Feeling Uncertain About Web Development – What Should I Do Next?

Your portfolio site looks fantastic! It's smooth, responsive, and the animations are impressive! Keep building on that foundation. It’s a great start for showcasing your work and drawing in potential clients.

Consider building another project to sharpen your skills. If you're good at handling existing code, look for clients or consider working with a small agency. Feedback from family and friends isn't always helpful - they're often not comparing your work fairly. Your ecommerce project is a strong first piece; it shows initiative and capability! Trust me, you only need one client to get started, and then referrals will follow.

Don't stress too much about the specifics of tech stacks right now. While being comfortable with the MERN stack is great, don't forget that many websites still run on WordPress. Picking up PHP or working on smaller projects can really broaden your horizons. Consider trying out languages like C# or Java, as they have abundant opportunities. Keep sending out resumes—perseverance is key!

Two years in development isn't a long time, and breaking into freelancing can be tough initially. Your ecommerce project demonstrates that you can create real applications— that's what matters! Try contributing to open-source projects or creating smaller, problem-solving apps. Networking through local meetups often leads to job opportunities, so get involved with developer communities!

Don't give up just yet! Just because one person was dismissive doesn't mean your work isn't valuable. The more projects you complete, the stronger your portfolio and resume will be. I went through a similar phase, but landing my first contract changed everything for me. Keep building and learning; every project will make you more competitive.