Self-Taught Developer In Designing The Best Portfolio
By: Ann Adaya
Tags: Web Development, Freelance, Software Development, Programming, Software Engineering

“Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road.”

Let me first tell you a little bit about my experience when I started working on my first Developer job because I wanted you to know more about how it is in real life before you can start designing your portfolio.

As a Self-Taught Developer we didn’t have anything yet to offer, sure personal projects, good design resume is the best way to do it but let me tell you, at this period, everyone already knows that you can easily get the source code, you can easily copy other people’s work, and at this period, the competition is getting harder and harder, competing with Engineers and Computer Science graduate is overwhelming, so maybe we can do different approach? We need something more to offer, we need to give them something they haven’t yet find, we need to think differently, let me share with you how I created mine.

Starting Web Development literally got me out of my comfort zone, the moment I decided to pursue the journey, also means there’s no turning back, it was my one-way ticket so whatever actions and decision I’ll choose, from that moment forward will determine my future so I thought I needed to be cautious and at the same time carving my way through it, I don’t know if it will work, I don’t know which direction to go, I don’t know who to follow, all I can think about though is that I need to make it happen if I want to live the life I wanted to create.

“Do or do not, there is no try.” — Yoda

I thought it’s not just about luck, I grew up knowing that to have something you have to go out and get it, the world doesn’t owe anyone anything, people who were born without a silver spoon were born to create one, to provide one, you may not be born on a millionaire or a billionaire family probably because you are meant to be the first one, as they say, you can’t go back and change the beginning but you can start where you are and change the ending, that’s probably just how the universe work, right?

I don’t have an option at that time, it was like driving without knowing which road to take when to turn, and which part to stop over, all I know is that someone got there, someone had able to make it work, all I know that it’s possible and all I know is that right there, the finish line, the top, is what I want to have, that’s how I want my life to be designed, to become.

My journey in Web Development was crazy, from Day 1 up until today, every day is like a battlefield, working with other 8 computer science graduate is the scariest, it felt like I was thrown in a pack full of hungry wolves, it was one of the scariest chapters of my life. To be honest, there was no day I didn’t doubt myself, there’s no moment where I wanted to quit.

The first quarter of my career as a developer was full of excitement, experiencing Web Development in real life is so fulfilling knowing that all my hard work paid off, a dream come true indeed, months after months of constant extreme hard work, but one thing is for sure, I’ll do it over again just to hear them calling me a developer, an engineer. Getting the first paycheck felt like winning the jackpot, and I will forever be thankful, to God, to my boss who took a chance on me even when I don’t have anything yet to offer other than my willingness and my courage to do everything I can to become one of them, and also to my past self, Salute! who didn’t hit the send button even when I was crying for help debugging while having my resignation letter on the side, it was crazy feeling ever but I wouldn’t trade it for anything, the life of a Self-Taught Developer is as crazy as hell and as rewarding as a champ.

The Technical part

“For Web Developers, your website is more than just a description of your work — it is your work. It’s a place where you can demonstrate what you’re capable of.”

Before you start sending out your job application, build first your portfolio, it represents your technical skills.

Your portfolio is like your ticket to the concert, it’s your ticket to the other side, your ticket to get on the world of Web Development, you gotta do what you gotta do, build it. Here are some tips.

1 — Keep it simple

Let your output or project speak for itself. This is your chance to show them what you are capable of doing, show them your stuff, this is you, this is your eye bags, your sleepless nights, your hard work, try to make it as simple as possible, a good design is a simple design, with just one look, one transition, one-click, if that’s what the user wants, if that’s where the user wants to go, that’s it. Good User Interface, Good User Experience.

2 — One of the goal when building application is the User Experience

Easy read, easy use, easy to navigate. Another thing to consider is that when you build your portfolio website, try to include the design for several screen devices since the business is targeting user’s mobile phones nowadays, applying the mobile-first approach applications is a must, give a good impression by simply showing them that your work is not just for the website, but mobile-friendly too.

“We love opening your website and then immediately adjusting the browser window width back and forth” — Freecodecamp

Always make the user experience a 100%, besides, that is why the applications are built in the first place, you just didn’t leave a good impression, you also now have leveled up your career is a Web Developer.

3 — Choose wisely

When it comes to building up your portfolio, make sure to only include the projects that matter. Quantity doesn’t assure in getting the job, qualities do. The reality is that the recruiters don’t spend so much item since they will be interviewing a lot of applicants so basically, they are just going to spend 15–30 seconds browsing your project, so with that in mind, make sure to only include the very best, make sure to take advantage on every second you got.

When considering what projects to include, here are some aspects to know when choosing.

What kind of project that I know will make me proud, ask yourself the question, if I can only have one project in my life that I can show off to anyone, what kind of project would it be?

When choosing which one to highlight, ask yourself what makes this project different from other projects I built?

If things aren’t working yet after several months, make a review, ask for feedback from your friends, or even strangers, and do the necessary changes.

4 — Show your Personality

This is where my magic happened, and we will be further discussed and elaborate below some non-technical aspects that helped me get my first job.

