I've been hearing a lot about the importance of having an active GitHub profile, real-world projects, and contributing to open source if you want to get a job in programming. I'm from Brazil, and I'm hoping to find a remote junior developer position soon. Right now, I only have a couple of small projects and one internship under my belt. Could you all share your thoughts on the best approach for me to secure a role? Should I focus on more projects, dive deeper into open source contributions, or maybe pursue additional certifications?
4 Answers
Absolutely, open source contributions matter! I contributed to a Mozilla project through an outreach program and it was a talking point in every interview. Employers seemed genuinely impressed by that experience.
Building real projects is key. Open source contributions can help, but it's not just about making random commits. You need to really understand the projects you contribute to and engage with the community. Aim to evolve from a beginner to someone who is seen as knowledgeable in that area; this can really open doors for you. For now, it might be best to look for local work to improve your skills before aiming for remote positions.
Having a CS degree can give you a leg up, and you might not need extensive experience if you do. But if you don't, contributing to open source can definitely demonstrate your qualifications and skills to potential employers.
From my hiring experience, I definitely check out candidates' GitHub profiles. While I wouldn't judge solely based on that, meaningful contributions to well-known projects definitely hold more weight than just personal stuff. If you can show major contributions or significant projects, that will really stand out.
Even with a degree, you still need projects beyond what the university made you do.