Silicon Valley might sound like a dream for many people willing to work in tech. The pinnacle of achievement, the payoff for your hard work, and the ultimate goal for lots of young professionals, Silicon Valley offers numerous opportunities. Most people who consider it will already have some great skills to offer, and sometimes it might be discouraging to think of the competition. But there’s nothing impossible if you’re set on doing something. So how hard is it to get a job there?

Starting from the basics

As someone who’s gone a long way to land Silicon Valley clients, I can say you’ll need to be prepared for the journey. I was born in Eastern Europe — in a small village in the Czech Republic, to be precise. While I’ve always been attracted to technology and the digital world, I’ve also known the importance of building my skillset and resume. After some internships and work experience with several great companies, finding a job with the tech giants wasn’t as impossible as it may have seemed initially: and this is exactly what you need to do to get it, too.

Make sure your skills are outstanding

This should be a no-brainer, but you have to perfect your skills as much as possible before applying for a job in Silicon Valley. Remember, you’re not the only person interested in the position: chances are, there are many other people across the world with a similar skillset applying to the same position as you. Whatever you’re offering, whether it’s technical, marketing, or management skills, make sure they’re top-notch. You’re competing with people from all around the planet, and all of them are good at what they’re doing — but you can be better!

Improve your language skills

You can’t pretend you want a job in Silicon Valley if your English isn’t good enough. It doesn’t have to be at the native-speaker level (unless your job requires so!), but a great level of English is essential. You’re going to work with native speakers and not only — and you can’t go far without effective communication with your team. Personally, I’ve been taking private lessons for quite a long time to develop my language skills and become confident in holding a conversation. Being around native speakers also helps — if you have the chance, you’ll quickly pick up from them. And what about English tests? Most probably, you’ll never be asked for any proof if you can demonstrate solid English skills in your CV and during the interview, so I wouldn’t bother with it.

Try networking

Getting a job within an international company or an agency working with international clients is one of the best things you could do for yourself. Not only it’ll give a boost to your CV, but it’ll also allow you to get accustomed to working with people from all around the world. You should never underestimate the endless possibilities of networking, and you never know where it may land you. Moreover, working with people from different cultures and backgrounds will prepare you for the international environment the majority of Silicon Valley companies will have, and will give you valuable experience in teamwork and interpersonal relationships.

Learn about international business law

This might be an unexpected tip, but you’ll thank me later. Big companies will usually have HR departments that will be able to provide you with some consultancy, but you’re most likely to start with smaller companies and startups that will have no clue as to how to navigate your relationship with them. It’s your responsibility to know how to approach international business issues: contracts, invoices, and other legal issues might be daunting, but it’ll make everything easier if you know how to deal with them. Hiring a financial advisor might help, at least at the beginning, but it’s an extra investment you should consider.

Level up your social media presence

This should go without saying that your social media and portfolio are the first things showcasing your work and who you are. Your social profiles should have a nice description with a focus on your most recent skills and achievements. Make sure your social networks showcase your best works and prove that you know how to present yourself. Self-marketing, or knowing how to “sell” yourself, makes up at least 20% of success, with the other 80% being your skills and ability to work in a team. Nothing says “I can help your company make more money” better than a solid social network profile and portfolio, as these are the very first things your potential clients or employers will see about you.

Let’s sum up

We went through a couple of tips that can be taken as action points. If you focus on them, there is a good probability you will higher your chances of landing a job in Silicon Valley. And since “repetition is the mother of learning”, the tips are:

• Start from the basics and prepare yourself for the journey and travel. Research cultural differences and requirements of your travel and stay.
• Make sure your skills are outstanding. Take the list of skills needed for jobs you are interested in and try to improve in every one of them.
• Improve your language skills. Make sure your English is on a great level, you need to be confident you can communicate in English at work and in your personal life.
• Try networking. Make connections and work on maintaining and deepening them.
• Learn about international business law. Trust me, it will come in handy.
• Level up your social media presence and portfolio. Your self-presentation is a crucial factor in landing a job and making it in the Valley!

Silicon Valley is definitely a desirable destination for those seeking jobs in the tech world — and while the competition is high, don’t be discouraged. Apply to as many positions as you can, work on your skills, and make sure your social media profiles stand out. If you’re set on getting a successful job, nothing is preventing you from going for it: if you’re confident in what you have to offer, then why your dream job shouldn’t be yours?