"Dear network..."
You've probably seen posts on social media starting with this phrase. Often on LinkedIn, sometimes on Twitter, and surely on other networks too. It’s the common opener for reaching out to people we know in the professional world, which isn’t called "Contacts" or "Friends," but "Network."
Not long ago, I happened to come across someone mocking those who use this method, pointing out that their GitHub was empty and they didn’t even have a portfolio. Embarrassing!
In the world of development and tech, it’s true, developers are often advised to build a solid portfolio and maintain projects on GitHub when job hunting. These elements are often presented as pillars of professional success.
That’s what's supposed to help you land a job.
However...
Let’s not beat around the bush. I disagree.
The Myth of the Portfolio and Git Projects
Sure, having a well-designed portfolio and visible Git projects is advantageous. They showcase your skills, achievements, and your ability to work on concrete projects.
However, these tools are not enough to land you a job, and in more than 93%* of cases, they don’t even help at all!
Job hunting is much more complex than having an up-to-date Git and often depends on factors other than technical skills (like luck).
The Power of Networking
The reality is that job hunting rarely comes down to technical skills alone. More often than not, it’s about being seen in the right place at the right time, and this is frequently made possible by a strong network.
Having a network means maximizing your chances of finding hidden opportunities (those that aren’t necessarily posted on job platforms).
When I was a kid, my mother was unemployed. One day, while we were at the mall with my dad (probably to buy a Nintendo 64 game), we stopped at a café. My dad, who truly embodies the guy with zero academic skills, started chatting with a man sitting next to us, just because he’s a talker. He explained that my mother was looking for a job in logistics. By chance, this man had positions available and gave my dad his number. That’s how my mom found a job.
In my own professional journey, I have countless similar examples, and if you ask around, you’ll find plenty more:
- My first internship: Thanks to my school network/my IT teacher
- My second internship: Through a guy I met during the first one, and two of my classmates got the same internship thanks to me.
- Guess who else did an internship there years later? My little brother.
- Apprenticeship: Found because my mom knew someone finishing their apprenticeship, so a spot opened up.
- Fifth-year project: Validated thanks to a client... who was in my network.
- First job at Microsoft: Job link posted by a classmate on Slack.
- Last year, two people also joined Microsoft because they were in my network.
Network, network, network!!!
These examples (and I’ve got plenty more) show that networking can open doors that skills alone cannot. Meeting the right people and getting a recommendation often makes the difference between getting hired or not, getting an interview or not, and even knowing about a job opening or not.
Networking: A Valuable Investment
Investing time and effort into developing your network is a far more valuable strategy than focusing solely on improving your portfolio and GitHub. This isn’t about bullshit or neglecting skills, but rather understanding how the job market truly works.
Having a network doesn’t mean that skills don’t matter. On the contrary, it’s essential to keep developing your skills and working on personal projects. However, your network is the tool that will help you showcase those skills and get noticed by the right people.
No one’s going to say, "Yes, I saw your GitHub, and I’m really impressed by blah blah blah." Sorry, you need to put yourself out there; no one’s going to find you on a nerd site.
As for founders or startup entrepreneurs with genius disruptive methods who recruit through GitHub, you can spot them right away. If someone tells you they were impressed by your GitHub, even though it hasn’t been active for 5 years? Offers you a C++ gig because you did a Hello_world 15 years ago? That’s simply a sourcing method used, most of the time, in a very, very sloppy way.
Proving Your Skills
Yes, technically, you can "prove" "skills" through your GitHub, but no one actually uses it for that. Why?
First of all, companies like procedures, something standard that can be applied to everyone. Not everyone has a GitHub; the majority of developers stop using it after their studies. The ones you see actively using it are the minority. And skill tests are designed for the majority (10 years in tech, countless interviews, and I’ve been asked for my GitHub once, I think).
And I’m not calling you a liar, honestly. But having a project on GitHub isn’t really a reliable proof of competence.
Young developers are often advised to work on projects and put them on GitHub, but that’s not for landing a job. After finishing any classroom, even a long one, even a five-year degree, we have tons of gaps. In short, we’re terrible! You need to keep practicing, a lot, to stand out from the crowd and refine your expertise.
If you’ve done a Master’s in Computer Science like me, it’s likely that 51%* of the courses won’t be useful post-graduation. And that’s normal, education covers all domains, but a Java developer won’t get much experience out of their Python courses. So, they need to keep digging into the Java environment, and this happens through projects.
GitHub is a site for your projects, for managing your projects, it’s not a CV, and thank goodness! (A CV is a whole different story, but that’s for another time).
In conclusion, although portfolios and Git projects are important tools for improving skills, their usefulness for landing a job is negligible. Your network is the most valuable asset. It multiplies your chances of finding opportunities and meeting the right people at the right time. Investing in and cultivating your network will pay off more than spending all your time perfecting your GitHub’s look.
Build your network, nurture your relationships, and be open to opportunities that may come through these connections. That’s how you’ll truly advance in your professional career.
*Statistic pulled from the Wet Finger Institute.
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