How to get a tech job at MAANG companies - Top 12 skills

Introduction

If you have landed on this blog, I am sure you are determined enough to crack a job in some of the top global companies, Meta, Google, or Amazon. At the minimum, you must be thinking to figure your way around the top skills you need to crack a position in MAANG companies. Right?

Well, you just landed at the right spot. But before I begin, let me tell you a story. I was 16 when I wrote down my first bucket list of dreams. As far as I can walk down my memory lane, it was a list of 36 goals I wanted to achieve before I turned 30.

The list spanned from travelling destinations to luxury cars to cracking a top IT job and whatnot. Well, I am 23 now, and 27 of them are fulfilled.

Out of the remaining, one of the goals I wrote down was - ‘Crack a job in Google with a package of 50 LPA.’

Yes, I know that’s unrealistic, as I didn’t even come from a tech background. I always had a knack towards marketing! But guess what - you can get a job at Google. LPA depends on your skills, though!

So, let me help you with that. Attention tech enthusiasts - do you also dream of getting a job at MAANG companies? Well, you must wonder if you must be exceptionally good at tech and coding, but that’s not all!

Everyone applying to these tech giants will undoubtedly be the best at what they do, so how can you stand out among your peers?

Buckle up as we delve deep into the exciting journey of MAANG companies, the top skills you need, and what makes these tech giants the most desirable organizations among employees to work for!

What is MAANG?

MAANG represents the names of the top 5 players in the global tech space - Meta, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google. These companies have completely revolutionised the way we use and interact with technology.

Meta (formerly Facebook) is a social media giant that connects billions of people around the globe. Meta’s major acquisitions include Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The tech giant primarily focuses on developing innovative platforms focused on networking and connecting people worldwide.

Amazon has completely revolutionised the e-commerce landscape by disrupting retail models. With its wide canopy of product offerings and supply chain management, Amazon will keep dominating the e-commerce marketplace.

Apple needs no introduction! With its cutting-edge technology and always at the forefront of innovation, be it the iPhone, Macbook, or wearables like the Apple Watch, Apple’s products have become a symbol of innovation.

Netflix has revolutionised the way we consume entertainment by providing streaming services. The platform offers various movies and TV shows, accessible 24x7 at our fingertips.

Google is the dominating player in the search engine market. A monopoly player that also offers exceptional product offerings in cloud computing (Google Cloud), productivity tools (G Suite), artificial intelligence (Google Assistant), Email (Gmail), and entertainment (YouTube).

Why is there so much hype for working in MAANG companies?

Working at Google or Apple is still a dream for many techies, and it’s not hollow fluff. Here’s the catch: First, MAANG companies offer lucrative compensation packages with add-on benefits such as ESOPs, health insurance, and generous leave policies.

This instils employees to feel valued and paid according to the expertise they bring to the company.

Second, MAANG companies provide intense learning opportunities and foster an open culture of continuous growth, not to mention the top-notch training programs they provide.

Techies get to hone their skills while collaborating with some of the brightest minds in the industry. They are recognised and rewarded appropriately for their efforts and talent.

Last, there is immense opportunity for career growth and advancement. Being a part of these influential tech giants is a career achievement as you contribute to shaping the global digital revolution's future.

How to get a tech job in MAANG Companies?

Cracking a job in these global tech giants is no rocket science. Many potential techies back down from securing a spot in these companies despite having the right skill set.

Getting yourself a spot and securing an interview with MAANG companies requires a streamlined and strategic approach.

Though tech skills are necessary to land a tech position, soft skills hold equal weight when applying for such organisations. However, these are some of the top skills that will enhance your chances of getting an interview with MAANG companies.

1. Programming & Technical Skills

Speaking very bluntly, it does not matter if you hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or not. More importantly, you have a solid grasp of programming languages and computer science fundamentals.

Whether you’re applying for a software development or engineering position, remember that in-depth knowledge in your field is crucial.

It is also crucial to stay updated with the latest trends in the tech space, as companies typically seek individuals who can work in an extremely fast-paced environment and bring fresh and innovative perspectives.

A. Programming Proficiency

Being well-versed in coding languages will be the base on which your profile will be shortlisted and selected if you are applying for a tech profile. Get well-equipped with standard coding languages such as Python, Java, C, C++, and Ruby.

Then, you can start moving towards learning server-side and client-side programming language requirements.

Finally, focus on mastering front-end and back-end development via the full-stack development learning path, and that will be enough to pass you through interviews at MAANG companies.

Additionally, having a strong grasp of data structures, algorithms, and OOP concepts will give you brownie points, as these are essential for solving complex problems and writing scalable code.

B. System Design

Undoubtedly, MANG companies work at a massive scale, typically globally. Under these circumstances, a deep understanding of scalable system design principles becomes crucial.

You must be proficient in designing, architecting, and developing complex systems that can handle high-traffic loads without compromising performance and reliability.

