Django Internship or entry level roles

Show & Tell
1

Hi, I’m set to graduate from university in July of this year, but I have no real-world experience. I was taught some Django at university, but it was a basic CRUD application, nothing advanced. I have been spending a year or so since to improve on my Django and become more proficient in it. I have created several high-level projects for which I was graded a distinction as part of my university final year project.

I don’t know what I’m doing wrong, but I can’t even manage to land an interview even though my skills are strong and well-rounded. So far, I’ve managed to land a single face-to-face task-based assessment at Accenture, but it didn’t take me far .I do aspire to become a back-end developer or a Python developer, but the way things are looking, it discourages me a lot.

I am thinking of taking one of my projects and hosting it, and hopefully build a user-base but surely that’s not necessary or what it take nowadays to land a job?

If anyone can give me advice it would mean alot.

image
image681×769 115 KB

2

Hey, congrats on your upcoming graduation! While job searching, it’s important to keep in mind that the market is tough for all software engineers right now, especially entry level. So what you’re experiencing is normal.

Here are some tips to help you stand out if you’re still looking:

If possible, prioritize local over remote positions. Naturally with remote jobs you’re competing against a much larger pool of candidates.
Check out https://foxleytalent.com/, if you haven’t already. They’re a recruitment firm based in the UK and specialize in Django.
Some additional skills and experience that are important to reference on your resume:

  • CI/CD pipeline
  • PyTest / Automated testing
  • Docker
  • Cloud (AWS, etc.)
  • Query optimization

Good bonus skills:

  • Kubernetes
  • RESTful API design
  • Microservices architecture

I think it would be a good idea to contribute to open source projects. For example, the Django framework, their official website, or Django packages. Doing so would further emphasize your passion, initiative, and ability to collaborate on production-level code.

Personally, I’m a bit on the fence about including Coursera certificates on a resume. They can be great for showcasing your ongoing learning, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, but when it comes to your resume, you might get more value by using that space to highlight your projects in greater detail. I’d suggest adding bullet points that relate to the skills I mentioned earlier, in place of Coursera. You’re already highlighting your practical experience with machine learning through your project anyway, which is more important than the Coursera cert itself.

As for Freedcamp, I’d recommend removing it as a cert and instead showcasing your strongest project from that experience in your projects section. You can still mention that the project was the result of applying what you learned while earning certifications from Freedcamp, as a supporting detail in a bullet. Framing it as a project gives it more impact.

Additionally, consider reserving your certs section for industry recognized certs such as AWS certs, Azure, etc.

Caveat, I’m basically in the same boat! My advice is based on my own research along with advice I’ve received from others. I’d recommend checking out Reddit - The heart of the internet and getting their feedback as well.

Best of luck! Again, don’t get discouraged, the market is awful for everyone right now.

1 Like