How to Get Job in IT as a Fresher: Step-by-Step Guide

Choosing the right career path is one of the most important steps for freshers entering the IT industry. With so many job roles and specializations available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or unsure where to start. The key is to match your interests, strengths, and skills with the right opportunities.

• Self-Assessment: Know your interests and strengths. Ask yourself if you enjoy solving problems, building applications, analyzing data, or helping others with technology.
• Explore the Variety of IT Roles: Software development, QA/testing, IT support, and data analysis, as well as cybersecurity, cloud/DevOps, and business analyst or system administrator, as examples of non-coding roles.
• Match Jobs to Your Skills: Entry-level positions are generally a preparation ground and area for personal growth; begin working in support or in QA if you are still getting comfortable with programming.
• Look into Industry Requirements: Insights from exploring job postings will be complemented by the experiences of those who have gone through interviews.
• Set Short-Term and Long-Term Goals: Pick an entry-level job to start with, one that is currently precise enough for your skill level, while planning a career path along with lifelong learning.

Bottom Line: Your first IT job should align with your strengths and interests, not just trends or peer pressure.

A fresh graduate must invest in skill set, focusing on the technical and practical expertise that is currently viewed as mandatory in the IT industry in order to stand out.

• Programming Languages: Concentrate on Python, Java, JavaScript or C++.
• Data Structures & Algorithms: Required for coding interviews and soft technical interview rounds.
• Course Work and Hands-On Training: Attend online classes, participate in hackathons, and complete hands-on projects.
• IT Certifications: Due credentials such as CompTIA A+, Network+, or vendor-specific credentials would validate your knowledge.
• Open Source Contributions: Get involved in projects so that you may have actual world experience.
• Problem Solving Skills: Get into serious practice via coding challenges, hackathons, and the development of projects.
• Soft Skills: Communication, teamwork, and adaptability are valued in all entry-level positions.

Quick Note: Continuous learning and hands-on practice are your best allies in building a strong foundation for an IT career

Gaining practical experience is essential for freshers aiming to stand out in the IT job market. Employers value real-world skills that go beyond academic qualifications. Here’s how you can build experience and create a strong portfolio to showcase your abilities:

1. Work on Personal Projects

• Start with personal projects that interest you, such as building applications, automation tools, or websites.
• Document your project development process and highlight the problems you solved.
• Add these projects to your portfolio and GitHub to demonstrate your skills to employers.

2. Participate in Internships and Volunteering

• Apply for internships—even short-term or virtual ones—to gain hands-on experience.
• Volunteering for NGOs or small businesses can also help you learn client management and teamwork while adding valuable experience to your resume.

3. Try Freelancing

• Take on freelance assignments through online platforms to work on real client projects.
• Freelancing allows you to practice communication, project delivery, and client management—skills highly valued by employers.
• Add completed freelance work to your portfolio.

4. Join Open-Source Projects

• Contribute to open-source projects to collaborate with other developers and gain exposure to industry standards.
• Open-source contributions are impressive to recruiters and can be easily showcased on your GitHub.

5. Participate in Coding Challenges and Hackathons

• Compete in coding challenges and hackathons to improve your technical skills and problem-solving skills.
• These experiences show initiative and the ability to work under pressure, which are important in IT roles.

6. Highlight Coursework and Certification Exams

• Include relevant coursework, online courses, and certification exams (such as CompTIA A+ or other IT certifications) in your portfolio.
• Certifications validate your skills and show your commitment to continuous learning.

7. Build and Maintain a Portfolio

• Create a portfolio website or GitHub portfolio to organize and present your best projects, internships, freelance work, and open-source contributions.
• Make sure your portfolio is up-to-date and easy for employers to review.

Tip: Quality is more important than quantity. Focus on completing projects and assignments that genuinely demonstrate your skills and growth as a professional.

A strong resume and personal brand are essential for standing out.

• Customized resumes must be made by further refining the CV through other platforms like CV Engineer or Novoresume for different applications.
• Skills and achievements should be clearly stated in separate sections, including programming languages, tools, certifications, and relevant coursework.
• Projects and freelancing are opportunities to show personal projects, freelancing, or internships; also, link to the GitHub portfolio or the portfolio website.
• Keep all your profiles updated on LinkedIn and job portals. Market yourself by sharing your blog, project demos, or any achievements.
• Ensure your resume, LinkedIn, and portfolio all tell a consistent story about your skills and interests.

Finding the right IT job as a fresher isn’t just about sending out as many applications as possible—it’s about being strategic and focused. Here are proven methods to identify suitable entry-level positions, shortlist companies, and apply effectively to maximize your opportunities:

1. Identify Suitable Entry-Level Positions

• Search for positions designated "entry-level" or "fresher" job titles while browsing through large online job boards. 
• Carefully read their job descriptions to make sure the skills and experience are aligned with the requirements or not. 
• Use terms like "junior developer," "IT support," or "trainee" when perusing searches. .

