If you’re trying to break into tech or land your first opportunity, you’ve probably noticed that competition has increased significantly over the past few years. Applying to hundreds of jobs and stacking up projects that look just like everyone else’s simply doesn’t work anymore.

To change the game, you need a strategic approach built around planning, intentional connections, and high-value projects. Below, I’m sharing a handful of strategies that have worked for me, for people around me, and that can help you on this journey:

1. Choose by genuine interest, not by trend

Financial return and career success don’t come immediately in any field (unless your job is deceiving people and selling dreams). Chasing trends is humanly impossible, since everything changes so fast. Choosing something you’re genuinely interested in is what will actually increase your chances of sticking with it, instead of wanting to switch fields a few years in.

What I love most about tech is that you don’t necessarily need to know how to code. It’s a genuinely inclusive field that welcomes people from all kinds of backgrounds, so beyond developers, there’s also:

  • Product: focused on business strategy, bridging Business, Tech, and UX. Responsible for defining product direction and prioritizing features that create real value for both the company and its customers;
  • Compliance and Corporate Governance: sets strategies and general guidelines, and ensures internal rules and controls stay aligned with local laws;
  • UX/UI: focused on understanding users’ real needs, making sure the product solves a real problem in a logical and intuitive way (for many people, this just means “the people who design screens in Figma”);
  • Cybersecurity: explores vulnerabilities and how to protect systems, devices, networks, and data against malicious attacks;

And there’s a LOT more beyond this, but there’s no need to stress about knowing it all right away. Your first choice isn’t final — many companies make it easy to switch tracks internally.

2. Map out the type of company and what the market actually asks for

Figure out whether you’re a better fit for the fast pace of a startup or the structure of a large corporation. Picking the wrong environment can give you the false impression that IT just isn’t for you.

Once you’ve set a direction, understand what the market is asking for:

  1. Pick 3 to 5 companies with similar entry-level openings.
  2. Cross-reference the required qualifications.
  3. Whatever comes up most often should be your absolute study priority.

💡 Golden tip: If you have time left over, look into the nice-to-haves, but don’t try to cover everything at once. Focused studying saves you months of effort spent in the wrong direction.

3. Organize your study routine

Keep clear track of what you need to learn and how you’re progressing. You can use:

  • Notion or Trello for visual boards;
  • Excel spreadsheets or a physical notebook for daily tracking;
  • AI tools acting as personalized tutors.

The tool itself matters less than having constant visibility into your progress.

4. Prepare for the behavioral stage

Beyond the technical side, invest time preparing for behavioral interviews. Research the questions that come up most often in your industry and practice structuring your answers using methodologies like the STAR Method (Situation, Task, Action, and Result).

(YouTube isn’t just for memes and travel tips — there’s content on interviews there that’s pure gold!)

5. Invest in strategic networking

Most opportunities get filled through referrals before they ever become a public listing.

  • Connect with recruiters, professionals in your field, and engineering leaders at the companies you want to work for.
  • Attend events (in person and online).
  • Build authentic relationships on LinkedIn by sharing your perspectives and what you’re learning.

6. Quality beats quantity in projects

Instead of piling up dozens of generic projects copied from course tutorials, focus on building one or two deep, original projects, well documented and carefully executed. This immediately sets you apart from most candidates.

Conclusion

Landing your first opportunity in IT means trading the anxiety of volume for the precision of quality. With clear focus and consistent execution, that first “YES” gets closer every day.

Watch it on video too

I also talk a bit more about this process and share other tips on my YouTube channel. Worth checking out:

🎬 How to land your first IT job