From Maple Syrup to Metro Cards: How I Landed a Software Job in DC After Growing Up in Vermont

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I’m a homebody by nature. I went to school in Vermont. I grew up in Vermont. I knew every back road, every coffee shop, and probably half the people in my grocery store. So when I decided I wanted to work in software engineering somewhere else, like, say, Washington DC, it felt a little like deciding to launch myself to the moon with a laptop and a dream.

Spoiler: I made it. And I didn’t even need astronaut training.

The Big, Scary Goal

It started with a feeling. I loved Vermont, but I also knew I needed to stretch my legs a little. I wanted to work in a fast-paced, tech-focused environment where I could grow my skills and meet other people doing cool, nerdy things with code. DC seemed like the perfect fit, plus it helped that my best friend had just moved there. Politics aside, it’s full of innovation, government tech contracts, start-ups, and really excellent Ethiopian food.

But I had never lived anywhere else. I didn’t have connections beyond my friend and my cousins. And I had exactly zero experience navigating a city with a metro system or, let’s be honest, more than one grocery store.

How I Did It

1. I made my resume sparkle (but not in a glitter bomb way)
I tailored my resume for the kinds of DC roles I wanted. That meant highlighting the practical, real-world projects I worked on during school, showing off my problem-solving chops, and making sure every bullet point started with a strong verb. I also added a portfolio website that showed off the work I was most proud of.

Pro tip: A clean, well-designed site made in Carrd or Webflow goes a long way. Recruiters love seeing your personality shine through your code. This especially helps if you were like me and only had internship experience from being in college.

2. I networked from my couch
Since I wasn’t living in DC yet, I leaned into virtual networking. I joined Slack groups for tech professionals in the DMV area, hopped into LinkedIn conversations, and reached out to alumni from my college who had made similar moves.

I also found a few mentors willing to hop on Zoom calls. They gave me honest feedback and even referred me to open positions. People are surprisingly generous with their time when you approach them with curiosity and a good Wi-Fi connection.

3. I applied like it was my part-time job
I didn’t just apply to the big-name companies. I also found local start-ups, nonprofits with tech teams, and federal contractors that needed devs. I got organized with a spreadsheet, color-coded it (because obviously), and tracked every application and follow-up.

They didn’t have these at the time, but tools like Simplify and Huntr keep everything neat. Highly recommend if your brain turns to mush trying to remember which company ghosted you and which one sent a “we’ll keep your resume on file” at 2 a.m. I had to go old-school with a spreadsheet that immediately got outdated.

4. I practiced interviews like I was studying for finals
Whiteboarding? Check. Behavioral questions? Check. Nervous sweating? Also check. I practiced technical interviews with friends and recorded myself answering “Tell me about yourself” until I didn’t sound like a robot who just learned empathy.

I also used Pramp and Exercism to brush up on coding problems. I wanted to show up confident and ready to rumble… in a nice, professional way.

5. I took the leap
When the offer came from a company in DC that aligned with my values, goals, and caffeine addiction, I said yes. Then I packed up my life into boxes, said goodbye to the mountains, and moved to the city.

It was terrifying. But also wildly exciting. And after a few months of figuring out how to navigate the Metro, dodge scooter traffic, and find my new go-to bagel shop, I realized I wasn’t just surviving. I was thriving.

What I Learned

• You can absolutely start over somewhere new, even if you’ve lived your whole life in the same zip code.
• Tech jobs are everywhere, but being intentional about where and why you apply makes a difference.
• It’s OK to feel scared. It’s not OK to let that fear stop you from applying.
• Also, parallel parking in DC is a skill that deserves its own badge of honor.

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So if you’re sitting in your small town wondering if you can make a big leap, I’m here to say yes. You can. Even if your first week in the city includes getting lost three times and almost crying in Trader Joe’s because it’s way too crowded.

Dream big. Apply often. And never underestimate the power of a good spreadsheet.

For more, check out How to Stay Organized and Motivated as a Blogger (Even When You Don’t Feel Like It)