How to Get Your First Developer Job

How to Get Your First Developer Job Getting your first developer job might feel overwhelming. You’re competing with CS graduates, bootcamp students, and self-taught developers from around the world. Companies ask for “3 years of experience” for entry-level roles. How can you possibly break in?

How to Get Your First Developer Job

The good news? You don’t need a degree or 5 years of experience — you need a strategy.

This guide will show you how to get your first developer job by:

• Building in-demand skills

• Creating a project-rich portfolio

• Showcasing your work online

• Networking with real professionals

• Applying smartly and standing out in interviews

• How to Get Your First Developer Job

Let’s break it down step by step.

Learn the Fundamentals of Web Development

Before you apply anywhere, you need a solid base in coding. For most entry-level jobs, that means web development skills:

 Front-End (Client Side)

• HTML & CSS: Structure and style your websites

• JavaScript (ES6+): Make them interactive

• Responsive Design: Use Flexbox, Grid, Media Queries

 Back-End (Server Side)

• Node.js / Express.js (or Python with Flask/Django)

• Working with APIs (GET, POST, CRUD)

• Databases: MongoDB, PostgreSQL, or MySQL

 External Resources to Learn From

• freeCodeCamp.org – free full curriculum

• The Odin Project – complete open-source roadmap

• MDN Web Docs – official docs

Step 2: Choose a Tech Stack

Pick one full stack to master. For beginners:

• Front-end: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React

• Back-end: Node.js with Express

• Database: MongoDB

Why React? It’s used in over 40% of front-end developer roles (source: Stack Overflow Developer Survey).

Check out our blog on Top Coding Languages in 2025 to stay updated.

Step 3: Build Strong, Real-World Projects

Companies want proof you can build something useful. Build at least 3–5 solid projects:

• A To-Do List app with CRUD functionality

• A Blog Platform with user authentication

• A Weather App using an external API

• A React Portfolio site

• A Chat App with Socket.io

Push all projects to GitHub and host them online using Vercel, Netlify, or Render.

 Learn how to Build Your First Web App with our step-by-step guide.

Step 4: Learn Git and GitHub

Version control is a non-negotiable skill in developer jobs.

Learn These Git Commands:

Create GitHub repos for every project. Make your commits meaningful. Recruiters look at your GitHub profile before hiring.

Our complete guide to Git and GitHub for Beginners.

Step 5: Create a Personal Developer Portfolio

A portfolio is your online resume. It should have:

• Your bio and tech stack

• Links to your best GitHub projects

• A downloadable PDF resume

• Contact info or a contact form

Use React, Next.js or plain HTML/CSS. Keep it clean and professional.

Inspiration:

• Kevin Powell

• Brittany Chiang

Pro Tip: Add a blog section to your site. Write posts like “How I Built My Weather App in React” — it shows communication and documentation skills.

Step 6: Start Applying for Internships and Freelance Work

While you’re learning, start working.

• Look for freelance gigs on Upwork, Fiverr, and PeoplePerHour

• Reach out to local businesses — offer to build their websites

• Join open-source projects on GitHub or First Contributions

This builds real experience for your resume.

Step 7: Build a Resume That Gets You Interviews

Recruiters scan resumes in 7 seconds.

Make sure yours:

• Is 1 page

• Lists your tech stack and top skills

• Has bullet points with project achievements

• Includes GitHub and portfolio links

• Is tailored to each job description

 Use Canva Resume Builder or Overleaf Templates for clean designs.

Step 8: Master the Coding Interview Process

You’ll need to pass technical screens and behavioral interviews.

Practice These Concepts:

• Arrays and Strings

• Recursion

• Hash Maps

• Linked Lists

• Binary Trees

• Big-O notation

Use LeetCode, Exercism, or AlgoExpert.

 For practice, see our post on Common Beginner Mistakes in Coding.

Step 9: Build Your Network in the Developer Community

Networking helps you get job referrals, freelance gigs, and mentorship.

Ways to Network:

• Join Discords like CodeSupport

• Attend local meetups via Meetup.com

• Follow and comment on devs on Twitter (X) and LinkedIn

• Post project updates and tips on Hashnode or Dev.to

A simple “Hey, I’m building this, would love feedback” can lead to amazing opportunities.

Step 10: Apply Strategically to Developer Jobs

Don’t apply randomly. Use a tracker (Trello, Notion, Google Sheets) to:

• Track job titles, companies, links, and dates

• Customize each application

• Follow up after 5–7 days

Best Job Boards for Entry-Level Devs

• LinkedIn Jobs

• Indeed

• Himalayas (remote jobs)

• RemoteOK

• AngelList Talent – for startups

Bonus Tips

 Join a Coding Bootcamp (Optional)

If you want structure, join Scrimba, CareerFoundry, or Microverse — they have job support.

 Don’t Wait to Be “Ready”

Apply as soon as you can build basic apps and explain your code. You’ll learn a lot by doing.

 Keep Learning During Your Job Hunt

Use downtime to:

• Improve your UI/UX skills

• Learn TypeScript or testing frameworks

• Explore deployment with CI/CD tools

Final Thoughts

You can get your first developer job without a degree. Thousands have done it — so can you.

Focus on:

• Strong fundamentals

• Great projects

• Clear documentation

• Networking with intention

• Strategic applications

You won’t land your first job overnight, but with persistence and smart planning, you’ll get there.