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Professional Skills:

• Agile project management 
• Analytical skills
• Communication
• Curiosity/independent learning
• Creativity
• Problem solving
• Strong research abilities
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Check out what professional skills companies like Amazon or Uber or Google value 

Technical skills: The technical skills you need will vary based on the position and company. We encourage you to connect with alumni and engage in online research to stay up to date on in-demand technical skills. Please find a couple of resources below with popular coding languages, technologies, tools and techniques.

• Check out
• Check out

• It is important to apply your technical skills in real world settings. Consider adding classroom projects, personal projects, hackathons, start-up experience and more to your resume or portfolio.  For more information, jump to the “Building a Portfolio” section.
• Not all tech companies recruit on Handshake. Utilize tech job boards and/or opt in for job alerts on company career portals. This will allow you to stay on top of recruitment dates and opportunities.        
• Networking with alumni is a helpful way to gain insider knowledge, get advice, and learn about industry trends. In addition, it can be an opportunity to get a referral for an internship or full-time posting which can be important for recruiting at large tech companies.     
  Networking with alumni is a helpful way to gain insider knowledge, get advice, and learn about industry trends. In addition, it can be an opportunity to get a referral for an internship or full-time posting which can be important for recruiting at large tech companies.    
• Some applications will have a technical assessment as part of their initial application. The interview process will include multiple steps including both behavioral and technical questions which will test your application skills with their desired languages/programs. Jump to “The Technical Interview” section to learn more.
• Tech roles also exist outside of the technology sector. Look for technical roles in other industries, such as nonprofit, government, finance, consumer package goods, etc.
• The common hiring timelines for the tech industry are:
  • Big Tech: Apply August- November
  • Mid-sized companies: Apply September- December
  • Research: Apply January- April
  • Startups: Startups typically practice “just in time hiring” which means they have an immediate position to fill. 

Media sites: 

• TechCrunch provides the latest news in the startup, venture, and tech world 

• : CNET focuses on reviews and news on Technology and Consumer Electronics 

Job boards: 

• Learn more about the tech and startups industry, discover companies, build connections, and apply to roles. BuiltIn has a national website as well location specific communities for Austin, Boston, Chicago, Colorado, L.A., New York City, San Francisco, and Seattle 

• : Where technology professionals come to land their next job; as an analyst, designer, developer and many more. 

Upskilling and interview prep:

• : Free opportunity for individuals to learn how to code 

• : egghead.io is a community where web developers learn from each other through short lessons and workshops teaching the tools of our trade. 

• : Offers students access to an extensive community of programmers, developers and aspiring computer scientists along with an array of coding examples and completed projects 

• : Online platform to prepare for coding and programming interviews 

• Provides award-winning tech bootcamps in data analytics, data science and and software engineering 

If you are applying to technical positions, you will likely encounter a technical assessment throughout the application process. There are a variety of formats including a timed online coding assessment, completing a technical problem live with an interviewer, or creating a PowerPoint presentation on a tech topic. To prepare we recommend: 

• Review fundamentals from data structures to dynamic programming. To do so, leverage resources like (free access through NU), , and   

• Develop a problem-solving framework that includes asking clarifying questions, examining possible approaches, and testing your code.  

• Be able to speak on your past project experience in depth  

• Have a mock interview with a classmate. You can also try a sample technical interview on  

• Looking for more tips? Dig into IGotAnOffer’s comprehensive guide on

An online portfolio is essential for showcasing your skills, whether you're a student or a self-taught developer. Include a link to your portfolio in the contact header of your resume. 

Key Portfolio Tips:

• Case Studies of your Projects: Outline the project, who is involved, their roles, and the steps to completion. Employers want to see examples of great work, but a glossy, perfect portfolio is not always required or wanted. Sometimes the messy details are ok, especially when the case study reflects information on what was learned and corrected through errors and failures.
• Tailor It: Align your portfolio with the career roles you're targeting (e.g., front-end developer, data scientist) by organizing projects by relevant skills.
• Problem-Solving: Include projects that demonstrate your ability to solve complex problems.
• Make It Interactive: Incorporate photos, diagrams, images, and/or live demos to help the reader understand your project case study.
• Organize It Well: Ensure a clean, easy-to-navigate layout with clear categorization of projects. 
  Keep It Updated: Regularly update your portfolio with new projects and skills. Include links to your LinkedIn profile, your resume, short bio, contact information. 

To get started, check out these resources:

• Medium article:
• Code Academy article:
• Code Academy Instructional YouTube video:  

• Institute for Student Business Education (ISBE)- Arch 

External Professional Organizations:  

• 1871 is Chicago’s technology hub and the #1 ranked private business incubator in the world. It exists to inspire, equip, and support early stage, growth stage and corporate innovators in building extraordinary businesses.  

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