How to Create an Impressive Software Engineer Portfolio

For folks who use GitHub and are in early stage careers and hope to add GitHub as a value add to your profile - here is a note. If interviewing for an SDE role, GitHub projects that don't solve a problem and are just a coding exercise are not very helpful. This may sound perplexing but it needs to be said. : Hiring managers and tech leads (like me) look for problem-solvers. A repository full of practice exercises might show you can write code, but it doesn’t demonstrate that you can build impactful solutions. ► How to Make Your Projects Stand Out 1. Frame Them as Solutions: Instead of presenting your project as "just another app," position it as a business solution or a tool that solves a real-world problem. For example: - Instead of “Expense Tracker App,” say, “A tool for freelancers to manage and categorize expenses for tax season.” - Instead of “Weather App,” frame it as, “A weather app optimized for agricultural planning with location-based crop suggestions.” 2. Highlight the Problem It Solves: Every great project starts with a problem. Make it clear what problem you identified and how your project addresses it. - Example: “This tool was designed for small business owners who struggle with automating their daily sales tracking.” 3. Show Quantifiable Value: Numbers tell a story. Include metrics like: - How much time/money the solution saves. - How many users it could potentially impact. - Any test data or feedback you’ve collected. - Example: “This app reduced invoice processing time by 35% in a real-world test case.” 4. Document It Well: A project is only as good as its README. Include: - A brief description of the problem it solves. - Key features. - Instructions on how to run/test it. - Screenshots, GIFs, or a demo link to bring it to life. Having a GitHub full of clone apps or unfinished side projects sends the wrong signal. It doesn’t show creativity, ownership, or impact, it shows you can follow tutorials, and that’s not what companies hire for. Instead, invest your time into one or two high-impact projects that: - Solve real-world problems. - Show off your ability to understand user needs. - Demonstrate your thought process, design skills, and technical execution. So, take a step back, revisit your GitHub, and think: - Does this project solve a problem? - Can I explain its value to someone outside of tech? - Would I hire someone based on this work? If the answer isn’t “yes,” it’s time to rethink how you approach your projects. Remember: One impactful project > 100 clones. Focus on impact, not just output.

I’ve spent years observing how the best tools and strategies can help you stand out and land your dream cloud role.  Here’s what I learned: *** 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺: 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 Documentation is your secret weapon. Use Medium to share your cloud projects, showcase your thought process, and let your work speak for itself.  Don’t just describe the end result, explain your 𝗦.𝗢.𝗔.𝗥.𝗙 process:   • 𝗦𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼: What problem were you solving?   • 𝗢𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗹𝗲: What challenges did you face?   • 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: What steps did you take to solve it?   • 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁: What did you achieve?   • 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗲: What didn’t work, and how did you adapt?  Tip: Add screenshots and detailed steps to make it even more engaging.  *** 𝗚𝗶𝘁𝗛𝘂𝗯: 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 Your GitHub profile is a testament to your growth and proof of your codebase.  𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁:   • Keep your commits consistent, regular updates show you’re improving.   • Add clear descriptions of your code and a READme file, what it does and why it matters.  Think of it as a portfolio that showcases both your technical skills and your problem-solving mindset.  Profiles with regular commits and well-documented READMEs are 5x more likely to catch a recruiter’s eye. 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗠𝗘? Use this GitHub README template to structure your project descriptions clearly and professionally.: https://lnkd.in/eWjmJqjC *** 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗚𝗣𝗧: 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅 Explaining your projects doesn’t have to be intimidating. Tools like ChatGPT can help break down technical concepts into simple, digestible language.  𝗧𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘁:   "𝘙𝘦𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘢 5𝘵𝘩-𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭.”  Your goal isn’t to sound like a genius, it’s to ensure anyone following along understands the value of your work.  *** 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗨𝗽: 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁  When it’s time to share your project on LinkedIn, storytelling matters. Craft posts that answer the reader’s unspoken question: “𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲?”  For example:   • 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳: “Check out my new project!”   • 𝗧𝗿𝘆: “This is how I deployed AWS Infrastructure in less than 10 seconds.”  Build a story around how your project helped you solve 𝗫, 𝗬, 𝗼𝗿 𝗭. You’ll resonate more with your audience and inspire them to engage.  *** Landing your next cloud role isn’t just about showing what you’ve built, you have to be able to articulate how you solved problems and how you improved on solving that problem.  Don't forget, its all about building your 𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗗! Using tools that can make it easier for you to stand out. What's your tech stack that you use to build your brand on LinkedIn.

