I'm a self-taught developer looking for some guidance on how to create a strong portfolio to break into the programming industry. My primary strength is in Python, but I also have a basic knowledge of C#, HTML, and CSS. Right now, I'm working on a collection of medium-sized projects on GitHub, including a Django project to deepen my understanding of programming concepts like APIs and databases. However, I'm worried that I might spend a lot of time learning Django only to produce a mediocre project that won't showcase my skills effectively. I've been dedicating around 12 hours a day to learning through leetcode, tutorials, and reading books, but I'd love to hear any advice on the best way to approach building my portfolio. Also, I'm not pursuing a degree for personal reasons, so I'm putting a lot of effort into self-learning. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
1 Answer
Hey! I totally get where you're coming from. I was a teacher before transitioning into software engineering without a CS degree. First, the job market is pretty tough for juniors right now, so it might be beneficial to consider gaining experience in other ways. One solid path could be contributing to open source projects or looking for unpaid internships. This way, you build experience while showing initiative. I got my first job after working freelance for a startup, and it paid off! Just keep in mind that employers may not take the time to check your portfolio thoroughly with so many candidates around.
Thanks for the insight! I’m in Australia where the market is also tricky, but it's good to hear that self-taught devs can still find a way in. I’m set on developing my portfolio with Django, but I’ll definitely look into contributing to open source as well before applying out there.