Main image of article Your First Resume and Portfolio: What Tech Hiring Managers Really Want to See

Summary

As a new tech graduate, you’ve probably heard this more than once: “You need experience to get experience.” But when you haven’t held a full-time job yet, how do you convince employers you’re ready? This is exactly the sort of conundrum that drives tech pros crazy when they’re first starting out.

The answer lies in crafting a smart, strategic resume, cover letter, GitHub portfolio, and project showcase that demonstrate your technical skills, problem-solving mindset, and potential to grow. With competition higher than ever for entry-level roles, these assets can make or break your chances of landing that crucial first interview.

Here’s how to build a standout application package that hiring managers will actually pay attention to.

Your resume often serves as the initial point of contact between you and a recruiter or hiring manager. It’s critical to make this first impression count by presenting a document that is focused, clear, and highlights your achievements, even in academic or personal projects. Make sure it includes the following elements—some of these might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised at what some candidates neglect to include:

  • Contact Information: Ensure this section is prominently displayed and accurate. Include your full name, professional phone number, and email address; if you have space, also consider adding additional links, such as your GitHub profile or professional website URL.
  • Professional Summary (Recommended): This optional but highly valuable one-paragraph statement should concisely articulate your key technical skills, career aspirations, and the unique contributions you can bring to a team. Tailor this summary to each specific job application.
  • Skills Section: Clearly list your relevant technical proficiencies. Categorize them for better readability (e.g., Programming Languages, Frameworks, Databases, Cloud Technologies, Tools). Include specific examples such as Python, React, SQL, AWS, Git, and Docker.
  • Projects: This section is paramount for entry-level candidates. Showcase 2-3 significant personal or academic projects that effectively demonstrate your ability to conceive, develop, and potentially deploy a functional application or solution. For each project, briefly describe its purpose, your role, the technologies used, and the outcomes or key features.
  • Education: Include your degree, the name of the institution, and your graduation date. If relevant, list pertinent coursework that directly aligns with the target role, such as Data Structures, Algorithms, Software Engineering, or Database Management. Mention any academic honors or relevant extracurricular activities.
  • Experience (If Applicable): Include any internships, freelance work, relevant part-time jobs, or even significant volunteer roles. Focus on quantifying your achievements and highlighting transferable skills such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and time management.

  • Employ Action Verbs: Begin your bullet points with strong action verbs that convey your accomplishments. Examples include “Developed,” “Engineered,” “Implemented,” “Optimized,” “Collaborated,” and “Analyzed.”

  • Quantify Your Achievements: Whenever possible, use numbers and metrics to demonstrate the impact of your work. For instance, instead of saying “Improved application performance,” state “Reduced application load time by 25 percent by optimizing database queries." Or, “Built a mobile application that gained 500+ active users within the first month.” Always remember that dropping stats around your personal projects or schoolwork is just as valid as a more experienced tech pro doing the same thing about their longtime job.
  • Tailor for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS): Many companies use ATS to filter resumes based on keywords. Carefully review the job description and incorporate relevant keywords and phrases naturally throughout your resume. Avoid excessive use of graphics, tables, or unusual formatting that might confuse the ATS.

  • Including Irrelevant Experience: Unless a part-time job clearly demonstrates transferable skills directly applicable to the tech role, it's best to omit it. Focus on experiences that highlight your technical aptitude or relevant soft skills.

  • Listing Every Task: Don't simply list your responsibilities. Instead, focus on your accomplishments and the results you achieved in each role or project.
  • Using Vague Language: Avoid generic phrases like “hard-working,” “team player,” or “results-oriented” without providing specific examples that illustrate these qualities.
  • And Please, Please, Please… don’t use the term “code ninja.” Or “rockstar.” We’re begging you.

While a cover letter might not always be explicitly required, a well-crafted one can significantly elevate your application and demonstrate your genuine interest in the specific role and company. It provides an opportunity to personalize your application beyond the resume. Here’s the recommended cover letter structure:

  • Opening Paragraph: Clearly state the specific position you are applying for and where you saw the job posting. If you have a referral or connection within the company, mention it here to immediately grab the reader's attention. Briefly state why you are interested in this particular opportunity.
  • Body Paragraph(s): This is your chance to connect your skills and experiences to the specific requirements of the job description. Focus on one or two key projects or experiences from your resume that directly align with the role's responsibilities. Highlight your enthusiasm for the company's mission, values, or the specific technologies they utilize. Explain why you are a good fit for their team and culture.
  • Closing Paragraph: Reiterate your strong interest in the position and your eagerness to learn more in an interview. Clearly state your availability for an interview and thank the hiring manager for their time and consideration.