Confession: While I've reviewed thousands of portfolios, I've never read a case study all the way through. I ALWAYS scan them. I just don't have the time to look through every detail. And I know that most other folks who are reviewing portfolios are doing the exact same thing for the same reasons. This means that your portfolio should: 1. Make it easy to scan 2. Use big, high quality visuals 3. Tell quick, concise stories 4. Most importantly, make that story easy to consume in two minutes or less If I were to build my portfolio today, here's how I would do it using these principles: 1️⃣ I'd have a top overview section that has a short blurb of what to expect/what I accomplished AND the final mockups/prototype of what I created. 2️⃣ I'd write out each case study using a word document first to make sure that my headlines told the entire story quickly and concisely. I'd use a classic story arc 1. Context/background 2. Conflict 3. Rising action 4. Climax 5. Falling action 6. Resolution The simpler version of this is the 3 Cs of storytelling: 1. Context 2. Conflict 3. Change (AKA what improved as a result of your work) 3️⃣ I'd optimize my headlines below the overview to tell the story of what I learned. Once everything was written out in a Google doc, I'd edit everything down to the essentials. I'd make sure to pull out the important learnings/quotes and make them big so reviewers could easily scan them. 4️⃣ I'd break up sections with large images to make it feel more interesting and less fatiguing. 5️⃣ I'd ask friends and family to read it and provide feedback about clarity and how much time it took them. If they can easily understand it, see my impact, and quickly go through it, then I'm on the right track. 6️⃣ I'd use LinkedIn and adplist.org to find more folks to provide feedback. Again, I'd focus their feedback on clarity and the amount of time it took for them to go through it.

Want to land a software engineer job in the next 3 months? Here is what you need to focus on! I know we have applied to thousands of roles and are still not moving forward to an interview or an offer. Here is a smart strategy to help you stand out. This is how it actually works: 1. Start building strong projects: Create at least one impactful project that showcases your skills. Post your projects on GitHub & LinkedIn to show real-world problem-solving skills. 2. Master data structures & algorithms (but don’t overdo it): Spend 2-3 hours daily on LeetCode or HackerRank. Focus on improving your problem-solving skills & learn to communicate your thought process clearly in interviews. 3. Revamp your resume & LinkedIn profile: Your resume should highlight impact, not just a task list. Add quantifiable achievements, skills, internships, and projects that showcase real skills. Create visibility by optimizing LinkedIn by starting to regularly post about your projects & learnings. 4. Network with purpose: Reach out to alumni and industry professionals for insights and career guidance. Engage in tech communities, virtual meetups, and LinkedIn webinars to build genuine connections. Be thoughtful when requesting referrals, focus on adding value, not just asking for help. 5. Practice mock interviews regularly: Set up weekly coding & system design interviews with peers or mentors. Prepare for behavioral interviews, your communication equally matters as much as your coding skills. Record your practice sessions to improve your responses. Finally, your action plan: Pick one major project to complete within the next 4-6 weeks. Dedicate consistent daily time for coding, mock interviews, networking, and learning. Keep applying strategically while improving your skills. The next 90 days can shape your career!! What is the first step you are taking today? Drop it in the comments! 👇 Follow Lakshmi & Everyone Who Codes (EWC) for daily tech job updates, career insights, and the latest opportunities! Everyone Who Codes (EWC) has a simple mission: to guide engineers to find a job! DM me for any questions or mentoring support! #softwareengineer #softwaredeveloper #jobsearch #jobs #layoff #interview #newgrads #hiring #hiringalert #internship #jobsearch #engineering ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 🙋♀️ I am Lakshmi Marikumar, founder of Everyone Who Codes (EWC), I have guided over 1000+ engineers!

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐨 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫? 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐈𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐁𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐉𝐨𝐛 𝐈𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬: A recruiter is looking at two resumes for a data analyst position. Both candidates have similar skills and experience, but one has a portfolio filled with real-world projects, detailed explanations, and tangible results. Which candidate stands out? When I was starting, I didn’t have a portfolio. I quickly realized that without it, I was missing a crucial opportunity to showcase my work. A strong portfolio isn’t just a collection of projects, it’s your story. It demonstrates how you think, solve problems, and make an impact. Here’s how to build a portfolio that truly shines: 1️⃣ 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤: Focus on quality over quantity. Pick 3-5 projects that highlight your skills and have clear, measurable results. Whether it’s a model that improved decisions or a dashboard with impactful insights, each project should tell a story. 2️⃣ 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭: Don’t just list what you did, tell why it mattered. What problem were you solving? What was your approach? How did your solution benefit the business or users? This context helps employers see the value you bring. 3️⃣ 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬: Employers want to know how you think. Detail the steps you took, the tools you used, and any challenges you faced. Did you clean a messy dataset? Choose a specific algorithm? Showing your process sets you apart from others. 4️⃣ 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐈𝐭 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞: Make sure your portfolio is easy to navigate. Use a simple layout, and clear headings, and ensure all links work. If it’s a website, make sure it’s mobile-friendly. The easier it is to explore, the more likely it is to impress. Your portfolio is more than just an add-on to your resume, it’s a reflection of your skills, creativity, and attention to detail. In a competitive job market, it could be the difference between landing an interview and being overlooked. If you don’t have a portfolio yet, start building one today. If you have one, review it, does it showcase your best work? If you need feedback or help getting started, I’m here to support you. Found this helpful? Consider re-sharing 🔁 with your network. Follow Mohammed Wasim for more tips, success stories of international students, and data opportunities in US!

