# Success Checklist

This guide provides a broad-ranging checklist to work towards a successful career as a software engineer.

Whether you are a Freshman or a Senior, there is always plenty of things you can do right now to improve your chances of success in the technology industry.

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Note that no one is an expert at everything and no one will be able to complete 100% of the items below. It’s okay and normal that you won’t know everything, and that you won’t complete this entire checklist.
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Take things one step at a time. Try to focus your learning and time around particular goals. There’s an enormous amount to learn and do, and it’s really easy to get overwhelmed. Think of this as a guide towards getting your first/next technical internship and then first full-time role after graduation.

**Top-level goals:**

* Create an [effective resume and LinkedIn](https://books.codepath.org/student-handbook/artifacts/student-resume-guide) to prepare for your internship search
* Acquire [technical internship interview readiness](https://books.codepath.org/student-handbook/technical-interviewing/technical-interviewing-guide) for phone screens and on-site interviews
* Acquire confidence developing in one [industry tech stack](https://books.codepath.org/student-handbook/software-engineering/software-career-tracks) beyond what’s taught in classes
* Work in at least one software internship position by summer of Junior year
* Strengthen [your professional network](https://books.codepath.org/student-handbook/networking-and-communication/the-art-of-the-follow-up) with more engineers and motivated peers

**Key action items:**

* Develop an understanding of [what being a software engineer involves](https://books.codepath.org/student-handbook/software-engineering/your-questions-answered)
* Sign up for our “[Mobile App Design](http://codepath.org/classes/mobileappdesign)” workshop series to learn about mobile app design, how to code mobile apps, and learn from industry experts.
* Apply for 3+ [early pre-internship summer programs](https://books.codepath.org/student-handbook/internship-and-job-search-strategy/early-internship-programs) (*Freshman/Sophomore*)
* Complete a first course (SE101 or SE102) of our [software fundamentals course series](https://codepath.org/classes/interviewprep)
* Complete one or more of our special topics courses (iOS, Android, Cybersecurity, etc)
* Complete a second course (SE102 or SE103) of our [software fundamentals course](https://codepath.org/classes/interviewprep) series
* Participate in our [virtual career fairs](https://codepath.org/career) which connects students directly to companies
* Apply for as [as many technical internship positions](https://medium.com/@seaon/3-step-guide-to-nail-your-internship-search-82ed58f7f6a) as you possibly can (*Sophomore/Junior*)

**Or complete additional action items:**

* Further [studying for technical interviewing](https://books.codepath.org/student-handbook/technical-interviewing/studying-for-tech-interviews), either by yourself or with peers leveraging online resources
* Find [at least one mentor](https://books.codepath.org/student-handbook/bonus/finding-a-mentor) you can check-in with periodically that can provide you support or [sign up for a mentor through our tech mentorship program](https://codepath.chronus.com/)
* Personally mentor at least one student earlier in their career than you to strengthen your own understanding
* Help lead a class as a TechFellow on at least one course they completed or provide technical support to other students
* Work in a 2nd technical internship before graduation
* Contribute to [your first open-source project](https://books.codepath.org/student-handbook/software-engineering/your-questions-answered#how-can-we-contribute-to-open-source-software-and-how-do-we-approach-or-get-started)
* Launch a side project (web app or mobile) that some number of people other than yourself actually use
* Attend local hackathons or coding events to collaborate on code and meet new students/engineers