Ask HN: What side projects landed you a job?

Article summary

The article asks readers to share their side projects that helped them land a job. The goal is to understand how personal projects can contribute to professional opportunities. Readers are encouraged to share their experiences, including the project they worked on, how it helped them, and whether the project was related to the job they got. The article aims to gather insights from the community on the role of side projects in career development.

Main themes

• side projects
• career development
• open-source work
• community building
• personal branding
• job opportunities

What commenters say

• Creating a system-agnostic router, Markdown parser, and WYSIWYG editor in Clojure/ClojureScript helped one person get Clojure gigs.
• Participating in student clubs, such as a cubesat or rocket club, can be beneficial for getting hired by certain companies.
• Open-source work can stand out from the competition and demonstrate skill in a particular area.
• A side project does not have to be directly related to the job to be helpful in the interview process.
• Community building, such as answering questions on a local Linux User Group or creating a blog, can be as valuable as working on a side project.
• Some people have received job offers or contracts due to their side projects, even if the project was not directly related to the job.
• Writing about personal projects and experiences can help build credibility and make one a more attractive candidate.
• Participating in online communities, such as Stack Overflow, can lead to job opportunities through recruiter outreach or personal networking.