🚀 Unlocking Interview Opportunities: The Power of a Strong Project Portfolio : During my recent job search, I discovered a game-changing strategy that significantly boosted my chances of landing interviews with top tech companies. The secret? Building an impressive portfolio of substantial projects that go beyond simple tutorials. Here’s what made the difference: 1. Depth over Breadth: Instead of numerous small projects, I focused on creating significant, in-depth projects that showcase real-world problem-solving skills. 2. Cutting-Edge Focus: My projects demonstrate expertise in Generative AI and advanced Software Engineering concepts, aligning with industry trends. 3. GitHub as a Powerful Tool: My GitHub repository (https://lnkd.in/eniMxVbd) became a compelling showcase of my capabilities, catching recruiters’ attention. Key projects that stood out: • Cli Gen: Leveraging LLMs for automated test case generation • Protein Structure Explorer: Combining web development with AI for scientific visualization • LLM Research Implementation: Collaborative cutting-edge language model research • GenoQuery: Innovative NLP-to-SQL solution for genomic data analysis This approach led to interview opportunities with industry giants like Google, Apple, Amazon, Meta, Salesforce, Intuit, Docusign, Microsoft, and more. A huge shoutout to Professor Nik Bear Brown for constantly pushing students to build impressive projects to boost their portfolios. Your guidance has been invaluable for students and graduates alike. To my network: How have you leveraged projects to enhance your professional profile? What’s your take on the importance of substantial portfolio pieces in today’s tech landscape? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Check out my GitHub for project details, and let’s discuss strategies for standing out in the competitive tech job market! #TechPortfolio #ProjectBasedLearning #SoftwareEngineering #GenerativeAI #CareerGrowth

I've seen 1000s of portfolios in my career - Let me share the insider secrets to crafting a killer portfolio that truly stands out: Most portfolios are forgettable, but a killer portfolio can be your golden ticket. That's how our top freelancers at Organaise stand out from the crowd. So, let me share some insights on crafting a portfolio (based on my experience working at Meta and Bank of America) that actually gets you dream gigs: 1. Quality over quantity:     → Showcase your absolute best work, not everything you've ever done.    → Pro tip: 5-7 stellar projects beat 20 mediocre ones every time. 2. Target your dream jobs:    → Your portfolio should scream the type of work you want to do.    → Example: Want editorial design gigs? Focus 80% of your portfolio on that. 3. Real projects > personal ones:    → Clients want to see how you handle real-world problems.    → If using personal projects, create hyper-realistic mockups and explain your process. 4. Presentation is everything:    → A good project + a great presentation = the WOW factor.    → Invest time in high-quality photos, mockups, and layouts.    → Fun fact: Some designers spend as much time on presentation as the actual design! 5. Show the process selectively:    → Only showcase your journey for complex, multi-stage projects.    → Otherwise, let the final product speak for itself. 6. Less text, more impact:    → No one (and I mean no one) reads those long "about me" manifestos. Let your work do the talking.    → Use concise project descriptions; aim for 2-3 sentences max. Remember, your portfolio isn't just a collection of pretty pictures. It's your story. It's how you show the world, "This is who I am, and this is the amazing stuff I can do for you." What's your #1 portfolio tip? #PortfolioTips #Freelancing #CreativeCareer

If you're building a portfolio to showcase your work in an interview, pick pieces that show you're the best fit for that role—not just your best work. I'm helping a client prepare for an interview this week. And they picked three impressive pieces of work from their career. But they weren't sure if those were the right pieces. So we went over the job description. We looked for statements about the work they'll do when they get the job. We found one sentence with three key objectives. Then we reviewed the three pieces in light of those objectives. We confirmed they picked three good pieces. After that we focused on building a story they will tell during the interview about those pieces. The story will include five elements: 1. a challenge faced 2. their approach 3. their outcome 4. their lessons 5. application Lesson If you're building a portfolio for a particular job, pick pieces that will showcase your ability to do the job. Tie the pieces you picked back to the job description. Mention how it demonstrates your ability to do the job at hand. Application For example, if a job wants you to design new experiences, pick a piece the shows when you designed a new experience. Talk about how you approached the challenge, what you achieved, and what you would do next time you encounter that sort of thing. -- #techjobs #jobseekers #interviewprep #portfolio