Finding your first gig

Landing your first job in tech

I didn’t take the traditional path into design, no degree, no formal entry point. I worked, taught myself how to use Adobe Creative Cloud, and started designing for friends’ restaurants. A course in screen printing led to founding a small studio with friends, where I learned how to build something from the ground up. From there, I moved into graphic design and digital marketing — crafting micro-sites, campaigns, and learning how to tell stories through design. An immersive UX course eventually gave shape to what I do today. It wasn’t a straight line, but every skill I picked up along the way still shapes how I design and lead now.

Breaking into tech can feel daunting when every job asks for experience you don’t have. But everyone starts somewhere. With the right mindset and a clear plan, you can stand out, even without a traditional background.

Build real projects

Don’t just tell people what you can do, show them. Create projects that demonstrate your skills: a personal site, an app, or a redesign of an existing product. If you don’t have client work, build case studies around self-initiated ideas. Open-source contributions, freelance jobs, and personal experiments all show initiative and capability.

Learn in public

Share what you’re learning and building. Post progress, reflections, and challenges on LinkedIn or your own blog. It builds credibility and shows how you think, something hiring managers value as much as experience.

Network with intent

Real networking isn’t about cold messages, it’s about connection. Join communities, attend meetups, and start conversations. Reach out to people whose work you respect. Most opportunities come from genuine relationships, not job boards.

Tailor everything

Don’t spray the same resume across dozens of roles. Customise your application to the company and role. Highlight what’s relevant, tweak your portfolio, and write a cover note that sounds like a person, not a template. Effort shows, and it pays off.

Apply before you feel ready

Imposter syndrome is part of the process. Most job descriptions are wish lists, not strict checklists. If you meet most of the criteria and can learn fast, apply. Curiosity, resilience, and problem-solving count more than perfection.

Final thought

Your first job in tech won’t come from waiting, it’ll come from doing. Start small, build momentum, and keep showing up. The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll get there.