Main image of article 10 Essential Actions for Every Tech Grad Before Graduation

Summary

If you’re just about to graduate college (or if you’ve just received your diploma, depending on when your school lets out), you’re likely wondering how to best position yourself for success in the tech world. Some graduates already have their first job secured midway through their senior year, while others are still seeking a position when graduation day hits—and both of those scenarios are okay!

Whatever your job status or plans, there are some high-impact actions you should take before departing campus for the last time. These steps are designed to ensure you embark on your tech career journey from the strongest possible foundation.

 

Why it matters: In the competitive tech landscape, hiring managers and recruiters are not merely looking for lists of skills; they demand tangible proof of your capabilities. While a resume efficiently itemizes your competencies, a well-crafted portfolio goes far beyond, demonstrating your practical application of those skills and your problem-solving prowess.

Action steps:

  • Diligently gather and curate a diverse collection of your finest work. This could include well-commented code samples from significant projects, polished design mockups that highlight your aesthetic and functional understanding, compelling data visualizations that reveal your analytical insights, or interactive product demos that demonstrate your end-to-end development abilities. Focus on quality over quantity, selecting pieces that genuinely reflect your strengths and interests.
  • For code-based projects, host your work on platforms like GitHub, ensuring that each repository includes meticulously written README files. These should not only explain the project's purpose and functionality but also detail the technologies used, installation instructions, and any unique challenges overcome. Comprehensive documentation significantly enhances the clarity and professionalism of your work.
  • Leverage accessible platforms to organize and present your portfolio in a professional and user-friendly manner. Options include GitHub Pages for static sites, Notion for a more content-rich and flexible approach, or dedicated personal website builders like Squarespace, Wix, or Webflow. The goal is to create a seamless experience for anyone reviewing your work.
  • Crucially, every item in your portfolio must be accompanied by context. Explain the core problem you aimed to solve, the specific tools and technologies you employed, the methodologies you followed, and, for any group projects, clearly delineate your precise role and contributions. This narrative provides vital insight into your thought process and problem-solving approach, adding significant value beyond just presenting the final output.

 

Why it matters: Your professors are not just educators; they are often deeply embedded within the industry and possess extensive networks. Cultivating these relationships can transform them into invaluable lifelong mentors, credible professional references, and direct conduits to significant industry connections. Their insights and endorsements can be pivotal for your early career trajectory.

Action steps:

  • Proactively request letters of recommendation now, while your academic performance, project contributions, and overall engagement are still fresh in their minds. Provide them with your updated resume, a description of the roles you're targeting, and specific examples of your work in their classes that you'd like them to highlight.
  • Initiate discussions about your burgeoning career plans. Seek their expert feedback on your resume and portfolio, as they can offer valuable critiques from an industry-informed perspective. Additionally, inquire about their opinions on different career paths or specializations within your field, leveraging their extensive experience.
  • Explicitly ask if they are aware of any relevant internships, cutting-edge research opportunities, or specific alumni contacts who might be beneficial to your job search. Professors often have privileged information about unadvertised opportunities or can make direct introductions to their professional network.

 

Why it matters: Your online footprint is often the first impression a recruiter or hiring manager receives. A professional and consistent online presence can significantly influence their perception of your suitability for a role, potentially determining whether you even receive a callback.

Action steps:

  • Ensure your LinkedIn profile is meticulously updated and comprehensive. Include all relevant projects, internships, and academic experiences. Craft a compelling and clear headline that immediately communicates your aspirations and specializations (e.g., "Computer Science Graduate Specializing in Machine Learning and Python Development" or "Aspiring UX Designer with a Focus on User-Centric Solutions"). Actively connect with peers, professors, and professionals in your target industry.
  • Rigorously scrub all your social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, etc.) of any content that could be perceived as unprofessional, inappropriate, or unduly polarizing. Unless a post directly contributes to your professional brand or aligns with your desired image, it's generally safer to remove it or adjust privacy settings. Remember that even seemingly innocuous content can sometimes be misinterpreted.
  • Establish a professional email address that reflects your name (e.g., [YourName]@[email.com] or [FirstInitial][LastName]@[email.com]). Avoid using casual, outdated, or potentially unprofessional email handles from your student days.
  • Consider investing in and setting up a personal domain (e.g., [YourName].dev, [YourName].tech, or [YourName]Portfolio.com). This not only looks highly professional but also provides a centralized, easy-to-remember hub where you can link directly to your portfolio, resume, LinkedIn profile, and any other relevant online presence.