Your technical rounds at MAANG companies will test your system design skills rigorously.

C. Data Structures & Algorithms (DSA)

Last but not least, we have arrived at one of our primary skills that you need to master before you can secure a spot with MAANG companies - DSA.

Proficiency in implementing and optimising data structures and algorithms is a cornerstone skill mostly valued in MAANG companies.

These organisations typically value candidates who can demonstrate their ability to solve complex problems by leveraging algorithmic techniques efficiently.

Familiarity with various algorithms and their use cases will help you get into roles like software development, machine learning, and data analysis.

2. Participate in Coding Competitions

Participating in a coding competition is a great way to enhance and showcase your programming skills, learn from your peers, and get a dynamic view of where you rank in terms of coding compared to others.

This creates room for improvement and increases your chance of being shortlisted and hired by MAANG companies, especially if you are exceptionally good.

Google hosts its coding challenge by the name Codejam. Apple hosts the ‘swift student challenge’ to give students an equal opportunity to showcase their creativity and coding skills.

Likewise, Amazon holds its coding challenge. Keep an active eye on platforms like HackerRank, TopCoder, and Codefights to actively seek out and participate in coding challenges.

You can also be directly hired by MAANG Companies or top IT MNCs if you perform exceptionally well per the company’s hiring criteria.

Top soft skills you need to crack a job at MAANG companies

So, here’s the truth - No matter how much of a master coder or how skilled you are at what you do, having a few ‘secret’ skills is the magic to getting a job at MAANG Companies.

You must have heard phrases like ‘Oh, he is a software developer at Google. He must have 10x more experience than me’ or ‘Oh, he works at Apple, bro, this guy is a coding genius’.

Here’s the ice-breaker - No, they are not. You are equally skilled as them. But you have not mastered the ‘secret’ skills that can get you noticed by MAANG companies.

So, what are these ‘secret’ skills? Let’s get to them.

3. Communication Skills

Have to be at the top for obvious reasons! Good communication skills go a long way and are much more important than just speaking your updates at the daily scrum!

A great communicator means speaking and delivering what you mean, setting clear intentions and expectations, maintaining eye contact while speaking, expressing your thoughts transparently, and many more.

Good communication is a must, not only at MAANG but almost everywhere you go! Speaking in a manner that people would listen to, addressing issues to foster team spirit while maintaining professionalism, and positioning yourself as an authority while staying humble require great communication!

You may even be promoted based on your communication skills and how you manage the people you work with. This is the top skill that one needs to master in today’s age.

4. Adaptability

Tech is an ever-evolving industry that witnesses rapid development and changes. The new age tool of today might become obsolete tomorrow. Therefore, adaptability is quintessential if you want to work with MAANG companies.

Show that you have a growth mindset and can quickly adapt to new technologies, frameworks, or even programming languages, if necessary.

Don’t wait until the last minute to learn something new until and unless that becomes a mandate. Always actively seek new learning opportunities, propelling you forward in your professional development.

5. Think outside the box

Before I set the context of ‘think outside the box’ for you and dive into explanations, I want to highlight my 2 2 all-time favourite quotes by the Former Founder of Apple, Steve Jobs.

Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower

It’s more fun to be a pirate than a navy

Now, if I may ask you - what’s common between these quotes? I would say - Perspective. Let me highlight one thing: if you have watched the documentary about Steve Jobs or were a follower of his (I am), you will know that he never thought like a common person.

His way of thinking and his way of perceiving things was a whole lot different. And MAANG companies actively seek that, no matter how talented you are!

You need to have strong critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Your mind will be tested, and work pressure will be inevitable. You need to sail through it.

You need to think outside the box and approach problems from different perspectives. That brings me to a quote by Bill Gates, the former CEO of Microsoft.

I choose a lazy person to do a hard job. Because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it

See the perspective? It always boils down to one thing - how do you perceive things, and how can you approach things differently? Once you master this skill, you will never be the same person again.

6. Collaboration Skills

Collaboration is essential to MAANG companies, as most projects will require you to work with cross-functional teams and achieve a common goal.

You have to be a team player and a great communicator. You must showcase your ability to listen to others' perspectives, give constructive feedback, take positive criticism, and contribute constructively during brainstorming sessions.

You must be part of a diverse team with varying backgrounds and experiences. You must cut down on your input and work as a team.

'If you want to walk fast, walk alone. If you want to walk far, walk together’ - Sir Ratan Tata, Former Chairperson, Tata Group

7. Leadership Potential

Demonstrating leadership capabilities might not be an entry requirement at these companies, but it is very useful if you want to advance your career within the organisation.

Take accountability for your role and demonstrate initiative-taking and ownership of responsibilities beyond your assigned tasks and role.

Showcase your leadership when working together on a project. Lead from behind, but lead by example. Take the criticism privately, but credit the entire team during an achievement.

