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Are you building a portfolio website to land a job as dev? You might actually do more harm than good. Read this thread to learn
1. Why portfolio websites often become such a waste of time
2. Why they can even backfire
3. What to focus on instead
#100DaysOfCode (1)
1. Why portfolio websites often become such a waste of time
2. Why they can even backfire
3. What to focus on instead
#100DaysOfCode (1)
With a portfolio website, you typically want to increase your chances to find a (first) job as a web developer. Many even think it's mandatory to have a website.
I'd like to challenge this perspective. (2)
I'd like to challenge this perspective. (2)
When you apply for a job an employer wants to see that you can
- write code and build applications
- work professionally
- communicate problems and ideas
- be integrated into a team
- be ambitious and eager to learn
And what does a portfolio website show? (3)
- write code and build applications
- work professionally
- communicate problems and ideas
- be integrated into a team
- be ambitious and eager to learn
And what does a portfolio website show? (3)
A portfolio website shows
- that you can build a static website
- your design skills
- a touch of your personality
But building a static website isn't difficult nowadays. And design skills are nice to have but not important for a software developer. (4)
- that you can build a static website
- your design skills
- a touch of your personality
But building a static website isn't difficult nowadays. And design skills are nice to have but not important for a software developer. (4)
The real challenge for a modern web dev is to build dynamic data-driven applications. And a portfolio website usually isn't very interactive. Thus it doesn't show the essential skills, even if you open-source its code.
So what are the disadvantages of a portfolio website? (5)
So what are the disadvantages of a portfolio website? (5)
When I write a custom website I start with a nice design in my head. I start writing code. A few hours in I realize it looks like crap. I start moving elements pixel by pixel, add a border here, change a color there. I find some examples that I can copy... (6)
But the end result looks mediocre... at best.
Let's face it: Most developers aren't born designers. And they don't need to. (7)
Let's face it: Most developers aren't born designers. And they don't need to. (7)
But the problem is that a bad design can make you look incompetent even though everything works fine and the information on the website isn't bad at all.
So you could end up catching an eye with your website... but in a negative way. (8)
So you could end up catching an eye with your website... but in a negative way. (8)
So instead of going down the rabbit hole and designing a custom portfolio website that looks ... eh... rather focus your energy on more important things. For example
- Cover letter, resume, and LinkedIn
- Your GitHub portfolio (9)
- Cover letter, resume, and LinkedIn
- Your GitHub portfolio (9)
If you want to improve your resume read this thread by @RandallKanna. It contains LOTs of great tips including many quick fixes (10) https://twitter.com/RandallKanna/status/1287950733380218880?s=20
If you want to polish your GitHub projects my favorite tips are:
1. Write an informative and descriptive README (e.g. screenshots, technical decisions, links to important code)
2. Use a linter
3. Write tests
You can get more tips here (11) https://jkettmann.com/tips-for-outstanding-portfolio-projects/
1. Write an informative and descriptive README (e.g. screenshots, technical decisions, links to important code)
2. Use a linter
3. Write tests
You can get more tips here (11) https://jkettmann.com/tips-for-outstanding-portfolio-projects/
If you want to read the complete thing on one page and in more detail you can find it here. (12) https://jkettmann.com/dont-waste-your-time-on-a-portfolio-website/
Also don't miss my FREE email course that explains the hiring process and has lots advice on how to stand out of the crowd of job applicants. (end) https://jkettmann.com/your-first-tech-job-email-course/
