From Google and Microsoft to Apple and Samsung, many developers dream about working for the world’s biggest and most innovative tech companies. But, as with many of the tech titans, competition for open positions is fierce, with at least one company reportedly receiving 2 million applications annually. Even so, these software giants and many others across industries are actively recruiting talent to fill a number of in-demand developer roles with coders skilled in building back end solutions, mobile and desktop applications, and much more.

If you’re a developer, you probably have a few blogs on software development you regularly follow. Reading developers’ blogs can help build community, educate about the latest industry news, and keep you up-to-date on how developers are tackling new coding problems. As important as reading your peers’ blogs, though, is maintaining your own. Every developer should create and contribute to their own blog, whether they are in job hunt mode or happy in their current position.

To land a job at a great tech company, you must show you’re a skilled programmer and communicator who understands the company’s mission. That’s where the interview comes in. Your interview with a hiring manager is the best time to convey why you are the right person for the job before the company makes its final decision. And while some tech companies are known to throw interview curveballs, many are simply looking for a candidate who shows that they will make a solid engineer and also great team member.

Regardless of degree or previous work experience, there are some tips every developer should know as they head into the office for the first time. Ready to take on the real world? Here are three ways to start off strong at your first developer job.

Imagine you’re a hiring manager. You sift through dozens of seemingly identical resumes a day, and choose only a select few to call in for interviews. Now, if you’re one of those applicants, how can you help your resume stand out among the stack of other qualified candidates? The key is making it memorable through personalization so hiring managers can get a sense for who you are before making their selection for the next round of the hiring process.