2. Shortlisting Companies

• You can consider companies that interest you, those whose values align with yours, and the culture of the company you'd like to work for. 
• Both the established company and the startup agenda are opportunities for growth. 
• Network, use alumni connections, or attend technology conferences to get closer to your dream employers..

3. Leverage Online Platforms and Job Portals

• Sign up and keep your profile up to date on job portals like LinkedIn, Naukri, and Indeed. 
• Set alerts for job-related keywords to stay updated on new openings.
• Various companies will publish job openings on their job pages; make sure to keep in touch with them as well.

4. Showcase Your Projects and Skills

• List your best work through a link in your application to your GitHub Portfolio or Personal Website.
• Other linkages to relevant projects in your resume and cover letter will demonstrate hands-on experience. 
• Employers prefer candidates who can demonstrate their worth in a positive way rather than just talk about it.

5. Network for Better Opportunities

• Attend tech conferences, webinars, and industry-related social events and meet professionals and recruiters. 
• Use LinkedIn to reach out to individuals at your target companies for advice or referrals. 
• Participate in forums and online groups and remain active in your field.

6. Learn from Interview Experiences

• Read about others’ interview experiences on forums or company review sites to understand what to expect.
• Use this insight to tailor your preparation for specific companies or roles.

Tip: Keep a spreadsheet to track your job hunting progress—note the companies you’ve applied to, the status of each application, and any follow-ups needed. This organized approach will help you stay persistent and focused throughout your job search.

Building a professional network is one of the most effective ways to improve your job prospects in the IT industry. Many IT jobs are filled through recommendations, inside referrals, or connections rather than just online applications. Here’s how networking and referrals can make a difference and how you can get started:

Why Networking Matters

• Access to Opportunities: A strong professional network can give you access to job openings before they are widely advertised, especially through inside referrals.
• Industry Experience and Guidance: Connecting with mentors and experienced professionals helps you understand the skills and industry experience hiring managers look for.
• Recommendations and References: Professional contacts can provide recommendations or serve as references, which add credibility to your application.

How to Build Your Professional Network

• Professional Sites like LinkedIn:
  
  • Create a complete and up-to-date profile.
  • Connect with classmates, alumni, mentors, and industry professionals.
  • Join IT-focused groups and participate in discussions to expand your network access.
• Mentorship:
  
  • Seek mentors who can offer career advice, share their industry experience, and help you prepare for interviews.
  • Mentorship can also help you identify your strengths and areas for improvement.
• Networking Events:
  
  • Attend webinars, workshops, and career fairs to meet professionals and hiring managers in person.

How to Seek and Use Referrals

• Inside Referrals:
  
  • If you know someone working at a company you’re interested in, politely ask if they can refer you for open positions.
  • Inside referrals often get your resume directly in front of hiring managers.
• Recommendations: Ask professors, mentors, or previous supervisors for recommendations or references to strengthen your application.

• Professional Communication:
  
  • Always communicate respectfully and clearly when requesting referrals or advice.
  • Thank your contacts for their help and keep them updated on your progress.

Tip: Start building your professional network early—even as a fresher. The connections and mentorship you develop now can open doors to job opportunities and support your long-term career growth in IT.

• Popular Job Portals: Use Naukri, LinkedIn, Indeed, Monster, and Glassdoor. Set up job alerts and keep your profile updated.
• Company Career Pages: Apply directly to companies—this often has less competition.
• Off-Campus Drives and Job Fairs: Campus drives and job fairs are linked to registering their events through college cells or job portals.
• Internships/ Freelance Collaboration: Gain experience through Internshala, Upwork, or Fiverr.
• Coding Challenge and Hackathon: Participation in a contest on HackerRank, CodeChef, or HackerEarth paves the way for direct hiring.
• Track Applications: Use a spreadsheet to monitor application status and follow-up dates.

Landing a role at a major IT company or MNC requires preparation and persistence.

• Understand the Hiring Process: Includes aptitude tests, technical rounds, group discussions, and HR interviews.
• Campus vs Off-Campus Hiring: Participate in campus drives if possible; otherwise, apply through off-campus channels.
• Preparation Tips: Strengthen basics, practice mock tests, and highlight projects and internships.
• Communication Skills: Clear communication is crucial in group discussions and HR rounds.
• Company Research: Learn about company products, values, and recent news to show genuine interest.
• Avoid Common Mistakes: Don’t ignore fundamentals, submit generic resumes, or underestimate soft skills.

