I’ve had a few friends recently ask me about breaking into the software industry. Most have been looking for advice on getting a developer job at a consumer-facing web/internet company-- though places like Tesla and WeWork are also very popular.

These friends have probably heard about the amazing slew of benefits; like interesting work, smart and passionate colleagues, and free food/snacks/alcohol galore. It doesn’t hurt that compensation is usually above market at these companies, and career prospects are second-to-none for talented technologists.

There’s already an abundance of information out there on obtaining software engineering jobs, but much of the advice is geared towards people who have experience already. Technical interview prep is important only if you can even get the interview.

If you've never worked in software, breaking in can be challenging unless approached the right way. Here’s a few tips that are less common that have helped me and others in the past.