Roadmap · Career
Job search
Opens with creditsFor students, graduates and working engineers who are ready to look for a software job and want a plan instead of mass applying. By the end you have a sharp one-page resume, proof of work that backs it up, a steady application rhythm with referrals, rehearsed answers for every round and the words to negotiate an offer.
Curated by Tauseef Fayyaz7 stages, 54 topics~7 months at a few hours a weekBy the end, you will be able to
- Write a one-page resume with results-first bullets and tailor it to a real job description in under 30 minutes
- Run a tracked weekly search that mixes applications, referrals and short messages to hiring managers
- Solve medium coding problems out loud in 45 minutes and answer the hard behavioural questions with real stories
- Compare offers by total compensation and negotiate politely with a researched counter
The path
7 stages, in the order to learn them. Open one to start.
1Know your targetDecide which roles, level and companies you are going after, and what the market pays for them. Every later step, from resume keywords to salary talks, depends on this.7 topics · ~2 weeks
- 1Role titles and your honest levelStart by choosing your target role: one or two job titles, such as backend engineer or frontend engineer.
- 2Your constraints, written down firstBefore you build a company list, write down your constraints: the things that limit your search.
- 3Reading real job descriptionsReal job postings tell you what employers want far better than advice threads do.
- 4Marking your skill gaps honestlyTake the skills that kept coming up while reading job descriptions for your target role.
- 5A tiered company listBuild a tiered company list: 30 to 50 companies that hire your target role at your level and fit your constraints, split into three tiers.
- 6How each top company hiresBefore you apply to your stretch and realistic companies, learn how each one hires.
- 7Market pay for your level and cityLook up the market pay for your role at your level, in your city or remote market.
7 in this stageOpen this stage2Your resumeBuild a one-page resume that survives a few seconds of scanning and an automated keyword filter. Results with numbers, projects with links, and a clean single-column layout.8 topics · ~3 weeks
- 1How resumes are screenedMost resumes pass two readers.
- 2One page, single column, PDFUse a single-column resume that is mostly plain text, such as Jake's resume template.
- 3Bullets that show results with numbersWrite impact bullets: each one says what you did and what changed because of it.
- 4Finding numbers when you think you have noneMany people say their work had no numbers, but most work has something you can count.
- 5Projects with stack, scale and linksFor students, graduates and people changing careers, the projects section often carries the resume.
- 6Education, grouped skills and gapsOn a one-page resume, keep education short: degree, university, dates and, if strong, your grade.
- 7Mirroring keywords and tailoringKeyword mirroring means using the job description's exact words in your resume, wherever they are true for you.
- 8Feedback and edit roundsYou cannot judge your own resume the way a recruiter does in a few seconds, so get outside eyes.
8 in this stageOpen this stage- Proof of workYour resume makes claims; GitHub and a small portfolio prove them. Get two or three projects into a state a stranger understands in two minutes.7 topics · ~5 weeksOpens with credits
- Where and how to applyApply where your target companies actually hire, lean on referrals and short messages to hiring managers, and keep a weekly rhythm you track. Volume without tracking hides what is not working.7 topics · ~4 weeksOpens with credits
- Coding and system design roundsGet ready for the technical rounds in the loops you are actually in: coding problems by pattern, talking through your thinking, and system design basics where your level needs them.9 topics · ~3 monthsOpens with credits
- Behavioural rounds and your questionsPrepare real stories from your own work, calm answers to the hard questions, and good questions for your interviewers. You are interviewing the company too.8 topics · ~3 weeksOpens with credits
- Offers, pay and a strong startGet paid what the role is worth: know the market band for your level, compare total compensation and negotiate politely with a prepared counter. Then set up your first 90 days to go well.8 topics · ~2 weeksOpens with credits
5 more stages, 39 more topics, free with an account.
You have seen the open stages of the Job search roadmap. Every topic it covers is listed above, and an account opens the rest: what each topic means, a question to check yourself, the courses, the practice and Tauseef's advice for every stage. Early access is open: sign up and your account is active shortly after.
Everything here is free to learn from. A few things, like adding a roadmap, keeping a cheat sheet or asking Tauseef a question, use credits. You get 15 when you join, your first roadmap is free, and if you are learning seriously and run out, you can ask for more. Credits only make sure the platform goes to people who are actually learning.
Related on Sefism
Picked from the other libraries by shared topics.
Checklists
See all- Job Offer Evaluation Checklist for DevelopersCompare and accept a developer job offer with your eyes open: total pay, equity basics, notice, IP and non-compete clauses, benefits, remote terms, team, growth and negotiating politely.
- Layoff Preparedness Checklist for DevelopersPrepare for a layoff before it happens and act well if it does: emergency fund, documents and contacts, severance, benefits, references, a record of your work and a plan for the search.
- LinkedIn Profile Checklist for DevelopersCheck your LinkedIn profile section by section: photo, headline, About, Experience, Featured, Skills, custom URL, Open to Work, posting and privacy.
Career questions
See all- Can a fresher get a software job in Dubai?It is possible but harder than social media suggests. Most UAE tech hiring is for experienced people, and employers usually prefer candidates who are already in the country or have regional experience. Freshers do best by applying from home to companies with UAE offices, building strong proof of work, and treating a few years of experience as the most reliable route.
- How do I get a developer job with no experience when every job asks for experience?Entry-level postings that ask for experience usually mean evidence that you can do the work, not years on a payroll. Build that evidence with two real projects, a small piece of work for a real user, and targeted applications to roles where juniors are actually hired, then apply anyway when you meet most of the list.
- How do I answer "what are your salary expectations" for my first developer job in Pakistan?Research the range first, then give a range rather than one number, anchored slightly above what you would accept. If you can, ask for their budget before naming yours. Negotiate your first offer politely on base salary and on other parts of the package, and never lie about another offer.
Cheat sheets
See allWork with me
Stuck on something specific?
Writing only gets you so far. If you want an answer to your situation rather than the general case, book a session and we will work through it together. Sessions are free for approved Sefism members, and a few slots open each week.
- 1:1 Mentorship
- Fresh Graduate Mentorship
- Career Guidance
Brand deals, promos and partnerships: tauseeffayyaz@gmail.com