This video is sponsored by Notion Whoa.
What the!?
Who the are hell you!?
I said who are you!?
220...!?
I got eliminated from Squid Game for Software Engineers recently
So...?
You help prospective Software Engineers, right?
Yeah..
Now that I’m eliminated, I would like to know how to land a Software Engineering job
Alright, cool.
Why didn’t you say so earlier?
Geez, you scared the hell out of me, man.
haven’t we met before?
Wait, hold on...
Aren’t you...?
Nope, I don’t know you Alright.
Let’s take a look at your resume.
I...
I don’t have one...
You are looking for a job, and you don’t even have a resume?
Alright, after this video, I want you to take a look at my very first video.
I introduce myself using my own resume.
You can even find a copy of it in my Discord server, so make sure to join it, download
it, and use it as a benchmark to draft your own, alright?
Cool.
Do you have any work experience?
I have some hacking experience…
okay...?
Will this be your first job fresh out of college?
No worries.
That’s why I’m here to help.
Alright.
I’ll share the three things I did to eventually land a full-time Software Engineering job.
None of which is a requirement, but all of which will significantly improve your chance
of getting a job.
Wanna hear about them?
Cool.
But before we do, what productivity app do you use?
I don’t.
I write everything in my diary.
I even keep and manage all my schedule here too.
Hey man.
It’s 2022.
With all due respect, you can’t possibly call yourself a Software Engineer when you
write everything down manually with pen and pencil, alright?
Before I share my tips, you need to know how to use the extremely important, super productive
app, Notion.
Notion is a productivity software that is used for note-taking, task management, and
project management.
It's also a collaboration platform that integrates kanban boards, tasks, wikis, and databases.
I'm a heavy notion user myself, and I honestly think it's a must-have app for everyone.
It's literally the all-in-one workspace for note-taking and task management.
For example, I keep a database of all the movies I've watched, all the books I've read,
and all the YouTube videos that I created or plan to create.
Since everything's stored in the cloud, I can easily share the script with my wife and
review it before we begin filming.
I even set up a customized table that keeps track of all my extra income, automatically
calculates the gross amount and the taxes due, all in one page.
It's amazing how creative you can be because it's super customizable!
You can design an entire system, automate your workflow, create your own templates,
and much more!
Most importantly, it's the New Year!
And isn't a New Year much more about setting one resolution — about having the life that
you want, and doing the work that matters to you?
To help you get better organized for it, I'll share my simple template that puts together
all the books I've read so far.
It doesn't have to be just books.
You can use the same template to organize all the movies you've seen or the games you've
played.
I'll also include the formula that automatically calculates how long it took you to finish
them, so check it out in the descriptions below.
But I don’t have any money...
Notion is free for personal use.
Alright, back to the three things I did to eventually land a full-time Software Engineering
job.
The first one is projects.
Projects?
Yes, projects.
What do you think is the number one thing that employers look for from potential candidates?
Top university?
Computer Science degree?
Or GPA?
Wrong.
The first thing that all employers look for from any candidates is work experience.
But I’m a student, and we’re talking about getting the first job.
How can I have work experience when I’m looking for my first job?
Hear me out, man.
What you need as a first time job seeker is the ability to persuade employers that you
are capable.
Show them that you are capable of developing professional software despite not having any
work experience.
Treat your personal project as an unpaid professional work.
Don’t go off building a simple todo list or an app that tracks the number of times
a user clicked a button.
That’s not a professional project; it’s a joke.
Don’t be afraid to devote several weeks building your own project.
Most enterprise apps take months if not years to be production ready.
What you need are the ability to persevere all the uncertainties ahead of you and the
time of dedication to focus on building your own professional portfolio.
What should I build?
Start with a website.
Watch the free tutorials on YouTube like freeCodeCamp.org and Traversy Media.
Learn JavaScript, React, and Node.
Create a website, full-stack, host it on the web for anyone to see.
Showing the recruiters your source code on your GitHub speaks little; but your website
says much more.
What about its content?
What kind of website should I make?
As I said earlier, don’t do stuff anyone can do.
Rather, try to solve a real-world problem.
A real-world problem?
I know a guy who created a menu app for a local restaurant owner.
The owner’s not techie at all, so he didn’t have any presence online.
The guy created a small mobile-friendly website for the owner, free of charge.
But in the process, he learned how to create a full-stack website from scratch not to mention
how to deploy and host everything on cloud.
He didn’t get paid for doing it, but hey, he’s learned something that even money can’t
buy.
What about you?
Have you made any websites?
Oh, yea.
I mention in this video that I made my own bookkeeping app.
It integrates with Plaid APIs to get the financial data needed to manage, visualize, and keep
track of my household’s financial status.
I make informed decisions based off it and try to keep a consistent control over my expenses.
Nice.
Anything else?
Do you have any other projects?
I made a few games including an award-winning one back when I was in Japan.
Japan...?
I lived in Japan for two years after graduating Carnegie Mellon University.
Back then, my dream was to become a game developer.
I especially loved JRPGs, so I decided to just fly there directly and learn.
Oh...
First year, I attended a language school to learn Japanese.
Then I attended a game school in Tokyo to study game development.
After 6 months of learning how to create games in C, I participated in an amateur game development
festival and won the bronze award or fourth place with a game called SPIKE.
Nice.
Having a record like that does help you a lot especially in finding your first job.
Did you mention that in your interviews?
Of course, man!
I still have it on my resume.
In fact, it’s this award that impressed the Japanese employers during my first job
interview.
Heh, Sugoine!
Listen.
Remember what I said.
Treat your personal project like a professional work.
During the early stage of your career, pay shouldn’t be your top priority; but your
growth is.
Think of it as an investment.
You are investing in yourself.
Report card is one thing, but all employers want the same thing: proof.
Proof?
A proof that you are indeed capable.
Work on creating your own personal professional portfolio.
Prove to the employers that you are more than just an average student - that you already
have what it takes to complete the tasks in this industry.
I want you to be a guy who not only is ready for opportunities but also creates one.
Opportunities are yours to make.
Don’t just passively wait for them to come; create your own.
Be proactive.
Build projects.
A website.
An app!
Let the world know of what you’re capable of.
I see.
Thanks for the tips.
That really is helpful.
I think I know what to do now.
Good.
Next time, I’ll tell you about the other two things I did to land a full-time Software
Engineering job.
You interested?
Good.
Make sure to like and subscribe if you don’t wanna miss it.
Hey man, you are scaring the shit out of