 

Why it matters: Your resume serves as your initial introduction to potential employers, and a cluttered, vague, or poorly formatted document can significantly undermine even the most qualified applicant's chances. A precise, impactful resume is crucial for distinguishing yourself from a large applicant pool.

Action steps:

  • Quantify your achievements whenever possible. For example, instead of simply stating “Built a campus app,” elevate it to “Designed and built a REST API for a campus application that successfully served over 300 students, improving data access efficiency by 25 percent.” Using numbers demonstrates tangible impact and scale.
  • Create a distinct section dedicated to key technologies and programming languages you are proficient in. This allows recruiters to quickly scan for relevant keywords and assess your technical alignment with their requirements. Be specific (e.g., “Python, Java, JavaScript, React, SQL, AWS, Docker”).
  • Before submitting your resume, solicit feedback from at least one peer who understands the industry and, ideally, one mentor who is already established in the tech field. These individuals can offer invaluable perspectives on clarity, impact, and industry-specific expectations. Be open to constructive criticism and iterative improvements.
  • Always tailor your resume to the specific type of role you are pursuing. A resume for a developer position will highlight different skills and projects than one for a data analyst or a UX designer. Customize keywords, project descriptions, and skill emphasis to align directly with the job description of each application.

 

Why it matters: Technical interviews, which often involve coding challenges or whiteboard problem-solving, are a ubiquitous and critical component of the tech hiring process. Proficiency in these interviews is often the gateway to securing desirable roles, regardless of your other qualifications.

Action steps:

  • Engage in consistent and deliberate practice on platforms specifically designed for technical interview preparation, such as LeetCode, HackerRank, Interviewing.io, or AlgoExpert. Focus on understanding the underlying patterns and optimal solutions rather than just memorizing answers.
  • Thoroughly review and solidify your understanding of core Computer Science fundamentals. This includes various data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps), common algorithms (sorting, searching, recursion, dynamic programming), and an acute awareness of time and space complexity (Big O notation) for different operations and algorithms.
  • Participate in mock interview groups with peers or utilize online peer practice tools. Practicing articulating your thought process aloud, explaining your code, and handling common interview questions in a simulated environment can significantly boost your confidence and performance.

Why it matters: Your university's career center is not just a resource; it's a dedicated support system specifically designed to help students transition into professional careers. It can be an invaluable goldmine of opportunities, guidance, and connections, provided you proactively engage with its offerings.

Action steps:

  • Schedule one-on-one career counseling sessions with a career advisor. These professionals can provide personalized advice on resume optimization, interview strategies, job search techniques, and even help you identify career paths that align with your interests and skills.
  • Attend the various workshops offered by career services, focusing on topics such as resume building, cover letter writing, LinkedIn optimization, networking strategies, and effective job search methodologies. These workshops provide practical tools and knowledge that can refine your approach.
  • Inquire about upcoming job fairs, on-campus recruiting visits by employers, and the university's alumni networking events. These are often direct pathways to companies that are actively seeking to hire new graduates.
  • Do not hesitate to request introductions to companies or alumni who are working in your desired field. Career services often maintain strong relationships with employers and a robust network of successful alumni who are keen to support current students.

 

Why it matters: University and college alumni often feel a strong sense of affinity and a desire to give back to their alma mater. A warm introduction or a brief informational interview with an alumnus can open doors and provide insights that are simply inaccessible through a cold application process.