Even when we are working in the technology industry, the companies are hiring living, breathing that has personality and has its character, so basically, they are not hiring just for skills, rather, they want to get the full package.

When I was on an interview on one of my current job today, one of the super boss asked me if I had an experience in working in an office-based since I spent years working remotely, then I said yes, then he explained why he ever asked, he said, we are not hiring a machine, so we need to know more about you, as an assurance that we are not in danger, then he laughed, I still wasn’t hired so I laughed as well, it was a mandatory laugh.

Here are some good resources you can use when building your portfolio

1- Developer Portfolio Tips From the one and only, Brad Traversy

2 — Gold Tips and Guides on building the Best Portfolio by FreeCodeCamp

3 — And talking about building a Responsive or Mobile First Approached Website portfolio, then here it is from Julio

The Non-Technical Part

When nothing seems to work out even after several weeks or months, it probably is time to do some self-reflection, you are probably asking the wrong questions, that’s why you are getting the wrong results.

Before you start sending out your resume again, do yourself a favor and re-assess the situation, I’ll assume that you have sent some copy already to different companies, and probably got no response or got a “We will get back to you”, the most common line, I probably got almost a hundred of those, I lose count.

Because of my desperation and desire to get that first yes, I was uncontrollable, I got so obsessed into getting that “yes” out of all the punches thrown at me, that I wasn’t thinking logically, my judgment was clouded and I forgot to reassess the situation, there’s a clear slap-in-my-face reality that my approach wasn’t working and I refuse to look at it, I refused to accept it, so instead of stepping back I kept giving myself all in, it wasn’t about having a bad portfolio or not enough personal project, it was about me not accepting the truth that I couldn’t beat those that have the proper degree, it was me who is so mad of not getting it even after all my efforts, I still can remember myself asking the question why can’t they see me?

was it because of not having enough experience?

was it because I am a woman?

was it because I didn’t have a Computer Science degree?

was it because I am Asian?

was it because of my age?

I have all those questions, and then I realized that yes, the answers are yes. Reality-check, all yes.

not having enough experience? It’s not because you don’t have enough, it’s because you don’t have any!

because I’m a woman? Yes, you are a woman, and you are competing with a man who is an engineer in the field of engineers.

because I didn’t have a Computer Science degree? Well absolutely, would you want to consult your health into an accountant?

because I’m Asian? probably, when you are competing with a young white genius dude with a powerful gaming laptop.

was it because of my age? maybe, some preferred fresh graduate. (I was 26 years old when I started!)

So yes, I am the problem, I am sabotaging myself, I am not getting it. So, I stopped everything I was doing, I step back, I did a lot of thinking, and all I can come up at that time was that “who am I to complain?”

I have nothing to lose, and everything to gain, so why am I complaining? Of course, it will not be easy, because if its easy anyone can do it, it will hard for sure! the only question should be what are you gonna do about it? Do you have what it takes?

So I quit complaining and start re-assessing, experimenting, researching, and evaluating what works and what doesn’t work, I changed a lot of details on my resume, and here are some tips that might help. (hopefully! :] )

So I sent out a lot of resumes, I search for several job hiring websites, I fixed my profiles, use a better picture, a professional one, I made my resume simple, direct to the point, I eliminate a lot of unnecessary details that won’t do any help.

and one important thing, my intention is not to get the job but to find out what works and what doesn’t.

I rebuild my resume several times, minimize it, learned, and repeat.

1 — Include as little as possible with your non-tech experience — especially if they are of no use, but include things about leadership, teamwork, perseverance, managing conflict with colleagues, handling pressure and your approach in handling problems.

2 — Add things about how you are going to become a developer, how are you going to change your life, what are your plans in the next 3–5 or even 10 years.

3 — What are the things or sacrifices you are willing to do to make it happen, and what can you do to make up for the years that have lost

4 — What can you do to the company, your experience while building your portfolio

5 — How was your Bootcamp experience and do you have any upcoming Bootcamp to enroll?

6 — Do not overshare your weaknesses, and if you do, if its mention then make a quick turn around, do a follow-through, what are the necessary actions or precautions to make up for it?

Example: Do you have experience in Database?

Follow-through: “I enrolled a Bootcamp about the Database, I do know the basics, I created some scripts for the MySQL or in Relational Database, I had able to design a database for my small project, I understand how it works in the Web, it’s importance, I know how it works well in the frontend, I am not more of the backend side, but I understand how it should work or connect to the Frontend”

that interview got me my first job.

Do whatever you can to get yourself in front of the others, think ahead, plan and give them something that they can look forward, sometimes it’s not just about what the developer has done, sometimes giving them what they want to hear, and giving them some solutions to their plans or project’s problem, giving them the idea that you can offer something can turn the tables. That’s all we can give anyways.

Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard, I’m a huge believer, I’ve done this several times, consistency, perseverance, drive and to simply keep going, keep showing up, failures will soon run out, the best way to not fail is to never give up, ever, you’ll get your chance, and it will be the sweetest victory.

Thanks for reading!