Tools for Success: The Best Job Application Tools That Will Help New Computer Science Grads
Today’s job market is incredibly competitive, and that goes double for computer science grads. With the demand for skilled software engineers continuing to skyrocket, landing a programming job can be a real challenge. But don’t lose hope! There are plenty of tools available to make your job hunt easier and more effective. Here’s a list of some of the best job application tools for computer science grads that you should definitely check out if you’re planning on launching your career as an entry-level software engineer.
Behance
Behance is a social networking site specifically geared toward creative professionals, including programmers. It can be a great place to showcase your code samples and other technical work samples, especially if you’re applying to jobs that require creative problem-solving. You can also use Behance to create a portfolio and an online resume, which lets you include the samples you’ve uploaded along with plenty of other information like your education history, previous job experience, etc. If you’ve never created a portfolio before, or if you’re not sure what to put in your portfolio, then you can use Behance to get some ideas for what you might include.
Dropbox
Dropbox is a cloud storage company that also offers a free job search tool called Dropbox for Jobs. It’s an easy way to organize your job search, letting you save job listings to view later and share them with friends or family members who may also be looking for work. There are plenty of other tools available for managing your job search, but Dropbox for Jobs is especially useful for computer science grads because it integrates with your other job search tools. It currently integrates with Hubspot, Lever, LinkedIn, and Indeed. If you’re using any of these tools during your job search, then you should definitely check out Dropbox for Jobs.
Hackerrank
If you’re applying to technical jobs and you can code, then you should definitely check out Hackerrank. It’s a platform that lets you practice coding challenges and get feedback from mentors. You can also use it to find programming jobs that let you show off your code samples as part of your application, or you can apply for programming jobs that require you to use Hackerrank as part of the hiring process. If you’re looking for a job that lets you show off your coding skills, then Hackerrank is a great way to find it. And if you already have a job, then you can use Hackerrank to make sure you’re staying ahead of the curve.
Leverage Networking That Doesn’t Suck
If you’re looking for a job, then you should definitely make as many connections as you can, and you should start early. You don’t have to wait until you actually need a job to start networking though — making connections now can help you in lots of different ways throughout your career. You can meet people in a variety of ways: attend meetups, go to conferences, join online communities, etc. You can also use certain job search tools to make networking easier. For example, you can use your LinkedIn network to find people who work at the companies you want to work for.
LinkedIn is the go-to social networking site for finding a job and networking with other people in your industry. You should definitely build a profile on the site and make sure it is up to date, and you should also start connecting with people as soon as you’re done building your profile. You can use LinkedIn to find programming jobs, and you can also use it to find mentors who can help you get ahead in your career. You can find both jobs and mentors by searching for relevant terms and clicking on the “Jobs” or “People” tabs at the top of the screen. You can also use the “Who’s Viewed Your Profile” feature to find potential mentors and people who can help you advance in your career.
Resume Review and Mock Interviews
You can help yourself a lot joining a mentorship program. You'll have a coach to look over your resume and give you feedback. A coach can also help you prepare for job interviews to using mock interviews to make sure you’re ready for the real thing. This is a great way to make sure you’re prepared for whatever an interviewer might throw at you.
Pro-Tip: Your mentor and career coach should be someone who works in a company like the one you want to work for in the job you want to do.
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