Technology (or tech) is a great career path if you’re interested in solving problems, innovating, and using technical skills. It’s a growing field with many opportunities. But how exactly are you supposed to break in without experience?
While there are many entry-level roles that don’t require formal work experience, they still expect you to show skills and initiative. We asked tech professionals and career experts how to get into tech with no experience — and here’s what they recommend.
Figure Out What Tech Job Is Right for You
Before you start your job search, it helps to have an idea of what kind of tech career you want.
“My journey started by exploring my interests and aligning them with emerging trends in tech,” says Patrice Williams-Lindo, CEO of Career Nomad and STEM career strategist. “For students today, I recommend looking at fields that excite them — whether it’s AI, cybersecurity, or software development, while keeping an eye on where the industry is growing.” She recommends experimenting through courses, hackathons, or networking to explore these fields.
Elvis Sun, a Google software engineer, says finding the right tech path starts with a problem-solving mindset.
“I’ve found that the best way to find your tech niche is to look for problems that need to be solved in the real world,” he says. “For students who have never had a job, I suggest starting by looking at everyday problems around them — whether at school, in their community, or at home. Once they identify these problems, they can begin building solutions using different technologies. This hands-on approach helps you discover what interests you while building both technical and business skills.”
Let’s figure out what tech role is right for you!
Take this free (and fun) quiz to learn what tech job is right for you.
Build Technical Skills
“If you want to increase your chances of landing a role, focus on building skills that match the jobs you want,” James Hacking, founder of Socially Powerful, says. “It doesn’t need to be complicated — look up what tools or programming languages are common in the industry and start practicing.”
Review job descriptions to spot key skills like coding, web development, design, or data analytics.
To build them, try Forage job simulations — free programs that let you experience real tech roles, like data science at BCG or software engineering at Electronic Arts, and add that experience to your resume.
But Don’t Forget Soft Skills
Landing a job in tech requires technical skills, but you also need soft skills to use them effectively in a workplace.
Soft skills are what help you stand out. Employers don’t expect advanced technical experience, but they do expect strong communication, adaptability, and teamwork.
“Master the soft skills — particularly those involving face-to-face and written communication — and use them to stand out from applicants sending generic resumes, skipping research, and relying only on online applications instead of referrals,” says Dan Ulin, founder and CEO of Elite Student Coach.
>>MORE: Learn how to build your soft skills from the here. Explore critical tech soft skills like problem-solving skills, analytical skills, decision-making skills, leadership skills, and more.
Get Experience
We know — you found this article because you’re trying to learn how to get into tech with no experience! But there are ways to get tech experience that aren’t full-time work experience:
- Taking courses: Use coursework or free platforms like Coursera, Codecademy, and Udemy to build skills.
- Hackathons: Apply your skills in short projects — Devpost lists upcoming events.
- Open source: Collaborate on real projects with others.
- Personal projects: Build your own work to show initiative.
“Create something tangible,” Hacking says. “If you’re interested in development, build a simple app or tool. If you’re leaning toward marketing, break down a campaign you admire or try running one yourself. You don’t need to wait for someone to hire you to start working on projects. Those small efforts make you memorable in interviews.”
Wells Fargo Software Engineering
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Avg. Time: 3-4 hours
Skills you’ll build: Data modeling, system design, entity relationship diagramming, Java, Spring
Build a Portfolio
Now that you have some experience, it’s time to show it off in an application.
“Something people don’t always realize about landing a tech job is that showing what you can do is far more important than saying you can do it,” Hacking says. “Employers don’t expect you to have years of experience, but they do appreciate seeing real effort.”
Build an online portfolio to showcase your work — whether that’s code on GitHub for engineering roles or a site featuring projects for UX design.
“Students should focus on building a portfolio of projects that solve actual problems,” Sun recommends. “This means moving beyond tutorial projects and creating applications or solutions that address genuine needs… This approach shows potential employers that you can think beyond code and understand the broader impact of technology.”
Build technical skills in real-world scenarios.
Apply tech skills in programs that simulate real tech roles at top companies.
Network
You can’t get into tech without networking — it’s one of the most effective ways to learn about career paths, emerging technologies, and new roles.
“Put yourself out there,” Hacking says. “Join LinkedIn groups, attend webinars, or ask people in tech how they got started. Most people are happy to share advice if you’re genuine. And keep going, even if it feels slow — consistency over time makes a difference and shows you’re invested in being part of tech.”
>>MORE: No idea where to get started? Learn how to ask and prepare for an informational interview.
Apply to the Right Roles
Now that you’ve built some skills and experience, it’s time to apply to entry-level tech roles. Focus your search by narrowing down what you want — the skills you want to use, the industry, and the type of company.
“Niche it down on the search front,” Ulin says. “Not everybody has to work for Apple, Tesla, or Amazon. Plenty of smaller companies and startups need people just like you, and you’ll have more room to grow as you gain experience.”
>>MORE: Take our “How to Find the Best Companies to Work For (for You)” quiz.
You don’t need to avoid big tech — just don’t apply based on name alone. Look for roles labeled “entry-level” or “early career,” and apply directly on company websites when possible.
How to Get Into Tech With No Experience: The Bottom Line
Getting into tech with no experience comes down to building skills and showing what you can do. Start now with projects or a Forage design job simulation, stay consistent, and focus on showing, not telling — that’s what helps you stand out.
