Should I apply for jobs with lot's of small projects which I already have, or take the time to build a full app?
Tags: discuss, career, portfolio
Published: 2018-02-05 21:16:47

---
title: Should I apply for jobs with lot's of small projects which I already have, or take the time to build a full app?
published: true
description: 
tags: discuss, career, portfolio
---

I think I am good enough for an entry level job. I am really strong on HTML, CSS and JavaScript. I have created ecommerce templates (the front part) using mongo, react, and even wordpress (many years back - wordpress wouldn't be in the portfolio). 

But these templates do not deal with payments, the react templates do not even have the backend - so there's no way to add more items to the database. **The main reason that I didn't do that is because I thought employers wouldn't see that anyway (they wouldn't have the authentication info) hence I focused on what they could see** 

I searched dev.to and focusing on one project and fleshing it out is highly recommended, and I'll do that, but after [6 years of focusing on another part of my life](https://dev.to/ermal/is-it-possible-to-get-a-web-development-job-if-i-have-a-6-year-gap-2kjd) I really want to get an entry job. Last time I checked I have the following 

- ecommerce layout: where I focused on design, it's responsive,I tried hard to not keep it conventional.
- Artist portfolio: I made up a person, as if they are a painter and needed a website.
- book ecommerce: has sections like: discounts, author of the week, newsletter section, blog post section
- Book author site (think wikipedia for few authors): Timeline, quotes, books, bio - all in one page
- A site for Picasso: totally different design 

In short, if the job description was strong design, css and html skills, and knows how to work with react (consume APIs), **I know for a fact, if all else is equal, I'm the guy for the job** I have an eye for design, attention to detail, strive to not be boring

(**I sound like a big headed so and so, I'm sorry.**)

I feel akward, shy, something in my mind tells me I blew it by not working for six years. Another part of me says that I desperately need to get into this field this year (I'll soon be 30).

Assuming those static sites are what I think they are (unique, responsive and shows I'm good with JS and react), **do you think I have a strong chance to get hired for an entry job** or should I really focus on building a full app?

I feel like with my track record, all I have is an overall passion to be laser focused on improving parts of my life that need improving (got the disability thing done, now career - but unlike improving my disability, I feel like career depends on others to let me in), and a portfolio. I'm asking whether the above portfolio would be good enough, or should I focus on building a full app before thinking of applying.

I can build full apps, I have created mini demos on authentication and everything that would go into making a full app, I just loved working on the above, and now I feel like creating an app that I'd be proud of might take months!?!

The apps I want to work on are: github manager, and a text editor (electron or web based). None of which are unique ideas but ...

Thanks