Illinois Institute of Technology · Career Community
Software Engineering & Computing
Build the Future Today.
Do These Three Things This Week
1. Explore tech experiences on Elevate
2. Ship one project to GitHub — recruiters read repositories
3. Start technical-interview prep:
Book a Career Coach$133,080
Median Salary (BLS 2024)
15%
Job Growth 2024–34
129K+
Annual U.S. Openings
Google · Microsoft · 1871
Chicago Tech Hub
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook (May 2024 wages; 2024–34 projections)
Leverage Chicago as your launchpad into a thriving tech ecosystem — home to major offices for Google and Microsoft and the world-renowned 1871 incubator. Apply core engineering principles to design and innovate software, mastering programming languages, algorithms, and cloud platforms. This rigorous technical preparation, combined with hands-on experience, prepares you for a dynamic range of careers — from full-stack and mobile development to pioneering roles in AI, machine learning, and cybersecurity.
The resume gets you the phone screen. The repository gets you the offer.
1Three Moves to Launch Your Tech Career
Experiences, technical-interview coaching, and alumni mentors — Elevate, Your Future▾
I. Find & Secure Experiences
Explore internships, co-ops, and roles with employers hiring in software engineering and IT.
Explore Experiences →II. Prep for Technical Interviews
Work with a Career Coach on your resume, portfolio, and coding-interview strategy.
Book a Career Coach →III. Meet Alumni Mentors
Connect with Illinois Tech alumni working in tech through the Illinois Tech Alumni Mentorship Program.
Find a Mentor →2Essential Skills for Success
The technical stack and the professional strengths — what it takes to excel▾
Technical Prowess
Command programming languages (Java, Python, JavaScript, C++), data structures, algorithms, software design patterns, version control (Git), database management, web frameworks, cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud), and testing and debugging.
Transferable Strengths
Hone problem-solving, analytical thinking, collaboration, clear communication, project management, and a commitment to continuous learning.
Illinois Tech’s computer science and software engineering curricula, combined with hands-on Elevate experiences, develop both the technical expertise and professional skills needed to excel in this rapidly evolving field.
3Practice & Technical Interview Prep
The drills serious candidates run — free▾
- LeetCode — the coding-interview standard; consistency beats volume
- NeetCode — structured problem roadmaps so you drill in the right order
- HackerRank — skills challenges, and the platform many employers screen on
- Elevate Interview Prep — behavioral and mock-interview resources, free
Work the problems on your own, then practice talking through them with a coach. Interviews grade your reasoning out loud, not just your answer.
4Build Your Portfolio
Pinned repositories, real READMEs, one deployed project▾
- GitHub — host and showcase projects; pin your best three and give each a README that names the problem, your role, and the result
- roadmap.sh — community-built developer learning paths for every specialty
- freeCodeCamp — free project-based courses that end with portfolio pieces
- Resume & Portfolio Help — Career Services guidance, plus the portfolio guide in Career Resources
Three finished, documented projects beat ten fragments — and one of them should be deployed where a recruiter can click it.
5Cloud & Certifications
Free training from the three major cloud providers▾
- AWS Certification — the full credential ladder, from Cloud Practitioner upward
- AWS Skill Builder — free cloud training straight from AWS
- Microsoft Learn — Azure and AI paths, free and official
- Google Cloud Skills Boost — hands-on labs on real infrastructure
A foundational cloud certification is the fastest credential a computing student can add this semester — ask a coach which one fits your target roles.
6Jobs, Hackathons & the Chicago Tech Ecosystem
Where to apply, where to build, and where this city’s tech scene gathers▾
Apply & Experience
- Employers Hiring in Tech — on Elevate now
- Jobs & Internships Hub — curated roles
- Job Simulations — 60-minute, employer-built
- Virtual Internships — remote, with placement support
Build & Belong
- 1871 — the city’s flagship tech incubator; events open to students
- Built In Chicago — tech jobs & company news
- Devpost Hackathons — build, ship, and add every entry to your portfolio
- Your SE & IT Community Hub · LinkedIn Index
Ready to build the future? Bring your repository and your target companies — we will prepare for the technical interviews together.
Connect With Career ServicesMore in Career Resources
Informational Interviews · Job Search Strategy · Portfolio · LinkedIn · Career Fair Playbook · Interview Prep · Resumes
All external resources independently verified by Career Services, August 2026.