Action steps:

  • Utilize your university’s official alumni database, if available, or leverage LinkedIn's powerful search filters to identify graduates who are currently working in your target roles, companies, or industries. Look for individuals whose career paths resonate with your aspirations.
  • When reaching out, craft a concise, respectful, and personalized message. Clearly state your connection to the university, briefly explain why you're reaching out (e.g., "seeking advice on breaking into software engineering at Company X"), and explicitly ask for a brief 15-minute informational interview or advice session, emphasizing that you value their insights into their career journey.
  • Always follow up with a genuine thank-you message after any interaction. More importantly, cultivate these relationships by occasionally sharing updates on your progress or relevant industry news. Maintaining a warm connection can lead to future mentorship opportunities or direct referrals.

 

Why it matters: The tech hiring cycle often begins much earlier than many students realize. Numerous companies, particularly larger enterprises with structured new graduate programs, commence their recruitment processes months in advance. Being an early applicant positions you for the best selection of opportunities.

Action steps:

  • Begin submitting job applications at least 3 to 4 months before your anticipated graduation date. This proactive approach ensures you're considered for roles before they are filled and allows ample time for the often lengthy interview processes.
  • Do not be deterred from applying if you don't perfectly meet every single qualification listed in a job description. Entry-level roles, in particular, frequently include a list of "nice-to-have" skills rather than strict "must-haves." If you possess a significant portion of the core requirements and believe you can grow into the role, apply.
  • Focus your job search on platforms and job boards that cater specifically to new graduates and entry-level positions.

 

Why it matters: Compensation for entry-level tech roles can vary significantly based on factors such as geographical location, company size and prestige, and crucially, your ability to effectively negotiate your offer. Learning to articulate your value can have a substantial impact on your starting salary and overall compensation package.

Action steps:

  • Thoroughly research typical compensation ranges for roles and companies you're interested in using specialized platforms like Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, and Blind. These sites provide salary data, interview insights, and benefit information from current and former employees, offering a realistic understanding of market rates. You can also check out the Dice Tech Salary Report.
  • Familiarize yourself with fundamental negotiation techniques. Understand that the first offer is rarely the final offer. Learn to articulate your value, be prepared to justify your salary expectations based on your research and skills, and confidently discuss total compensation including salary, bonuses, stock options, and benefits.
  • Practice discussing salary expectations professionally and confidently. Be prepared to state a well-researched salary range or to politely defer the discussion until later in the process if you haven't yet determined your precise value or if the company hasn't provided sufficient details about the role.

 

Why it matters: Demonstrating foresight and initiative by presenting a proactive 30-60-90 day plan showcases maturity, strategic thinking, and a clear sense of direction—qualities highly valued by employers looking for driven, self-starting professionals.

Action steps:

  • Outline specific, actionable goals for your first three months in a new role. Consider what skills you aim to improve (e.g., “deepen proficiency in AWS cloud services”), any relevant certifications you plan to earn (“achieve AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner”), and how you will effectively onboard and integrate into the team and company culture (“understand team's CI/CD pipeline within the first month”).

  • Set measurable objectives for different timeframes. For instance, within the first 30 days, your goals might include “Meet and establish rapport with 5 key cross-functional team members” or “Complete all mandatory onboarding training and internal system setups.” For 60 days, “Contribute to a minor feature or bug fix.” By 90 days, aim for “Successfully ship a small feature independently” or “Propose an idea to automate a repetitive team process.”

  • Consider sharing this plan during your final interview stages or, even more effectively, after receiving an offer but before formally accepting. This demonstrates an exceptional level of preparedness, enthusiasm, and commitment to making an immediate and meaningful impact, often setting you apart from other candidates.

 

You have dedicated years to building your technical foundation—now is the moment to set your professional trajectory. These action items are not merely about securing your first job; they are about launching a career that aligns with your personal goals, core values, and immense potential. You only experience graduation once—make the effort to ensure it’s the launching pad for a truly remarkable tech career.