This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Aria Kim, a 26-year-old security program manager at Sony in Washington, D.C., who previously worked for Meta and as a contractor for Google. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
The way I got into Big Tech was unconventional.
I graduated with a biology degree from George Washington University in 2021. I thought I was on track for medical school, but while working part-time as a project lab assistant after graduating, I realized I didn't love medicine — I liked managing projects and finishing work.
I followed my own path into tech, first as a project manager in a contract role at Google in January 2022, and then in another contract role at Meta in September 2022.
Some of the guidance I followed early on, while well-intentioned, didn't always align with how hiring or career growth actually works in Big Tech.
I immigrated to Canada from South Korea when I was in fourth grade, and then to the US in high school, and my parents didn't have firsthand experience with how the corporate world works here. My friends meant well, too, but we were all fresh out of college and figuring things out. None of us really knew how the industry worked yet, and we repeated what sounded "safe."
Here are six pieces of Big Tech career advice I got after college that I wish I'd ignored:
1. "You need a traditional tech degree and background to work in Big Tech."
Since I didn't have a computer science degree or a traditional tech background, peers and college counselors questioned me: "How are you going to apply to a tech job when you don't have a tech background?"
But by researching tech companies and their job listings, I realized that tech companies hire for more than just technical roles. I saw many roles that didn't require coding or computer science degrees, like project management, operations, and user experience. I saw project management as my way in, and positioned myself as someone who could lead and deliver projects.
To build a foundation in project management, I earned the CAPM certification from Product Management Institute and the CSM from Scrum Alliance. I also actively stepped into project-based responsibilities wherever I could within my lab roles, as I knew that the skills were valuable everywhere.
Once I landed my first tech role, I added to my technical skills over time, specifically in cybersecurity. I've been working as a cybersecurity program manager at Sony since November 2024.
2. "Don't change your job title on your résumé."
I used to keep my job titles exactly as they appeared in HR systems or offer letters since my college advisor told me to. However, those specific titles didn't always match the work I did or fit the roles I was applying for in Big Tech.
I would've never thought to change the job titles because I assumed that would go against HR policies or that it was somehow wrong.
But during coffee chats, I asked people who were already in the tech industry about this, and they told me you have flexibility in how you present your experience, as long as it's accurate to what you did.
For example, my job title at the lab was "lab coordinator," but when I applied to tech roles, I changed it to "lab project manager" to better match my responsibilities and help my résumé get past applicant tracking systems. I wasn't exaggerating; I just made it easier for recruiters to understand my experience — and I got more interviews.
3. "Keep your graduation year on your résumé."
Peers and college counselors often told me that my résumé needed to include all of the dates and that removing my graduation year might look suspicious. But taking it off helped me avoid bias about my age or how long ago I graduated.
When asked about my graduation year, I always answer honestly — but I don't include it on my résumé, to keep the focus on my current skills.
4. "Apply only through company websites."
When I first graduated, I thought applying through official job sites was the best method. But the counselors who gave me that advice didn't fully understand how much the hiring landscape had changed with the rise of ATS and AI filters.
I remember once spending over an hour customizing my résumé and cover letter for a role I was so excited about. I submitted the application through the company's official site, only to get an automated rejection less than a minute later. It was crushing — and worse, I realized no one had even seen it.
That's when I stopped relying on job portals and started reaching out directly to people at the company whose work I admired or to managers who posted #hiring on LinkedIn. I focused on contacting people
I had common ground with, like someone who went to the same school, lived in the same city, or had gone through a career pivot similar to the one that I was trying to make.
Once I shifted to this approach, I started landing more interviews — real conversations, not just auto-responses. Referrals opened doors that online applications couldn't.
5. "Wait until you're 100% ready before applying."
I remember not applying for a job I really wanted because I didn't have one of the tools listed under "preferred qualifications." Later, I was talking to a male classmate, and he casually said something along the lines of, "Oh yeah, I still apply even if I don't fit everything. Most of the time, you still get an interview." That moment made me realize how often I'd disqualified myself before anyone else had the chance to.
Since then, I've applied for roles even when I didn't check every box — as long as I met 60-70% of the requirements — and those applications have led to real interviews, and even job offers.
For example, when I applied for the contract project manager role at Meta, it required several more years of experience than I had. I told myself, "The worst they can do is say no." To my surprise, I got a call from a recruiter and landed the job.
6. "Keep your online presence formal and impersonal."
College career counselors and a few recruiters told me to keep my LinkedIn profile strictly professional and avoid personal details, so for years, I avoided posting on LinkedIn because I wasn't sure how personal I should get. I thought that was the safest way to present myself. I'd also been told not to share personal stories online on other platforms like Instagram.
But a few people in my network reminded me that authenticity connects just as much in professional spaces.
I listened to them and started sharing parts of my story on LinkedIn and Instagram a few months ago, like about being afraid of speaking in public in the past and being scared to post on LinkedIn. The posts unexpectedly resonated with others, and some of my Instagram posts even went viral.
I've received messages from strangers and even former colleagues saying my posts genuinely inspired them. It's rewarding to know my story encourages others to take risks in their own careers.
Do you have a story to share about your Big Tech career? Contact this editor, Jane Zhang, at janezhang@bjinnox.com.