  • Personalize Each Letter: Generic cover letters are easily recognizable and often discarded. Address the hiring manager by name if possible (research on LinkedIn or the company website can help). Reference specific projects, initiatives, or values of the company that resonate with you.

  • Be Concise: Aim for a maximum of 3-4 well-structured paragraphs. Hiring managers have limited time, so get straight to the point and highlight the most relevant information.
  • Maintain a Confident and Friendly Tone: Project your passion for technology and problem-solving. Let your genuine enthusiasm shine through in your writing. Proofread meticulously for any grammatical errors or typos.

For tech roles, your GitHub profile serves as a dynamic portfolio that allows hiring managers to directly assess your coding abilities, collaboration skills, and project organization. It's a crucial element in demonstrating your practical experience. If you’re new to the tech industry, a GitHub profile with tons of links to personal projects will show you have what it takes to succeed.

  • Code Quality: They will examine the cleanliness, readability, and logical structure of your code. Consistent formatting and clear comments are essential.

  • Project Structure: A well-organized repository with logical folders, comprehensive documentation, and effective use of version control (Git) demonstrates professionalism.
  • Activity: Regular and meaningful contributions show that you are actively engaged in coding, learning, and improving. Consistent commit history is a positive indicator.
  • Breadth and Depth: A few well-developed and polished projects are far more impressive than numerous incomplete or superficial ones. Focus on quality over quantity.

  • Detailed README Files: For each project, include a comprehensive readme file that explains:

    • What the project does and its purpose.
    • Clear instructions on how to run the project locally.
    • A list of the programming languages, frameworks, libraries, and tools used.
    • Visual aids like screenshots or animated GIFs demonstrating the application's functionality.
  • Pin Relevant Repositories: Utilize GitHub's pinning feature to showcase your 3-6 most impressive and relevant repositories at the top of your profile.
  • Contribute to Open Source: Participating in open-source projects, even by fixing documentation or contributing small features, demonstrates your ability to collaborate and work within existing codebases.

Your personal or academic projects provide tangible evidence of your technical skills and initiative, especially when you lack formal work experience. They allow you to demonstrate your ability to apply theoretical knowledge to practical problems. Here are some key aspects of projects that hiring managers could find impressive:

  • Addresses a Real-World Problem: Even if it's a small-scale issue, a project that solves a tangible problem demonstrates your problem-solving mindset and practical application of technology.
  • Demonstrates Full-Stack Thinking: Projects that involve both front-end and back-end development, or encompass the entire development lifecycle from coding to deployment, showcase a broader understanding of software engineering principles.
  • Is Hosted Live: Deploying your projects to publicly accessible platforms like Netlify, Vercel, Heroku, or GitHub Pages allows hiring managers to interact with your work directly.

  • A personal budgeting or expense-tracking application.

  • A portfolio website built from scratch using modern web development technologies.
  • A simple API that you have created and documented with clear usage instructions.
  • A data visualization dashboard that analyzes and presents insights from publicly available datasets.
  • A clone of a popular application (like a task management tool or social media platform) with your own unique features or design.

  • Clearly state the project name, the core technologies used (tech stack), and provide a concise description of its functionality and purpose.

  • Include direct links to the GitHub repository containing the source code and to the live demo or deployed application.
  • Use bullet points to highlight the key challenges you encountered and the outcomes or features you implemented. For example: “Implemented user authentication and authorization using OAuth 2.0 for secure access.”

While not a mandatory component, a personal website can serve as a centralized hub for all your professional assets, including your resume, GitHub projects, contact information, and even blog posts. It demonstrates a proactive and organized approach to your career presentation.

  • A brief professional biography and a readily downloadable version of your resume in PDF format.

  • A visually appealing project gallery showcasing screenshots and links to your GitHub repositories and live demos.
  • A clear and easy-to-use contact form or your professional email address.
  • Direct links to your GitHub and LinkedIn profiles.
  • Bonus: A simple blog where you write about technical challenges you've overcome, tutorials you've created, or your thoughts on emerging technologies can further showcase your communication skills and problem-solving abilities.

When you are just beginning your tech career, your resume, portfolio, and GitHub presence collectively represent your “experience.” They narrate a story not just of what you have already done, but more importantly, of what you are capable of achieving. Investing the time and effort to meticulously craft these materials can be the crucial factor that unlocks interview opportunities, leads to callbacks, and ultimately lands you that first tech job.