8. Problem-solving Ability

Don’t forget this one - Problem-solving is among the most important skills to equip yourself with if you want to have a successful career with MAANG companies.

These organisations shape our tomorrow and are thus involved in highly complex projects and challenging problems.

To stand out from the crowd, you need to hone your problem-solving skills during interviews or through your past relevant experience in your resume.

You might need to showcase your strategies effectively and how you tackle a complex problem, break the challenge into small, manageable parts, analyse the potential barriers, develop potential solutions, and lastly, demonstrate how you will execute and implement your ideas.

Crack a tech job in MAANG Companies - Bonus Tips

Okay, so you already know the major skills, and let's be honest, you also learnt some extra tips to get yourself shortlisted and secure an interview with MAANG companies. Then, why do the extra work and review bonus tips?

Well, let me ask you a question. Suppose you gave 2 of your friends 20 bucks each and asked them to buy ice cream from the market. After that, you have to judge who is more close to you as a friend amongst the two.

One followed your request blindly and got you just the ice cream you requested. Another went the extra mile and bought you a chocolate doughnut and the ice cream.

Which friend will you choose? The friend who went the extra mile, right? That's the exact way how MAANG companies work. Walking that extra mile shows your dedication and determination towards your work and will enhance your hiring chances.

9. Build a good portfolio

A great portfolio will surely enhance your chances of cracking an interview! But how do you build one? Get hands-on with a few sample projects and build upon your coding skills.

Next, get your hands dirty by working on real-life projects using trending tools and technologies. For instance, you can build the following projects to add credibility to your profile.

1. Build an e-commerce website using MERN (MongoDB, Express, React, and Node JS)

Why it's impressive - Demonstrate your understanding of e-commerce, which can be a valuable asset for a company like Amazon.

2. Build a personalised content recommendation engine using machine learning algorithms like collaborative filtering or deep learning. (Tools - Python, TensorFlow, Scikit-learn, Flask for API)

Why it’s impressive - Companies like Netflix and Amazon rely highly on personalised content. Demonstrating your knowledge of building a scalable recommendation system can be of high value.

3. Build a decentralised application that manages voting, supply chain, or digital identity. (Tools - Solidity, Ethereum, Smart Contracts, Web3.js)

Why it’s impressive - Blockchain tech is on the rise, and having hands-on experience around emerging technologies showcases forward-thinking skills.

4. Build a customer service chatbot that understands and responds to user queries using AI and NLP (Natural Language Processing) (Tools - Python, OpenAI API, Rasa, Hugging Face)

Why it’s impressive - MAANG companies heavily deploy AI chatbots to streamline and filter customer queries. Having NLP projects on your portfolio will give you an edge in customer-facing AI development roles.

5. Develop an AR (Augmented Reality) experience that can simulate a real-world environment, such as virtual home tours or AR-based shopping experiences. (Tools - Unity, ARKit/ARCore, Vuforia)

Why it’s impressive - AR projects demonstrate highly valuable, forward-thing UX skills relevant for companies like Meta (special focus on Metaverse) or Apple (AR).

You can keep working on such projects and upload them on GitHub, an open-source platform for developers to contribute their work.

10. Have a Professional Resume

A professional resume will be your only source of getting shortlisted in a pool filled with skilled candidates. Sources state that a recruiter spends around 7 seconds on average looking around your resume.

Here are 3 things you need to do to build an impressive professional resume that stands out.

1. Make your resume ATS-friendly. Sprinkle your resume evenly with keywords relevant to the role you are applying for.

2. Showcase your portfolio of real-world projects to demonstrate your coding capabilities. If possible, attach relevant projects that resonate with the role and company you are applying to. This will help you catch the recruiter’s attention.

3. Build projects that demonstrate your abilities and problem-solving skills.

11. Network or Ask for Referrals

Last on the list, you can ask for a referral if you have friends or know anyone from your network who works with MAANG companies.

All companies typically have an employee referral program and are heavily incentivised if their referral is hired. So the best part is that it’s in the employees’ interest that they refer you rather than let the company hire you from a pool of candidates!

Grow your professional network, follow industry leaders, attend events and conferences relevant to your domain, and even seek out certification courses.

It’s extremely important to be active on social media platforms and connect with peers who have already cracked where you want to be. Never be afraid to expand your network.

Referral might not be the easiest way to secure a job with MAANG companies but trust me; it is among the most effective ways!

Takeaway

Securing yourself a tech job with MAANG companies can sound like a mountain to climb, but if you focus on learning and developing the right skill, the climb will be a cakewalk.

With perseverance, relevant domain experience, technical skills, and networking, you can unlock opportunities that MAANG companies would love to celebrate!

Get acquainted with problem-solving, critical thinking, adaptability, and a continuous learning mindset. Master various coding languages and study data structures and algorithms as aggressively as possible.

And don't forget - Getting into MAANG is not all about skills. It's also about having a firm mindset.