A Developer's Journey: How I built LinkToMyCV In less than 2 weeks.

Rick van den Broek — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 14:18:59 +0000

It all started with a flood of messages from friends, family and colleagues. “Can you help me design a professional CV?” they’d ask. As a designer and developer, I’d often oblige. But over time, I noticed patterns – people (especially freelancers) struggling with typos, outdated versions, and the endless churn of file iterations.

I knew there had to be a better way. Why, in a world where everything else is dynamic and personalized, are we still sending static PDFs? This question sparked an idea: what if I could create a tool that allowed people to build living, breathing CVs? A tool that was as dynamic and adaptable as freelancer it served. That’s when LinkToMyCV was born.

From Frustration to Inspiration

The problem wasn’t just theoretical, I’d faced these challenges myself:

Sending out a CV, only to spot a typo after hitting send.
Receiving feedback to tweak something and then juggling version after version.
Wanting to apply for front-end developer, but also full-stack developer causing again more versions.

These struggles weren’t unique to me. Every freelancer I spoke to shared similar pain points. It wasn’t just about convenience; it was about creating a CV that matched the fast-paced, ever-evolving world we live in.

I decided to build a platform where freelancers could:

Make real-time updates without starting from scratch, as I say "the build once share forever principle"
Showcase their personality and skills with customizable layouts.
Share their CVs as effortlessly as sharing a link.

The vision was clear. All I needed was two weeks, determination, and some modern tech.

The Building Blocks

I started with technologies I trusted—tools that could deliver speed, security, and scalability:

Next.js & Vercel: For performance and seamless deployments.
Drizzle ORM & Vercel Postgres: To handle secure, efficient database queries.
React-Hook-Form: For smooth and dynamic form interactions.
NextAuth.js: To allow quick and secure logins via Google and LinkedIn.
Puppeteer: To generate pixel-perfect PDFs directly from the live CV.
Tailwind CSS: To offer a sleek, customizable design experience.

Turning Vision Into Features

As I coded late into the night, the platform began to take shape. I wanted every feature to solve a real problem freelancers faced:

Dynamic Updates: No more version chaos. Just update your CV, and it’s live.
Customizable Design: With over 40+ color schemes and 10+ fonts, every CV could be unique.
Shareable URL: A professional link that could be shared anywhere—GitHub, LinkedIn, email signatures.
Multi-Language Support: A must-have for international freelancers.
Privacy Controls: Sensitive information stays secure, with options to share selectively.
PDF Export: For the occasional job portal that still clings to PDFs.
Multiple Variants: One platform, many tailored CVs for different roles and industries.

Every time I finished a feature, I imagined the freelancers using it. I thought about their relief when they could finally ditch the endless file revisions and focus on what really matters—showing off their expertise.

Why It Matters

Building LinkToMyCV wasn’t just a coding challenge; it was a goal to solve a real-world problem. Freelancers, especially in IT, thrive on flexibility and professionalism. But until now, their CVs haven’t reflected that.

With LinkToMyCV, they can finally:

Present themselves with polished, responsive designs.
Adapt quickly to diverse roles and industries.
Share their career stories with the click of a link.

I’m proud of what I’ve built in such a short time. But this is just the beginning.

Have questions about how it all works? Drop a comment—I’d love to share the details.

Ready to level up your CV game? Visit LinkToMyCV.com today and see the future of CVs for yourself.

DEV Community: Rick van den Broek

A Developer's Journey: How I built LinkToMyCV In less than 2 weeks.

From Frustration to Inspiration

The Building Blocks

Turning Vision Into Features

Why It Matters

A Developer's Journey: How I built LinkToMyCV In less than 2 weeks.