What advice do you have for someone starting out as a developer and trying to build a portfolio of projects?

Building a portfolio of projects is a great way for new developers to showcase their skills and gain practical experience in software development. As someone who has experience in this field, what advice would you give to someone who is just starting out and trying to build their portfolio?

Consider sharing specific tips on the following topics:

Choosing the right projects

What types of projects should new developers focus on, and how can they choose projects that will help them build a strong portfolio?

Setting achievable goals

How can new developers set realistic goals for themselves and their projects, and avoid getting overwhelmed by the scope of their work?

Finding resources and support

What resources and support networks are available to help new developers learn and grow, and how can they take advantage of these resources?

Developing good habits

What habits and practices can new developers develop to stay focused, motivated, and organized while building their portfolio?

Showcasing their work

How can new developers effectively showcase their projects to potential employers, and what types of information and documentation should they include to make their portfolio stand out?

Be sure to provide specific examples and practical advice that new developers can implement right away. Also, consider sharing your own experiences and lessons learned, as well as any resources or tools that you have found helpful along the way.

Comments

[Joe Mainwaring]

• Sanity Check: Double check if you need a portfolio. They're unnecessary in many contexts.
• Have a purpose: Know the job you're looking to attract and focus on showcasing those pieces. Having a full portfolio says you've stayed busy but as a Hiring Manager, I only care about the context I'm hiring for.
• Work backwards from your purpose to figure out showcase pieces. For example, if my portfolio was selling me as a WordPress Developer, my portfolio would showcase things like Themes I built, Plugins I developed, and case studies/white papers detailing past implementations I've performed.
• Your portfolio pieces should tell a story.

[Helitha Rupasinghe]

Well Said!