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Business

Nate Grant
Nate Grant
23,695 Points

How to get into the tech industry and find a job as a 15 year old?

Hi awesome community! I'm Nate and I'm 15 and love to code! I have built 5 apps on the App Store and three webbsites which I think is pretty awesome! But I love learning! Coding is so powerful and learning and continuing to grow allows you to create things you would have never imagined! My question is how can someone my age, My skill sets, Get a job/internship or get freelance work in the tech industry? If you have any tips let me know! Thanks in advance! :D

  1. Check out company websites that you think you'd might like to work for.
  2. See if they offer internships.
  3. Networking! Use FB, Google or anything to find networking events near you to meet people in the industry.
  4. Collaborate with other people and share your projects on social media.
Nate Grant
Nate Grant
23,695 Points

Thanks so much Leyton Parker !! Agreed and will do!

6 Answers

Nate,

I'm going to let you in on a secret--you already are a programmer/developer/etc. You've built things, and you've got technical skills. Skills are just part of the picture, though.

A job, now--that's something different. In the scheme of life, getting a "job" is easy. If you want to know what day in, day out work is like, talk to people doing it, ask to visit the workplace, take an internship, whatever. While you're there, imagine doing it for a decade. I think it'll be a huge eye-opener for you.

The reason I say focus on your interests at 15 is that the world is so much bigger than your career and software development. In other words, now is time when you get to discover, explore, expand your world, not narrow it. That exploration can include programming.

Trust me: this time will not come again in your life.

But, if your goal is a "career" or a "job" at 15, then do it. Dive in to the professional world wholeheartedly, and tell people you want a job. Keep your mind open, though.

Nate Grant
Nate Grant
23,695 Points

James Gill Thanks so much man! Great advice and will definitely explore a little bit!

Kris Byrum
Kris Byrum
32,636 Points

Hey Nate.

The best way that I've found to get a job, period, is to talk with people. Meaning, ask around to your friends to see if they know anyone in the industry you're looking at, go to events and introduce yourself, ask friends to introduce you to someone new (not necessarily in your industry) with the intent to introduce yourself and also ask if they know someone you can speak with about jobs aka networking.

For tech, I'm finding that what is really looked at is what your skills are. So, build build build build. Get some examples up of your work, even if they are small and only show your code. This gives companies and idea of how you work and what you can do.

Also, don't be afraid to step into a place, introduce yourself and ask for any opportunities to get your foot in the door.

That last one is a tough skill to get, but will get you so much with everything in the future.

Lastly, no matter what, if you meet with someone, hand write (if possible) or email (if can't hand write) a thank you note for them taking time out of their day to talk with you. (make sure that you pay for coffee / food if you meet them out for that too :>).

well said ^^

Nate Grant
Nate Grant
23,695 Points

Kris Byrum Great advice! Thank you!

Ricky Catron
Ricky Catron
13,023 Points

I know I am late to the party but I think I qualify.

Talking to people is the way to start freelancing. Just mention what you do when asked. Talk about projects your building, show them off to friends and family. My first job was offered to me by a friends mom who needed one for her company. My next found me through my school. My current contract attends a meetup I go too. You can do this and attend school.

In reference to what James Gill said the only problem with being a full time freelancer in high school is not telling your client your schedule and life when they hire you. If they hire you expecting a veteran with 10 years experience doing this as a full time job you are both going to have a horrible time. Be honest, tell them you are a full time student and you will need extra time to complete the project then someone else might. Maybe you give them a price cut for that fact.

Keep learning and keep building but take time just to relax and have fun with friends. Don't let it consume you. We have time to become the best developers ever. It doesn't have to be next week, next month or even next year.

Goodluck! --Ricky

Nate Grant
Nate Grant
23,695 Points

Thanks Ricky Catron ! Appreciate the advice! Will do! All the best - Nate

Zain Abiddin
Zain Abiddin
2,783 Points

I don't think growth minded tech companies care about age when hiring. They want to see what you've built and you're eager to learn.

Nate, are you still in school? If so, how are you planning to take on full-time work in software development?

Programming is great, but when you're 15, I suggest that you keep making and learning about what most interests you.

Nate is young, but what's the harm in taking a summer internship and getting some real world experience which will give him a better idea if he likes it or not?

Nate Grant
Nate Grant
23,695 Points

Hi James Gill ! I'm currently homeschooled and in a "Vocational" School which means I'm pursuing a specific career and for me that is software development so I have the time to work on my own projects and if the opportunity arrises then work for a company as well.

Chris Andruszko
Chris Andruszko
18,392 Points

I've seen people get decent jobs with less in their portfolio. I'm not an employer, so don't take my word as being fact, but by the time you graduate high school you might very likely be eligible for a mid-level developer position. That's really good money, good security, and still a lot of room for growth.

I'd highly recommend looking into internships, contracts, and part-time developer jobs. Working with an established team at a company will probably do more for your resume than freelance work. Also, even if you only work during the summer months you'll still be earning more than any of your peers.

If I was 15 again, I would do exactly what you're doing; pursuing something that's important and valuable. I'm still young at age 24, but even so, my journey would have been so much easier if I started studying programming when I was a teenager.

Good luck, and as Mark Twain said, "Don't let schooling interfere with your education."

Nate Grant
Nate Grant
23,695 Points

Thanks Chris Andruszko . That means a lot to me! I've been working hard to build up projects of my own and no that I feel comfortable with programming I'm working towards my next goal. Thank you all for the kind words :D