Stage 7 of 8 · 9 lessons · ~5 weeks

Getting in the door

Go beyond cold applications: internal moves, apprenticeships, internships and returnships, freelance work, referrals earned without awkwardness and stepping-stone roles, while avoiding the scams aimed at switchers.

Start: Moving internally at your current employer

Lessons· one lesson for each topic, in this order

Do this

List every internship, apprenticeship, trainee or returnship programme you are eligible for, with deadlines.
Offer one small freelance or volunteer project with a written scope.
Attend one community or meetup at least twice a month.
Identify three people who know your work and could refer you when a role fits.
List stepping-stone roles that could lead to your target.
Verify every offer on the official company site and never pay to be hired.
Follow the Job search roadmap for applications, and track everything in one place.

Start with

GuideFree
The Complete Freelance Web Developer Guide
freeCodeCamp · Beginner
Free guide to finding and handling first freelance clients, useful for a freelance-first route

Practise

Google Developer Groups
Free local and online developer communities in many countries, to meet people regularly
Sefism 1:1 Mentorship
Talk your routes and story through with a mentor before you start approaching people

Keep handy

Job Scams (FTC Consumer Advice)
Clear list of job scam signs; the tactics are the same worldwide
iRelaunch
Employers that run returnships, if your switch follows a career break

Also worth your time

OutreachyGo deeper
Paid remote open source internships open to people from groups underrepresented in tech

Before moving on: A doors list with at least ten concrete routes in: internal options or programmes you are eligible for, one freelance or volunteer project, three people who know your work, one or two communities you attend, and a scam check you apply to every offer.

Tauseef's advice

Start inside your current employer before you look anywhere else. Ask for technical tasks, get to know the tech or data team, and let your manager know what you are learning. An internal move is often the lowest-risk switch there is.