From Side Projects to Job Offers: The Hidden Value of Your First Tech Projects and Articles

The projects you built and the articles you wrote in the early stages of your tech career could be the ones that speak for you and help you land more contracts when you finally reach the stage of seeking gigs and offers.

Early projects serve as real evidence of your skills. They show potential employers or clients that you are more than just a list of technical abilities on a resume. Instead of merely claiming to have knowledge in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and accessibility, you provide tangible proof that you can apply these skills to build engaging and effective solutions.

For example, I built ScissorCut, a project that has always stood out for its excellent front end user interfaces and astonishing animations. I have had clients mention that this project caught their eye and prompted them to reach out. However, I still remember that ScissorCut was just a small project I built while learning HTML, CSS and JavaScript, the very fundamentals of a successful tech (frontend) career. I am amazed by how this project consistently receives positive feedback, even though it is simply a landing page featuring impressive pure CSS animations. This is a testament to the power of project-based learning. Don’t just watch tutorials, attend classes and read documentation. Build projects with what you have learned!

Beyond projects, technical articles can be game-changers in interviews. Writing about a topic means you’ve broken it down, researched it deeply, and explained it in a way others can understand. My article "Rendering Images the Good Way in Your React Application" has repeatedly served as a powerful asset in interviews. When asked about optimising images for performance, I don’t just answer, I reference my article, detailing how I’ve tackled the issue in real-world applications like Sabinus.meme, where I optimised and rendered high-quality images efficiently. This immediately convinces interviewers or clients that I don’t just understand the topic, I’ve applied it at a professional level.

These proofs have helped me land promising gigs. During a recent Upwork interview, I showcased my work and discussed how I solved similar challenges in the past. The discussion was convincing and played a significant role in securing the gig. This experience reinforces the idea that a portfolio of early projects and well researched articles can truly be the key to opening doors in the competitive tech industry.

Although my articles represent my personal opinions and serve as a reminder for me to put in more work, I enjoy sharing them with the public because my followers appreciate the insights. If you find this article insightful, give it a thumbs up and follow for more tech tips.

I am open to frontend and full-stack engineering roles and gigs. Let’s work on your project.

Thanks for reading through to the end!

Let’s keep learning and improving our tech skills by building projects and showcasing our work.