• Technical and Personality Based Preparation: Brush up with some of the most common IT interview questions, data structures & algorithms, and operating system concepts.
• Mock Interviews: Practicing with friends, mentors, or sharing on online platforms to improve confidence and interviewing skills. Present portfolios for hands-on knowledge, refer to specific projects.
• Soft Skills: Work on Analytical Skills, Body Language, and Clear Communication.
• Company Specific Processes: Each company has a different recruiting process, and based on how that process goes, a different type of preparation will have to be done.

• Timeliness and Appearance: Arrive with enough time to be prompt and dressed suitably to create the best first impression.
• Active listening and Communication: Listen well; then, respond clearly and ask relevant questions regarding culture and growth opportunities.
• Follow Up: Thank those who met with you and seek feedback if appropriate. Communicate through the official channels.
• Professionalism: Throughout the entire process, be respectful and maintain your confidence and humility.

• Inexperience: Overcome this through internships, project work, freelancing, and volunteering.
• Self-Confidence: Gain self-confidence from practice and mentorship.
• Handling Rejections: Treat rejections as lessons learned and seek constructive feedback on how to improve.
• Technical Challenges: Always keep practicing coding and debugging; do not hesitate to approach the mentors for help.

• Value of IT Certifications: Certifications such as CompTIA A+, Network+, and other relevant credentials have a place on your resume.
• Choosing Courses: Choose courses with practical exposure and hands-on activities.
• Free vs Paid Resource: Use free resources very well.
• Avoid Low-value Courses: Avoid courses that claim to offer jobs but are built without developing real skills.

• Start Small: Take on simple projects to build experience and client management skills.
• Build a Portfolio: Use freelancing platforms to gain real-world exposure.
• Transition to Full-Time: Many companies value freelance work as practical experience.
• Overcome Challenges: Be patient with competition, pricing, and communication as you learn.

Working in IT, especially for freshers, is a world in itself that demands persistence, learning, and adaptability. Build skills, make an interesting portfolio, and put extra effort into meeting people and presenting yourself professionally. Everything from your first project up to your first interview will synergize your learning in that direction- closer to your goal as an IT professional.

Why does it matter?

Understanding and following a structured path to IT jobs helps freshers and career switchers avoid common mistakes and fast-tracks their entry into the tech industry. The right approach boosts confidence and employability.

Practical advice for learners

• Work on developing your technical and soft skills.
• While updating your portfolio, work on real-life projects.
• Network and ask for referrals for hidden opportunities.
• Prepare for interviews by developing procedures to practice your technical and behavioral interview skills.
• Persist. After all, a rejection is part of the process. 
• Keep learning and updating your skills in new technologies that are relevant to your ability to sustain over time.

1. Can I get an IT job without a computer science degree?

Yes, many IT companies hire candidates without a Computer Science Degree if they possess strong skills and hands-on experience and have developed a good portfolio. Hence, put your effort on learning Programming, building Projects, and getting relevant certifications to evidence your skill set. 

2. What entry-level IT roles are best for freshers?

Typically entry-level jobs include Software Developer, QA Tester, IT Support/Helpdesk Technician, Data Analyst, and System Administrator. Choose a position that reflects your existing skills and interests, and use that position as a stepping stone for advancement in the IT industry. 

3. How important are certifications for IT jobs?

Certifications such as CompTIA A+, Network+, and vendor-specific certifications can give some weight to your resume, especially if practical experience is lacking; however, skills and portfolio matter equally. Focus on gaining hands-on experience with your certifications for the best possible outcome. 

4. How can I stand out in IT job applications?

Highlighting your technical and soft skills by means of a customized resume, an orderly GitHub for your portfolio, and clear public examples of your projects or internships could give you an edge. Networking, an insider referral, and a good presence on LinkedIn will also help you get on the radar of most recruiters.

5. What should I do if I keep getting rejected?

Almost everyone faces rejection, especially freshers. Treat every rejection as an opportunity—ask for constructive feedback, improve your skills, revise your CV, and continue applying elsewhere. Persistently trying, learning along the way, and adapting your methodology will finally lead you to success.

6. How to Get Into the IT Industry With No Technical Background?

• Transitioning from Non-IT Degrees: Start with fundamentals and choose beginner-friendly roles like testing, support, or data analysis.
• Learning Strategy: Focus on daily practice, structured learning, and hands-on projects.
• Becoming Job-Ready: Most career switchers can become job-ready in 6–12 months with consistent effort.

7. How to Become a Better Software Engineer Over Time?

• Never Stop Learning: Stay up to date on the latest technologies and industry trends. 
• Problem Solving and Code Quality: Set positive emphasis on writing clean, efficient code and solving real-world problems.
• Learning from Feedback: Get engaged in code-reviews, asking for constructive feedback whether a good or bad one. 
• Career Planning: Gather more experiences, take up challenging projects, and subsequently pursue more responsible roles.