Coaching Call Chronicles: College/CS Student

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The job market’s been tough for everyone, but one of the most affected demographics has been college students & entry level graduates.

Even in good job market, the hardest job you’ll ever get is your very first one.

You’re going up against the widest candidate pool you’ll ever see & you don’t have much experience to help you stand out. Not to mention how AI will affect the workplace in the coming years.

That being said, there are still a few things you can to today that can help you stand out from the pack.

Recently, I had a coaching call with a college student (Comp Sci Major) on how to give himself a better chance not only to land internships, but also to set a solid foundation for himself for when he graduates to jumpstart his career.

Let’s dive into the game plan 👇:

1: Build a Portfolio That Actually Stands Out

This is one of the first things I recommend because it serves as the foundation for the beginning of your career. You have to realize virtually every resume applying for an internship “looks the same”, meaning everyone’s taking the same classes, going to a similar school, and has bare bone experience.

Think about it like this: if you and literally every other student in your class is applying for the same internship, why should they pick you?

Considering all this, a portfolio helps you stand out for a variety of reasons:

• If gives the hiring team “an extra data point” to look at.

• It helps make networking outreaches “warmer” by giving something to talk about

• It shows prospective hiring teams you have some “drive” by working on a project on the side

While most of my placements over the years have been seniors, the entry level folks I’ve placed all had one thing in common: a portfolio to go along with their resume.

2: Network Like Your Career Depends on It (Because It Does)

Let’s go back to my point above where I said “every resume looks the same”. On top of that, let’s consider what the recruiter is going through.

They have 100s of “the same” resumes in the ATS for the same internship/entry level job. Again, let’s ask the question: why should they pick you?

Think about the time, energy, and costs it takes to hire an intern/entry level candidate. They’re not just looking for the best possible person, but someone that’s worth the investment of their time and resources.

Networking adds another layer of credibility. If someone on the inside is able to vouch for you, then that goers a long way to add said credibility.

If you’re not already on LinkedIn, pause this email, create an account, and come back. Here’s your script:

• Follow industry leaders in tech.

• Engage with their posts (meaningful comments, not just “great post!”).

• Send personalized connection requests to recruiters and engineers who work at companies you admire.

When you send that request, don’t just say, “Hey, I’m looking for an internship.” No one cares. Instead, ask for advice or insights on a specific project you’re working on. You’re playing the long game here.

Build relationships now, and when it’s time to apply, you won’t be just another name in a sea of resumes.

3: Master the Art of the Cold Email

So, let’s say you’ve got the basics covered — resume, LinkedIn profile, a few side projects. Now it’s time to go pro.

Most people are too scared to send a cold email. That’s your edge.
Here’s the formula:

• Subject line: Short and direct. “CS Student Excited About [Company]’s Work”

• Body: 3 sentences max.

  1. Introduction: Who you are and what you’re studying.

  2. Flattery: “I came across [recent project or blog post] and found it fascinating.”

  3. Commonality: Make the outreach warmer by pointing out a connection or sharing your personal project.

  4. The Ask: “I’m exploring internship opportunities and would love to learn more about your team’s work. Can we connect for a quick call?”

Follow up once if they don’t reply within a week. After that, move on. But if they do respond, congratulations — you’re already ahead of 90% of your classmates.

Note: this should be done every time you apply to a job by contacting the job seeker, but also when trying to network with folks online:

4: Reach Out To School Alumni

Piggy backing off of points 3 & 4, you can increase your chances of success by reaching out to alumni from your current college.

The more “points of commonality” you have, the higher chances you’ll have of someone willing to help you out. College is a great way to tackle this because most people had a great experience in college and provides a ton of points of commonality (classes, majors, professors, buildings, bars/restaurants, sports teams, etc).

It should be your goal by the time you graduate to have at least 3-5 solid, genuine relationships with previous alumni.

They don’t have to be CIOs, Directors, or even Managers. Networking with Senior ICs can still be extremely valuable to help grow your career and provide a roadmap of success.

5: Get Comfortable with Failure

I’m going to keep it 100 with you: You will get rejected. Probably a lot. But every rejection is just data. Don’t take it personally. Instead, figure out what went wrong.

• Did you stumble on a technical question? Add that topic to your study list.
  Did the recruiter ghost you? Work on your outreach game.
  Was your portfolio ignored? Maybe it needs a facelift.

Most students will get one rejection and then wallow in self-pity. You’re not most students, right? Good. Fail fast, learn fast, and keep moving forward.

6: Non-tech companies need tech workers, too.

Everyone wants to land that dream job at FAANG, but guess what? So does everyone else. Have backup plans that are just as exciting:

• Mid-sized companies where you can make a real impact

• Companies you use in your every day life (cell phone, cable/media, banking, healthcare, retail, etc).

• Government tech roles (yeah, it’s not sexy, but the benefits are insane)

The point is, keep your options open. Don’t pigeonhole yourself into thinking there’s only one path to success.

Closing Thoughts

If you’re reading this and feeling overwhelmed — good. You should be. Because the people who get ahead are the ones who can handle the pressure. But here’s the thing: most of your competition will read this advice, think it’s good, and then go back to binge-watching Netflix.

Don’t be like them. Take action, even if it’s messy. You have time, but not as much as you think.

Stay sharp, stay hungry, and I’ll see you at the top.

P.S.

If you found value in this newsletter, forward it to a friend who needs a wake-up call — or better yet, encourage them to subscribe. Because trust me, this is just the beginning.

If you’re looking for some guidance on how to advance your career, you can book a call with me here.