Steve Jobs' 1973 Atari Application: How a Tech Visionary Landed His First Big Gig with a Handwritten Pitch 💻
In 1973, at age 18, Steve Jobs submitted a quirky, handwritten job application to Atari. This "resume" highlighted his electronics skills and unique interests like "phone phreak"—despite being an English lit major with no phone or reliable transport. Here's what we can learn from the future Apple co-founder who got hired 52 years ago.
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The Backstory: Why Atari?
Steve Jobs was a Reed College dropout in Portland, Oregon, dabbling in electronics, philosophy, and counterculture. In 1973, Atari was the pioneering video game company behind hits like Pong, founded by Nolan Bushnell. Jobs, fresh from a spiritual trip to India (though that came later), walked into Atari's offices and demanded a job.
Despite the informal application—complete with lowercase names, no phone number, and honest notes about transportation—Bushnell hired him as a technician for $5/hour. This gig deepened his partnership with Steve Wozniak, leading to the Apple I in 1976 and revolutionizing personal computing.
Resume Wisdom: Then vs. Now
The Full Application (Transcribed)
Here's the complete transcribed text from the handwritten form. Notice the casual style, honest responses, and focus on tech skills despite his humanities background:
From: Steve Jobs
Date: 1973
Subject: Job Application for Technician or Engineer Position
Position Desired: [Blank]
Name: Steve jobs
Address: reed college
Birth Date: 24 February 1955
Phone: none
Major: english lit Year: [Blank]
Past Employment (Most recent first):
To ______ From ______ Position Held ______ Type of Business ______
To ______ From ______ Position Held ______ Type of Business ______
Reason for Leaving: [Blank]
Driver's License? yes
Access to transportation? possible, but not probable
Skills:
Typing ______ Machines, Keypunch ______ Computer yes Calculator yes Other ______
Special Abilities: electronics tech or design engineer. digital. - from Bay area.
Interests: design engineer. digital. - from Bay area. phone phreak, Hawaii - related.
5 Resume Lessons from a Tech Pioneer
Be Honest About Limitations
Jobs admitted no phone and unreliable transport—yet got hired. Authenticity stands out.
Highlight Transferable Skills
An English major focused on electronics and computing skills relevant to Atari.
Show Your Unique Personality
"Phone phreak" hinted at his hacking prowess, intriguing Bushnell.
Keep It Concise
No fluff—just the essentials on a single form.
Embrace Imperfections
Typos and casual writing didn't stop him—passion did.
Jobs Didn't Have ATS Software. You Do. 😅
In 1973, you could walk in with a handwritten form. In 2025, your resume hits a robot first. Make sure it passes the test.
FAQs
Did Jobs really get hired from this application?
Yes! He became a technician at Atari, where he worked on games and met key contacts, paving the way for Apple.
Why did he mention "phone phreak"?
It referred to his interest in phone hacking (blue boxes), which showcased his technical ingenuity—impressing Atari's founder.
Can I use this strategy today?
Absolutely! Honesty, skill focus, and personality are timeless. Adapt for digital: Use LinkedIn for networking and ATS-friendly formats.
How do I beat modern ATS systems?
Use keywords from the job description, keep formatting simple, avoid tables/graphics in your resume body, and test your resume with an ATS checker like ResumeAndJob.com.