All Software Developers NEED a Portfolio

It doesn’t matter how good you are at programming if you can’t prove it. A portfolio is something all software developers need because it allows us to show off our work to clients and our code to employers.

This video was sponsored by Skillshare.

I share and document my experiences on topics including computer science, software engineering, and iOS development. I'm a full-time Software Engineer and a part-time YouTuber & iOS developer. My hobbies outside of what's been mentioned include surfing, snowboarding, hunting, fishing, and playing video games.

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[fknight]

Edit: A couple folks have commented about their experience of getting a job without a portfolio. This happens, of course. There are variables and exceptions to everything. However, a portfolio increases your chances of getting that interview and is something you can show off. Most people I’ve spoken with say GitHub should be treated as your primary resume. What you type on a sheet of paper (your actual resume) is important, but some may say it’s all “talk.” Showing off your code shows that you can walk your talk.
E.g. - Let’s say you own a restaurant and are looking for a new chef and someone comes in who knows every technical aspect of cooking known to man. They sound like the perfect person for the job. However, you have never seen a single plate of food they’ve made. How can you be sure you’re making the right decision?

[mikesantoro]

...got a computer science degree...couldnt get hired for a year...spent 3 months on a portfolio...got a job right away

[VaqrGaming]

*me realizing that your name is actually forrest knight and not just a username*

[itschriscash]

Employer here: I have interviewed many s/w engineers, and not once has previous code or a portfolio played upon my decision. I see these common mistakes from candidates over and over - how they have the tech skills perfect so they should get the job. But they immediately fail the soft skills such as communication and customer interaction. They also don't have the foresight of design by not coding themselves into a corner. Advice: tech skills are only 50% of what we are looking for. You need to be able to work with others, write status updates, understand requirements, and most of all, make sure you "give me what I wanted, not what I asked for". Client or manager may not know exactly how to phrase what they want - and you need to dig deeper and understand the problem.

[undertheradar]

I work as a jr dev (self taught) at a large corporation. All of the projects I've worked on are used in-house, so a future employee couldn't see the application, and are proprietary, so they can't see the code. People keep saying "you'll have to pass the whiteboard interview anyway".. you dont get to that point if you can't show reputable experience, which (apart from soft skills) is best shown through a portfolio. Great video

[SCTproductionsJ]

This helps a lot! All throughout school they tell you, "you learn all that stuff in the first few months of your first job" constantly. SO frustrating.

[kineticuncertainty]

I have a software engineering degree not CS. I got an interview the day i graduated. I started work 6 months later. Thats only because i was being picky. I DO NOT have a portfolio, and dont see a need for one. I let my projects at work be my portfolio. None of the engineers i have ever worked with have a portfolio. You still have to interview, and you still have to pass the white board programming tests. I just started looking for a new job and i am having no problems.

[dragonredux]

My professor literally told us this last week so yeah it's really recommended

[balexandre]

22 years developing ... I didn't even knew I needed a portfolio :D
thanks for the video!

[dpfutbol]

There are a lot of channels that speak about CS on Youtube but not many that talk about the necessary applicable things that we are interested in knowing and are searching for answers to. This channel however is one of the few. Thank you so much for these topics, I love this style.

[Krod]

For myself, Im a beginner level coder but I want to community college for C.I.S and seriously hated it and didn't teach me anything. I know plenty of people that code very well with no college education and they're very skilled in what they do. I would say there needs to be more apprenticeships for coding jobs/anything in tech to help those that want to boost their skills. I want to become a video game developer but my skills are hard to hone because I'm confused on what's being taught to me when I learn online. As I keep doing it, I naturally get better and manage myself to understand the structure behind computer science and algorthim. I wish there were more resources around me to boost my skills because I wanna become successful but the time is limited due to working and having understand what others teach in YouTube videos to write better code. Overall, I believe if there more free market resources to help beginner coders or anyone that's willing to work hard that'll help a lot of people out. Going to school learning your career is very ineffective.

[abhigyaghimire]

Thank you for making an open source website where anyone can go to learn. Obviously, I don't know EXACTLY what I'm talking about, but never the less, thank you.

[lewisbirkett]

The degree shows that you can code, no other profession needs all this extra work on top of the degree to just get a job. leetcode, projects, 4+ rounds of interviews

[VictorNascimentoo]

The best way to land a job is to actually being good to a point where people notice you. Be the guy on top of your class assignments, go to meetups and contribute, give talks about some subject you find interesting, let people know you and they will provide you the bridges you need to cross to land a job. A portfolio isn't that important, unless your work is more visual than hidden: UI Designers may need a portfolio, while backend developers don't. It's by no means a rule.

[Lambda.Function]

They're definitely not needed, nor do most people look at them. In a world where people with over 5 years of experience can't even put together something that takes someone with no experience a few hours, they're not a strong signal of capability, and experience goes much further. It's interviewing that matters. That's where you're tested initially, and then your first few months on the job after ramp up time. If we could actually make hiring decisions based on portfolios, we would, but we can't, so they're about as useful as taking your word for it.

[aqynbc]

Finally a SD who shows an actual portfolio, and how and where to set it up! Thank you very much. Refreshing and very useful.

[randyfournier]

Not to bash what you're saying in the video but while struggling to build a portfolio as I too believed this would give me a better chance I ended up getting a great job just by showing my skills. Its what you can do for the employer that speaks wonders not what you say you can do. You could've copied that code into your repository changed a few things and say hey look how awesome my portfolio is, like you said you could know everything but they've never SEEN what you can do so portfolio isn't all its made out to be. Liked the video regardless more than I can say I don't have any lol.

[comeinwiththerain]

I was looking for a video like this for so long. Thank you for this concise explanation.

[bioblazepayne]

been a programmer for about 20+ years, and never had a portfolio but. Good video going to start one now, cause now adays its alot harder to find jobs.

[takisback]

I disagree with your resolute attitude on this. I agree that a portfolio HELPS with the interview process but it is by no means a must have.

If you are going for freelance work. Its a must. If you are self-taught. Its a must. But if you have at least a bachelor's degree in computer science or other related field, experience is much more sought after than a personal portfolio. Portfolio but no internships? I'd most likely pass on that candidate for someone that did have an internship.

Again, it can certainly help, but I hate the mentality of our industry that you have to code on your own time to further yourself. Yes, you will always be learning, and that MIGHT require additional time on your own, but you do not need to go home and continue programming. If you enjoy it, that's great, but its also a job. Its your career. You don't see architects going home and drawing up blueprints for fun or for future employers. Most their work is probably under NDA much like proprietary code is. You can hopefully show the finished product, but more often than not, not the underlying structure.

I've only been in the industry (after school) 5 years, but I have no portfolio. I've never had one. I have had no trouble getting in the door. But I do have my Bachelor's. I busted my butt in school, and now on top of that I have a reputable corporate job under my belt that opens many other doors. Most companies will have programming tests or technical interviews these days. That is where you show you can do what they need you to do. It can help, but I hate this idea that you HAVE to do these things; that you HAVE to continue coding after work. You don't. It could help you get in the door sure, but it is by no means a silver bullet.