How I got 50 job offers with zero experience

Landing a job in tech is hard. But this guide are proven strategies and frameworks that will make breaking into tech easier as a designer and product manager.

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Breaking into the tech industry can be a daunting task for designers and product managers. With so much competition and a preference for existing experience, it can feel like an impossible challenge.

As someone who has successfully made the transition into the tech industry, I know firsthand the challenges and struggles that designers and product managers face.

This newsletter share some of the top challenges and strategies that many mentors (and I) have learned along the way.

[A complete guide] How I got 10 job offers with zero experience.

Along with my experience and talking with mentors who offered their advice for overcoming the five biggest challenges of the entry-level job search world.

The 4 biggest challenges for people breaking into tech:

• Challenge #1: Lack of technical skills

• Challenge #2: Limited entry-level positions

• Challenge #3: Need for a portfolio

• Challenge #4: Lack of network and connections

With those worries in mind, let’s dive into each of them and how you can overcome it with proven strategies and framework.

1. Challenge #1: Lack of technical skills

Designers and PMs face a challenge of limited hands-on skills when transitioning into the tech. While they may have basic experience, it may lack deep knowledge necessary to work in such role.

Companies are paying $150K+ for these positions and they expect A LOT.

📌 How you can overcome it:

1. Take online courses: Online courses can provide you with access to the latest information and emerging technologies. Sites like Coursera, Udacity, YouTube, ADPList or edX to learn new skills and stay up-to-date.

   ADPList @ADPList

   The hiring process is hard. But with the right resources, it can 10x your progress. We curated a list of 60+ job sites, 10+ interview prep sites & 20+ skills sites. Here's a thread of free resources 🧵:

2. Work on personal projects: Working on personal projects is be a great way for you to gain hands-on experience. These projects can demonstrate your skills at play for employers.

3. Collaborate with peers: Ask professionals to learn from them and gain a better understanding of technical concepts. You can partner with peers or volunteer for NGOs/startups.

2. Challenge #2: Limited entry-level positions

This is seriously such a bad trend. While there are some entry-level positions available for designers and PMs, these positions can be highly competitive.

📌 How you can overcome it:

1. Networking: Networking is an essential part of breaking into tech. You can attend industry events, join communities (ADPList), or connect with folks on LinkedIn to expand your network.

   ADPList @ADPList

   You're not using LinkedIn right. 60.5M people were hired on LinkedIn in the past year. But 99% of people still have no idea how to attract job opportunities there. THREAD 🧵: 9 "must-have" to help you stand out on LinkedIn...

   

2. Custom job applications: You should tailor your job applications to each specific opportunity. Research the company and position, and highlight relevant experience and skills.

3. Freelancing/Personal Projects: Even if you do not have direct experience, you can gain relevant experience through personal projects/freelance work to demonstrate your skills.

3. Challenge #3: Need for a portfolio

One of the biggest challenges for new designers and PMs is the need for a portfolio to showcase actual work (without actually having a full time job prior).

📌 How you can overcome it:

1. Start with personal projects: If you don't have any professional work to showcase, start with personal projects. Create mockups, prototypes, or even entire projects to showcase your skills and creativity. This can include redesigning existing products or creating new ones from scratch.

   ADPList @ADPList

   Freelancers earn up to $1,000/hour, helping millions switch jobs. Yet many still don't know how to get paid as a freelancer. Here are 7 steps to get started 🧵:

2. Volunteer for projects: Volunteer for non-profit or community projects. This provides an opportunity to both, work on meaningful projects and build a portfolio.

3. Show your process: Don’t just showcase the final product, but also the process behind it. Include sketches, wireframes, and other artifacts to show how you arrived at the final product. This will demonstrate your problem-solving skills.

   ADPList @ADPList

   We reviewed hundreds of portfolios this month. Here are 7 common issues we found (and how to fix them) 👇:

4. Challenge #4: Lack of network/referrals

When you start in an industry, most won’t have the right network to start or get the referrals you need for companies.

📌 How you can overcome it:

1. Seek out mentors: Having a mentor who is already working in the tech industry can be incredibly valuable for gaining insight. You can reach out to professionals in the industry and ask for advice or mentorship.

2. Attend conferences/events: Attending tech conferences/events is a great way to learn about the industry and make new connections. All while learning from industry experts and meet others in the field.

3. Reach out to alumni: You can reach out to alumni from your school or university who work in the tech industry. Followed by asking for advice, information, or even job leads.

   Felix Lee @felixleezd

   Breaking into design is hard. I applied to 100+ jobs in 2020. Got rejected from all. 3 months later, I was in the final rounds at @Meta, @WishShopping and Gotrade (YC S19). The result? An offer from Gotrade as Design Lead with 80% raise. Here's 9 ways I used to make it 🧵:

📌 Bottom line

We do great things when we have get the right opportunities and network we create for ourselves. My key takeaway learnings:

• No portfolio, no problem: Many ways you can get started in your career and projects you can support to show your work. One of mine turns out to be ADPList.

• Real measured impact matters: Companies want to hire proven designers/PMs. If you want to be in this game, make sure you measure success in the process.

• Soft skills gets you promoted: Getting a job is just the first part, maintaining excellence throughout is another — that’s legacy.

  Felix Lee @felixleezd

  Hard skills get you hired. But soft skills will get you long-term results (in startups/big tech). 6 soft skills to win at work:

I hope you find inspiring from this week’s post 🙏. Good luck! Got any questions/other strategies you want to share with the community? Let’s help!

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If you find this post valuable, check out our other posts:

1. How to influence stakeholders on design decisions

2. How to create a LinkedIn profile that FAANG recruiters love?

3. How this career hype doc gets you hired and promoted

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With ❤️,

Felix from ADPList