I started the online post-bacc program in January 2021 with two goals:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am on track to complete both goals by June 2022. Today I will talk about how I secured a job at a FAANG company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I began the post-bacc program I did some initial research on the process to land a job at a major tech company. I quickly learned that the entry-level job market is highly competitive. I read stories about how students submitted hundreds of applications only to land a handful of interviews, which led to only 1-2 job offers. Because of this, I made it a priority to begin preparing for my job search effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I also learned that in order to land a job in today’s entry-level market you need to succeed at the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, in addition to my regular coursework, I focused on these three areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Creating a resume that will pass screeners<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I started off with building my resume, since that was a requirement to apply to many jobs. I had an existing resume which included prior work experience that wasn’t directly relevant to the software engineer roles that I applied for. I used this existing resume to apply to jobs, and after a dozen rejections and no responses I realized the resume needed to be updated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before I started making resume updates, I researched online and found a few resume templates that people used to successfully land jobs at Big Tech. So, I decided to use one of these templates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moving onto the content revisions, I summarized all of my prior work experience (all not related to a SWE role) into three bullet points. I then highlighted my projects from OSU classes (CS344, CS290, CS340, CS162), as well as two personal projects (a minesweeper bot and a pet photo web app that uses machine learning). I also added a list of the languages and frameworks that I had learned while in the post-bacc program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After making these revisions, I tested out my new resume by submitting it along with a dozen job applications. Much to my delight, I received a couple interview invitations from a reputable companies. So, I took that as a sign that my resume could at least past some screeners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Submitting dozens of applications<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Through my research I found that the typical application effort for entry-level jobs is lengthy, faced with countless rejection, and basically a numbers game. So, I prepared myself mentally for this and set a goal of applying to at least 5 companies a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I attended one OSU career fair, but quickly realized this was not an efficient approach to applying for jobs. So, I searched for entry-level roles using LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Indeed, Handshake, and a bunch of other job boards. Once I found these jobs, I would apply to the role directly on the company’s website (during my research, I read that this was more effective so I took this approach).<\/p>\n\n\n\n My efforts were fruitful. I submitted 94 applications, and received 7 interview invitations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Performing well on the behavioral and technical interviews<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n My initial research helped me realize that the behavioral and technical interviews were the hardest part of the job search process. So, I prepared for these over the course of 6 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I prepared for the behavioral interviews through a couple of mock interviews through OSU, as well as using a peer-based interview prep service called Pramp. I also researched various behavioral question and response patterns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I prepared for the technical interviews by purchasing a Leetcode Premium membership, an Educative Premium membership, and the book ‘Cracking the Coding Interview’. I studied these materials and worked through practice problems. I also practiced technical interviews on Pramp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In total, I completed 43 Pramp mock interviews, 127 leetcode problems, and 74 educative problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it came time to interview I was still nervous. However, I was able to perform well enough thanks to the amount of time I spent preparing. And because of this I was able to land a solid entry-level job in Big Tech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The end?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Searching for a job was a rollercoaster ride. After countless rejections I began to feel inadequate. But then I’d land an interview and feel both joy and anxiety. I also failed interviews at a couple of my target companies, which made me feel like I would never get a job. But, I knew that I had no option but to persevere and keep grinding until I succeeded. And it all paid off!<\/p>\n\n\n\n I realize that this isn’t the end of my search for a job. I know that in the future I could find myself looking for another job for countless reasons. So, I plan to keep solving leetcode questions and taking Pramp technical\/behavioral interviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I have heard that the application process gets better once you have a couple years of experience under your belt. And that recruiters will reach out to you directly instead of you having to submit dozens of resumes. I guess I’ll find out in due time!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I started the online post-bacc program in January 2021 with two goals: To complete the program in 1.5 years To secure a full-time position at a major tech company I am on track to complete both goals by June 2022. Today I will talk about how I secured a job at a FAANG company. 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