how you could add value. To avoid this post becoming too long, I will create a separate post on Networking tips, so stay tuned. The takeaway from this post is network with other students, professors, alumni and other professionals but do it in the right way. Please don’t ask for a job referral in your first interaction.
As you can see, these ideas are relevant not just for students, but for any working professional. Find out what is valued in your industry and up level your skills!
Why any of this matters?
Companies love learners. Amazon even has a Leadership Principle “Learn and be Curious”. Doing the above things proves that you are not just following the standard coursework or tasks, but that you are willing to go above and beyond. That you are willing to go out of your comfort zone. This shows that you don’t shy away from challenges. Put yourself in the hiring manager or recruiter’s shoes. Who would you want on your team? Someone who has taken cookie cutter courses or someone who has tried at least a few of the above things?
Do you have to do all of the above?
No. Focus on at least 1-2, but in a way that would give you some good data points on your resume. The earlier you start, the more achievements you will have. Start small, so it won’t look overwhelming.
You may say, but where will I find the time? How can I manage all of this along with the coursework or other daily responsibilities? No one said it will be easy. You stand out by working harder and smarter. If you really want to, you can find time. Just like you found time to read this lengthy post.
So who are you going to be? Someone who wakes up a month before graduation realizing that you don’t have a job and there isn’t much time left? Someone who lost a job but isn’t getting calls from recruiters? Or someone who decides to spend extra time right from the beginning in updating your skills and network? It won’t guarantee you success, but it will increase your odds greatly for sure. The choice is yours. I wish you all the best for your bright future.
As the catchphrase from Hunger Games goes.. “May the odds be ever in your favor!“
I’m the one who has started earlier upskilling and getting better every day, thank you Vineet for the advice.