Tech Career Toolkit: From Interview Prep to Finding Your Next Role
Whether you’re preparing for your first developer interview, navigating salary negotiations, or looking for your next role after a layoff, having the right resources at your fingertips makes the process far less overwhelming. Below is a curated set of tools, guides, and references to help you manage each step of your career journey. Tech Career Toolkit: From Interview Prep to Finding Your Next Role.
Interviewing
Cracking the technical interview is about more than just algorithms—it’s about practice, pattern recognition, and building confidence.
Neetcode 150– A structured set of coding problems to prepare for FAANG-style interviews.
Interviewing.io Blog– Candid insights, tips, and practice advice from industry veterans.
Writing a Resume
A resume isn’t just a list of skills—it’s your first impression. Knowing what hiring managers actually look for makes all the difference.
How to Write an Effective Developer Resume– Practical, no-nonsense advice from a hiring manager who reads hundreds of resumes.
Salary & Negotiation
Talking about money can be awkward, but being informed and prepared can add thousands to your compensation.
“What’s Your Expected Salary?”– How to answer this tricky interview question without selling yourself short.
Salary Negotiation Advice (GitHub Guide)– A comprehensive open-source resource for preparing negotiation strategies.
Levels.fyi– Transparent data on salaries, levels, and career progression at major tech companies.
Software Development & Programming
Your technical skills are your core asset—these are tools worth revisiting often.
GitHub Trending– Discover emerging open-source projects.
DevDocs– Blazing-fast, offline-friendly documentation for multiple programming languages.
JSFiddle– Experiment with front-end code quickly.
MDN Web Docs– Trusted, community-maintained web development documentation.
Stack Overflow Blog– Insightful posts on developer culture, productivity, and industry shifts.
IT Operations & Infrastructure
For system reliability and troubleshooting, these dashboards are lifesavers.
Unemployment & Career Transitions
Losing a role can be overwhelming—but it doesn’t mean the end of your career. These resources can help with next steps, both practical and emotional.
Layoffs.fyi– A tracker of tech layoffs, often paired with lists of affected employees and hiring companies.
USA.gov Benefit Finder– A starting point for U.S. government financial assistance and benefits.
Wikihow Guides– While some articles are lighthearted, others cover resume writing and personal finance basics during hard times.
Lost All Hope (Statistics Section)– This resource is heavy and should be approached carefully, but some find value in its straightforward approach to understanding the reality of mental health struggles. If you’re in crisis, reach out to professional support or a helpline in your country.
International Job Boards
Looking beyond your local market can open doors to opportunities worldwide.
LinkedIn– Networking, recruiting, and job applications in one place.
Indeed– One of the largest global job aggregators.
Hiring Cafe– Curated job postings, often startup-focused.
YCombinator’s Work at a Startup– Startup jobs sourced from the YCombinator network.
Wellfound– A go-to platform for early-stage startup opportunities.
Specialized Job Boards
Certain job boards cater to very specific roles and requirements, often in government or security-cleared positions.
USAJobs– The official job site for U.S. federal government roles.
ClearanceJobs– For roles requiring U.S. security clearances.
Jobs Now– A general-purpose board with quick-apply listings.
Final Thoughts
Navigating the tech job market is about preparation and resilience. Interview practice sharpens your confidence, resume improvements increase your visibility, and salary negotiation ensures you’re fairly compensated. If you’re between roles, the mix of support resources and job boards above can help you bridge the gap and get back on track.
The market is competitive, but with the right toolkit, you’ll be ready for every stage—from first interview to final offer.
