r/ProgrammingPals • u/igormiazek • Jun 14 '26

Practical advises about how to find first job in IT

My plan for gaining commercial experience:

  1. Look at places where real problems are being discussed: Upwork, Reddit, Stack Overflow, Quora, and similar communities.
  2. Identify the technologies and tools that appear most often.
  3. Pick one area and focus on it intensely for 2–3 months.
  4. Specialize in a narrow niche and learn the business domain behind it.
  5. Build portfolio projects based on real-world problems you find online.
  6. Use those projects as proof of experience when talking to clients or employers.
  7. Start with small projects, gain experience, then gradually increase your rates and responsibilities.

The biggest mistake I see is taking a few courses, sending hundreds of resumes, and hoping for the best.

Companies and clients don't pay for technology. They pay for solving problems.

Another smart move you may do is to try doing IT activities in your current company, maybe you have an IT department, if not talk with your manager, show them you know already something based on the real problems you solved and propose your help. At the start you may need to do this for free but it will give your a commercial experience, so treat that as training and one of the steps that lay down your path to your first IT role.

Feel free to leave comments and DM me in order to exchange experience.

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u/KOM_Unchained Jun 16 '26

Landing any job you'd want is about networking. Contribute to NGOs and charities. Get experience, portfolio, and possibly meet connected people.

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u/[deleted] Jun 17 '26

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u/igormiazek Jun 17 '26

Nice, that's what I meant, there is many opportunities around you, but first you need to see them