Before You Apply: 5 Tools Every Student and Career Changer Needs to Get Hired (Free Guide)
Stop sending applications into the void — use five tools that get you noticed and get interviews.
Set up an AI-ready resume, a standout LinkedIn, a simple project portfolio, a targeted company list with a tracker, and short referral/outreach scripts—so you apply with confidence and hear back.
Developed by Dr. Rose Shumba — nationally recognized mentor, USM mentoring award recipient, featured in The New York Times.
Does this Sound Familiar?
After 20+ years of mentoring students into roles at Google, Adobe, Microsoft, and the NSA, I've seen the same pattern destroy promising careers:
- "I've sent 100+ applications but only got 2 interviews."
- "My resume looks great—why am I getting ignored?"
- "I know I'm qualified, but I bomb every behavioral question"
- "My GitHub looks like a graveyard—how do I fix it?"
- "Everyone says to 'optimize LinkedIn' but no one tells me how"
Here's what's really happening: You're competing against candidates who are combining strategy and AI to get ahead. While you're winging it, they're using proven, tech-enabled systems.
Every week you wait, you fall further behind.
What is inside the Guide
- Resume Keyword Scanner: Use scanning tools to make your resume both ATS-friendly and recruiter-approved—in minutes.
- Top 5 Behavioral Questions to Master: Never freeze in an interview again. Train with AI to craft confident answers to the questions that make or break most candidates.
- One-Line LinkedIn Headline Formula: Transform your profile from “CS Student” to recruiter magnet—using AI-optimized phrasing.
- GitHub Optimization Checklist: Clean up your portfolio, highlight key projects, and use tools to automate what recruiters want to see.
- Three Resume Power Phrases: Ditch generic descriptions for data-backed, impact-driven statements—enhanced with AI prompts and examples.
Who this is for :
- A student preparing for your first internship or tech role
- A career changer pivoting into computing
- A recent grad tired of sending applications with no response
- A parent, coach, or mentor helping someone navigate their job search
A Message from Dr. Rose Shumba
"Mentorship is ministry—because your career is part of a bigger calling."
I've spent 20+ years helping students and career changers land roles at Google, Microsoft, and the NSA—even when they felt completely unprepared.
Too many people jump straight into applications without the right foundation, then wonder why they're getting ignored by companies that should want them.
This guide was created to change that.
Whether you're preparing for your first tech role or frustrated after months of rejections, I want to help you prepare strategically with tools that actually work.
You don't need more luck. You need better preparation.
Want Ongoing Support?
You don’t have to figure out your tech path alone.
Keep going with our 4-Step Tech Career Journey:
- Confirm your situation and get support that fits—whether you’re starting, restarting, or exploring alternatives
- Use our free AI-powered assessment to find the tech fields and programs that fit you best
- Build confidence with guides, tools, and resources designed to help you explore before committing
- Choose the right exploration program and coaching level to move forward with clarity and support
