How to Gain Your First Experience in IT: 10 Practical Ways That Work

How to Gain Your First Experience in IT

Many people who start learning programming, software testing, data analysis, cybersecurity, or cloud technologies face the same problem.

To get a job, you need experience. To gain experience, you first need a job.

At first, this may seem like an impossible cycle. In practice, however, there are many ways to gain your first IT experience without having previously worked for a technology company.

The most important thing is to show employers that you can apply your knowledge in practice. Completing a course or earning a certificate can be valuable, but it is usually not enough to stand out from other candidates.

You need specific examples of your work.

1. Build Your Own Projects

Creating your own project is one of the best ways to gain practical experience in IT.

It does not have to be a complex application used by thousands of people. At the beginning, it is much more important that the project is complete, works correctly, and demonstrates specific skills.

A developer can create a simple web application, website, API, calculator, task management system, or application that uses external data.

A software tester can prepare test documentation for a selected website or application, create test cases, report sample bugs, or build a small test automation project.

A data analyst can use a public dataset, perform an analysis, and present the results in a report or dashboard.

Someone interested in system administration, DevOps, or cloud computing can create a Docker environment, configure a simple CI/CD pipeline, or deploy an application to AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.

A good project should:

• solve a specific problem,
• use technologies related to your chosen specialization,
• include a description and setup instructions,
• be publicly available, for example on GitHub,
• be easy to present during a job interview.

One well-prepared project is usually more valuable than ten unfinished repositories.

2. Build a Portfolio

A portfolio is not only useful for designers and graphic artists. It can also be a very effective tool when looking for your first job in IT.

You can create a simple website that includes information about you, the technologies you use, your completed projects, and your contact details.

Your portfolio should focus primarily on the results of your work.

For every project, describe:

• the purpose of the project,
• the technologies used,
• the tasks you completed,
• the problems you encountered,
• how you solved those problems,
• the skills you gained,
• where the code or live application can be found.

Do not limit yourself to adding only a GitHub link. A recruiter may not have enough time to analyze the entire repository.

Explain clearly what you created and what you were responsible for.

3. Use GitHub as a Technical Portfolio

GitHub can serve as your technical portfolio. It is particularly important for developers, test automation engineers, DevOps specialists, and anyone who works with code.

Make sure your repositories are organized and easy to understand.

Every important project should include a README file that explains:

• the purpose of the project,
• the technologies used,
• the requirements,
• how to install it,
• how to run it,
• the main features,
• possible future improvements.

Avoid publishing empty projects, random files, or code copied directly from a course without any personal modifications.

Your project should show that you understand the solutions used and can continue developing the code independently.

4. Apply for Internships and Trainee Programs

Internships and trainee programs are among the most direct ways to gain professional experience.

They allow you to see how a real team works, understand company processes, and learn how industry tools are used.

Even a short internship can give you experience in areas such as:

• working with version control systems,
• participating in team meetings,
• handling tickets,
• taking part in code reviews,
• testing new features,
• creating documentation,
• working according to established processes.

Do not choose an internship only because the word “IT” appears in the title. Check what tasks you will actually perform and whether they will help you develop in your chosen direction.

5. Take on Small Freelance Projects

You can also gain your first experience by completing small assignments.

At the beginning, you can help a friend, local company, charity, foundation, or small organization. This may involve creating a website, fixing a bug, testing an application, analyzing data, configuring a tool, or automating a simple process.

Even a small project teaches you how to:

• understand requirements,
• communicate with a client,
• plan your work,
• estimate time,
• solve real problems,
• deliver a finished solution.

Always define the scope, deadline, and terms of cooperation clearly. This also applies to unpaid projects.

A free project should not mean unlimited revisions and constant availability.

6. Volunteer Your Technical Skills

Charities, nonprofit organizations, and local initiatives often need technical support but do not always have the budget to hire a specialist.

You can help them create or test a website, organize data, prepare instructions, configure tools, or solve simple technical problems.

This type of cooperation can be a valuable addition to your CV because it shows that you worked for a real organization and delivered a practical result.

Before starting, agree on whether you will be allowed to describe the project in your portfolio and whether you can receive a reference afterward.

7. Contribute to Open-Source Projects

Open-source projects allow you to work publicly on real software.

You do not need to begin by making major changes to a popular project. You can start with smaller tasks, such as:

• improving documentation,
• reporting a bug,
• adding a test,
• solving a simple issue,
• fixing a small problem in the code,
• translating part of the documentation.

Contributing to open source helps you learn how repositories, pull requests, reviews, and team communication work.

Look for tasks labeled “good first issue,” “beginner friendly,” or “help wanted.”

8. Join Hackathons and Team Projects

A hackathon is an event where participants create a solution to a specific problem within a limited amount of time.

