Career Hub · Resource
Start a tech career with no experience
Getting started
Checklist
- Choose a specific target role and read the career path guide
- Set up a public GitHub profile
- Update LinkedIn headline to match target role
- Build one portfolio project with a full README
- Write a two-page CV tailored to your target role
- Apply to 10 to 15 roles per week
- Attend one community event or meetup per month
- Track every application in a spreadsheet
Breaking into tech without a degree or prior experience is normal and achievable. The candidates who succeed do three things well: they pick one specific lane and go deep, they build evidence they can do the work, and they network deliberately rather than randomly.
Step 1: Choose one lane
The biggest mistake career starters make is trying to learn everything. Cloud, data, security, and QA are all accessible without a background, but each requires three to six months of focused study. Pick one. Read the career path guide on this hub for your target role to understand what employers actually want.
Step 2: Set up your environment before you start applying
You need a public GitHub profile with at least one project. You need a LinkedIn profile with a clear headline that matches your target role. You need a two-page CV in a clean format. These three things must exist before you submit your first application.
Step 3: Build one project that demonstrates you can do the job
A junior cloud engineer needs a Terraform project. A data analyst needs an end-to-end SQL and dashboard project. A QA engineer needs a Playwright test suite. A cyber security candidate needs a write-up of a TryHackMe investigation. One project documented well outperforms five half-finished tutorials.
Step 4: Apply in volume with tailored first paragraphs
Target 10 to 15 applications per week to roles labelled junior, graduate, associate, or entry-level. Tailor only the first paragraph of your cover letter or CV summary to the specific role. Mirror the tools and skills listed in the job description where you genuinely have them.
Step 5: Treat every interview as a learning event
Expect 50 to 100 applications before your first offer. Every interview, whether it leads to an offer or not, gives you information about what employers want. Review what questions surprised you, look up the answers, and practise them before the next one.
Common traps to avoid
Do not spend more than three months studying before you start applying. Do not apply to roles that require five years of experience. Do not skip networking: a warm introduction from a community connection converts to interviews at a dramatically higher rate than a cold application.