Article summary
This spring, I went to North Carolina State University’s Engineering Career Fair a second time, but this time I was standing behind the table.
Accelerator
A year ago, I found Atomic Object through the NC State career fair and ended up applying for the Accelerator program. This year I was representing Atomic Object and talking to students about the same program. Going back to my alma mater’s career fair felt like a full-circle moment. Not only did I find Atomic Object there, but I had also found two internships there in prior years. Still, it wasn’t all happy memories.
Part of the experience was exciting, but part of it was honestly difficult. The job market for new software developers has been especially tough recently, and it’s hard not to be aware of that while talking with students who are just starting their search. There are a lot of talented computer science graduates entering the workforce and fewer entry-level opportunities than there were a few years ago.
Being there brought back a lot of memories of my own job search after graduating. It took me about a year out of college to land my role at Atomic Object. That year included a lot of applications, a lot of waiting, and plenty of moments where I wondered if I was doing something wrong. Eventually I came across Atomic Object’s Accelerator program, applied, and ended up getting the opportunity. It turned out to be exactly the kind of start to my career that I needed.
Going Back
Because of that experience, going back to the career fair felt heavier than I expected. It’s hard not to see some version of your past self in the students who stop by the table.
Later in the process, I also helped with the coding review portion of the Accelerator interviews. Watching candidates talk through a problem is one of the most interesting parts of the process. It’s rarely about whether someone has the perfect solution. What tends to matter more is how someone thinks through a problem, how they communicate their ideas, and how they respond when they get stuck.
Being part of both a career fair and the interviews gave me a better sense of what actually stands out during the process. It’s easy to assume that companies are mostly looking for the most impressive resume or the most complex technical projects. Those things can help, but something else often comes through much more clearly in conversations and interviews: genuine enthusiasm for the work.
My Advice
If I could offer one piece of advice to students preparing for career fairs or interviews, it would be to focus on communicating what excites you about software development. Talk about the projects you enjoyed working on and why they were interesting. Ask questions about the kinds of challenges a team works on. Showing curiosity and interest in the work can go a long way.
Being involved in the process this year also reminded me how important it is for people in the industry to stay connected to early-career opportunities like the Accelerator program. Everyone who gets their first role does so because someone took the time to have a conversation, review their resume, or give them a chance to show how they think through a problem.
A year ago, I was hoping someone would give me that chance. This year, I had the opportunity to be part of the process for someone else.