"Tell me about yourself." You have 2 minutes to make a first impression. Most Interviewees blow it in the first 30 seconds. Here's how to nail it every single time. What most people do wrong: They ramble about their entire life story. They overshare irrelevant details about jobs from 5 years ago. They talk about projects that have nothing to do with the role. Or worse, they give a 20-second answer that says absolutely nothing meaningful. The interviewer zones out. You've lost them before you even get to the technical questions. Here's the structure that actually works: 1. Start with your education "I graduated from [University] with a degree in Computer Science, where I focused on algorithms and data structures." Keep it brief. One sentence. Move on. 2. Talk about your projects or professional experience. Now this is where you shine. Share 2-3 relevant experiences, but here's the key: only mention accomplishments that directly relate to THIS job. Read the job description. If they want someone with API development experience, talk about the REST API you built. If they need cloud expertise, mention your AWS projects. Example: "At my last role, I built a payment processing system that handled 50,000 transactions daily—I noticed your team is working on similar high-volume systems. Before that, I developed a microservices architecture that reduced deployment time by 60%, which aligns with your focus on CI/CD optimization." See what you're doing? You're connecting YOUR experience to THEIR needs. 3. Show you're a great fit Don't be shy about this. Literally say: "Based on what I've seen in the job description, I believe my experience with [specific skill] and [specific technology] makes me a strong fit for this role." 4. Add one fun, personal detail This makes you memorable and human. "Outside of work, I love hiking and have a goal to visit every national park" or "My family is from Spain, so I grew up speaking both English and Spanish." One sentence. That's it.

Most new engineers think they have to “earn” the right to negotiate. You don’t. Belive it or not, that mindset is costing you $20K–$50K+ right out of the gate. People ask me how our entry-level clients land $100K+ tech offers straight out of school. My response is that they don’t wait to feel ready. They learn how the game works early. People ask how junior engineers go from rejection emails to multiple offers. My answer? You stop applying blindly and start targeting roles strategically. People ask how first-time job seekers confidently ask for more money. The secret? They practice saying the number before they ever get on the call. But the truth is… There is no one clear cut secret. Just systems, support, and showing up. To land a high-paying role in tech, even as a first-timer, you need to: ✅ Understand total compensation (it's way more than just base salary) ✅ Research the company’s comp bands before your first interview ✅ Talk openly with peers and mentors about money ✅ Practice your value prop and salary ask out loud ✅ Stop negotiating against yourself before the conversation even begins Want to land your first tech role—and actually get paid what you're worth? Join the Tech Pro Odyssey community on Skool. We teach ambitious engineers how to break into the industry, master interviews, and negotiate like pros. Ask questions, get support, accelerate your career. Drop a comment or DM me “Skool” and I’ll send you the invite. The earlier you start, the faster you grow.

If you’re struggling to connect your previous experience to a new role your applying for, dont worry, I got you. But Andre "I used to work in retail...", "But I was a service worker..." "But I never worked behind a desk before..." "I was an English Major." IT DOESNT MATTER. You shouldnt cry over spilled milk. You’re already on this journey so lets make the best of it. Let me show you how. Its all about telling the right story. I graduate from a business school with a business degree, worked in that industry for 3.5 years and before that I worked at a ton of retail companies, and none of my previous experience had anything to do with software engineering. Thats right, I don’t have a CS Degree. And i’ve been a developer for years. So how did I do it? I had a positioning statement. Where I clearly explain who I am, what im great at, how my path makes sense, and most importantly how my previous experience is a benefit to the role im applying for. I created a document that outlines exactly how you can tell the right story during your next interview. If you’re interested comment the word “interview” and ill send it over to you. And follow us for more content like this.

There are levels to virtual networking. Most software engineers treat it like a checkbox. But if you want to unlock real career opportunities, the kind that don’t show up on job boards, you need to play a different game. Here’s how the levels break down: Amateur: "I connect with other engineers on LinkedIn." Intermediate: "I connect with other engineers and occasionally comment on their posts." Advanced: "I connect with other engineers, comment regularly, and send follow-up messages to build relationships." Expert: "I connect intentionally, engage meaningfully, start value-driven conversations, create content around shared interests, and collaborate on projects or events." The reality: Getting referred, recruited, and respected in tech takes more than just hitting ‘Connect.’ It takes intentional virtual networking, built on consistency, curiosity, and giving more than you take. If you're not sure how to start, I help software engineers build networking strategies that actually open doors (and inboxes).