It can be a great opportunity to gain teamwork experience. Even if the project is not fully completed, you can learn how to divide tasks, make quick decisions, present results, and work with people who have different skills.

You can gain similar experience through group projects completed during courses, bootcamps, or technology community events.

Make sure you clearly understand which part of the project you were responsible for. During an interview, you may be asked to explain your individual contribution.

9. Document Your Learning Journey

Publishing content related to your learning can help you build visibility and strengthen your knowledge at the same time.

You can create:

• short LinkedIn posts,
• blog articles,
• tutorials,
• learning notes,
• instructional videos,
• descriptions of solved problems,
• project summaries.

You do not need to present yourself as an expert. You can openly share what you are learning, what challenges you faced, and what conclusions you reached.

Publishing regularly shows commitment, communication skills, and consistency. It may also help recruiters or potential employers discover your profile.

10. Look Beyond the Biggest Job Boards

Popular junior job offers often receive a large number of applications. This does not mean that you should stop using major job boards.

It is worth combining them with other methods.

Check company career pages, industry groups, local communities, technology events, recruiter profiles, and professional networks. You can also contact smaller companies directly, even if they are not currently advertising an open position.

Your message should be short and specific. Explain which area you are developing in, what skills you have, and which projects you can show.

Avoid sending the same generic message to hundreds of companies. A personalized message significantly increases your chance of receiving a reply.

Can You Include Personal Projects on Your CV?

Yes. Personal projects should be included on your CV, especially when you do not yet have commercial experience.

You can create a separate “Projects” section and describe your most important work.

For example:

Test Automation for an Online Store

Created a test automation project for a web application using Playwright and TypeScript. Developed tests for login, product search, and the checkout process. Configured test reports and automated test execution with GitHub Actions.

This type of description is much more convincing than simply listing technologies without showing how they were used.

Does Experience Have to Be Commercial?

Not every valuable experience has to come from paid employment.

For an employer, the most important question is whether you can perform tasks related to the role, understand basic processes, and explain your decisions.

A personal project is not the same as one year of commercial experience, so you should not present it as paid employment.

However, it can prove that you have practical skills and do not rely only on theoretical knowledge.

Are Courses and Certifications Enough?

Courses help organize your knowledge and introduce you to important tools. Certifications can confirm that you understand a particular subject area.

The problem begins when a candidate completes many courses but never uses the knowledge in practice.

After finishing a course, create your own project. Do not copy every step exactly. Change the requirements, add new features, use different data, or solve a similar problem independently.

This turns the course into a starting point for practical experience rather than just another item on your CV.

How to Prepare for Your First Recruitment Process

Read each job description carefully and check which requirements you already meet.

You do not need to meet every single requirement before applying. Job advertisements often describe an ideal candidate who may not exist in practice.

However, you should be prepared to discuss your projects in detail.

You should be able to answer questions such as:

• Why did you choose this solution?
• What problems did you encounter?
• What would you do differently today?
• How did you verify that the project worked correctly?
• Which part was the most difficult?
• What would you like to add in the future?

Employers may not expect years of experience from a junior candidate. They will still evaluate your thinking, technical foundations, independence, and willingness to learn.

What Mistakes Should You Avoid?

One of the most common mistakes is constantly starting new courses without completing any projects.

You should also avoid:

• copying ready-made projects without understanding them,
• adding technologies to your CV that you only know superficially,
• planning an overly complex project at the beginning,
• waiting until you meet every requirement before applying,
• presenting personal projects as commercial experience,
• sending the same CV for every position,
• focusing only on certificates.

An employer can quickly see the difference between someone who only knows the names of tools and someone who has actually used them.

A Simple Plan for Gaining Your First IT Experience

You can start with a clear plan:

1. Choose one specific specialization.
2. Analyze common job requirements.
3. Learn the most important basics and tools.
4. Create one small project.
5. Publish it on GitHub.
6. Prepare a project description and portfolio.
7. Ask a more experienced person for feedback.
8. Improve your CV and LinkedIn profile.
9. Start applying regularly.
10. Continue developing another project at the same time.

Do not wait until you feel completely ready. In IT, there will always be new technologies and topics you do not know yet.

What matters most is having solid foundations and the ability to search for solutions independently.

Conclusion

You can gain your first IT experience before signing your first employment contract.

Personal projects, GitHub, a portfolio, internships, freelance assignments, volunteering, open-source contributions, and hackathons can help you build practical skills and stand out during recruitment.

Do not try to learn everything at once. Choose one direction, learn the most important tools, and create a project that you can explain in detail.

The first IT job is usually the hardest one to get. However, every completed project, solved problem, and job interview brings you closer to your goal.