How to Land Your First Tech Job in 2025 (Even When Everyone Says It's Impossible)
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I just had a conversation with a CS senior that reminded me why I love being a tech recruiter.
He was worried – like many of you probably are – about the tech market, AI taking over, and whether his degree would lead to unemployment.
Here's the truth: The market is about to turn around. But more importantly, I'm going to show you exactly how to position yourself to win, regardless of market conditions.
The Real State of the Tech Market
Let's cut through the noise.
Yes, 2023 and 2024 were rough. The tech industry saw double-digit declines in hiring. But here's what most people don't know: The IT staffing market is projected to grow 5% in 2025. That's not just a recovery – that's stronger than 2019's pre-pandemic levels.
And timing is on your side. Tech hiring traditionally picks up in Q2 and Q3, right when most of you will be graduating.
But here's the catch...
Why Entry-Level Tech Jobs Are Different
Entry-level roles have always been the most competitive. Not because they're the hardest jobs, but because everyone looks the same on paper.
Think about it: You're competing against thousands of other fresh graduates who all have:
The same degree
Similar coursework
Limited real-world experience
Basic project work from classes
When a hiring manager has 300 nearly identical resumes, what makes them pick yours?
This is where 99% of CS graduates get it wrong. They keep mass-applying to jobs on LinkedIn, wondering why they never hear back.
I don’t blame them. University Career Centers & their professors fail to teach them how to succeed in the job market, so they simply don’t know any better in most cases.
But you're going to do it differently.
The Winning Strategy for 2025
I'm about to share the exact playbook I give to my most successful candidates. This isn't theory – this is what actually works in today's market.
Step 1: Build Your Evidence Portfolio
Stop thinking like a student and start thinking like a product. What evidence can you show that you can actually code?
Your GitHub profile and portfolio aren't just nice-to-haves anymore. They're your secret weapons. Here's why:
When a hiring manager has two candidates:
Candidate A: Just a resume
Candidate B: Resume + active GitHub + portfolio of real projects
Who do you think gets the interview?
But here's the key most people miss: Start building this NOW. Not after graduation. Not next month. Tonight.
Dedicate time each evening to building real projects. Make them solving actual problems you care about. Document your process. Show your thinking.
Step 2: Leverage Your Alumni Network (The Right Way)
Your university's CS program is a goldmine of connections. But most students waste this opportunity with generic "Can you help me get a job?" or my (least) favorite “CaN i PiCk YoUr BrAiN” messages.
Instead, here's the exact template that gets responses:
"Hi [Name], I noticed you're a fellow [University] CS grad. I'm graduating this May and have been working on [specific project] to prepare for my job search. I'm particularly interested in [company/technology] and would love your quick feedback on my approach. Would you be willing to take a brief look?"
Why this works:
It establishes common ground immediately
Shows initiative through your project work
Makes a specific, easy-to-say-yes-to request
Demonstrates you've done your homework
Yes - you will have to get out of your comfort zone to do this. Yes, you will get ghosted and people will be unresponsive. But here’s the thing, it’s one of the strongest points of commonality you can have.
Why? Because they were in your shoes before. They’ll appreciate your hustle by sharing your projects. And it’s nostalgic - who didn’t have fun in college?!
(Maybe I had too much fun and hence why I ended up in recruiting)
Step 3: The Multi-Channel Attack Strategy
Here's where most graduates fail: They rely solely on job boards and official applications.
Instead, for each company you're targeting:
Find their engineering blog and actually read it
Follow their tech leads and engineering managers on LinkedIn/X
Join their tech stack's community (Discord, Reddit, Stack Overflow)
Contribute to open source projects they maintain
Write technical blog posts about solving problems with their tech stack
Now when you reach out, you can say: "I loved your recent post about microservices architecture. I actually implemented something similar in my latest project [link]. Would love to get your thoughts on my approach."
Step 4: Build Your Tech Specialization Early
"But I'm entry-level, I don't have a specialization!"
Wrong. You can start building one now:
Pick an emerging technology that excites you (cloud computing, AI/ML, cybersecurity, etc.)
Build 2-3 substantial projects in that space
Write detailed technical blog posts about your learning journey
Join and contribute to relevant open-source projects
Attend virtual meetups and conferences in that domain
The goal isn't to become an expert overnight. It's to show dedication and direction in your career path.
The Hidden Advantage of Bad Markets
Here's what most people don't realize about tough job markets: They're actually perfect for standout candidates.
Why?
Because when times are tough, most candidates:
Get discouraged and give up
Keep using the same failed strategies
Wait passively for things to improve
This creates an incredible opportunity for those willing to put in the work. While others are mass-applying to jobs, you'll be:
Building a portfolio of real projects
Making meaningful connections
Developing expertise in specific areas
Creating content that demonstrates your value
The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything
Stop thinking of yourself as "just another CS graduate."
You're a problem solver who happens to be early in their career. Your degree isn't your primary value proposition – it's your ability to learn, adapt, and create solutions.
This is why everything I've outlined above matters. It shows employers you're different. You're not just looking for a job – you're building a career.
Final Thoughts
The tech market is cyclical. It always has been, always will be. But great developers always find opportunities.
Your mission isn't to wait for the perfect market conditions. It's to become the candidate companies want to hire regardless of market conditions.
Remember: Every senior developer you admire started exactly where you are. The difference is in the actions they took early in their career.
Start today. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Today.
Because in six months, you'll be competing against every other 2025 CS graduate. The question is: Will you be just another resume in the stack, or will you be the candidate they can't ignore?
The choice is yours.
If you’re looking for more help: