Be Good at Something: What Actually Gets You Hired in Tech
- Itay Sharfi
- Apr 24
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 24
No internship.
No clear path into tech.
That is exactly where a cloud-computing student found himself. He asked me what really works. Here is the advice, straight from our conversation.
Watch the full session:
1. Be Good at Something Specific
You do not get hired for being kind of good at everything. You get hired when someone says, “This person can solve the one problem I have.”
Pick a lane: backend, cloud deployments, infra tooling, then go deep. Build it, ship it, explain it.
When you are clearly strong in one area, companies notice.
2. You Do Not Need a Posted Internship
Most internships are never listed. They happen when you:
Offer to solve a real problem
Find a manager with a small budget and too much to do
Prove you can deliver something useful
That is how I got mine. It still works.
3. Internships Prove Three Things
A solid internship signals:
Someone trusted you with real work
You chose a focus instead of spraying applications everywhere
You did something interviewers can dig into
If you cannot land a formal internship, offer to handle a scoped one. It still counts.
4. Certifications Are Fine, but Proof Is Better
Badges are helpful only when you cannot get experience. On their own they are not convincing. Deploy something. Monitor it. Document decisions and trade-offs.
Proof beats paper every time.
5. Focus Beats Prestige
Big logos help, but relevance matters more. If you are strong in cloud, go where cloud is mission-critical. That could be a niche SaaS or a startup that will value you and move fast.
Choose the right role, not just the right logo.
6. Think Bigger Than Code
Stand out by knowing:
How systems connect
Where the data flows
How users are affected
That perspective separates you from other entry-level candidates.
7. Grit Is the Advantage Most People Ignore
The market is tough. Many quit after a few rejections.
The ones who break through are persistent and focused.
Keep building. Keep reaching out.
8. A Good Manager Can Change Your Career
Great managers are rare but career-defining. They push you, cover you when you take risks, and open better projects. People join companies, and leave managers.
If you find a good manager, double down.
9. Do Not Just Network, Invite
Better than attending a big event: invite someone. Host a Q&A or small panel.
Many professionals will say yes, and you will learn far more.
10. Stop Chasing Trends. Solve Problems.
You do not need the hottest buzzword to get hired. Solve a real problem, and the right tech choice follows.
If the problem is real, your skills will stay relevant.
Final Word
Feeling behind is normal. You do not need to be perfect. You need to be useful.
Pick something.
Get good at it.
Offer to solve problems.
That is how tech careers really begin.
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