Choosing Projects For Your Portfolio

I agonized over which projects I would select for my portfolio.

Would this impress?

Would this be the one to make a recruiter reach out to me?

Every question you could think of, I asked myself but, while spiraling, a moment of clarity hit me. Would these projects matter if I weren’t interested in them?

And that is the only question you need to ask.

Would this project interest you?

Because if it doesn’t, what is the point? The projects you need to have on your portfolio need to inspire you to discuss them at length. You need to know the ends and outs and you can’t do that if you follow tutorials and plaster them on your portfolio.

I’m not saying don’t follow tutorials. I’m saying, don’t just follow tutorials and pass them off as your own. Instead add to the tutorials. Ask yourself how you could improve this tutorial?

But even better than that? Ask yourself what would you like to build?

For me, when I began my journey into tech, I was interested in learning web accessibility. My idea was integrate AI technology into the website and perform voice commands.

In my website, they could open and close the cart with voice command. They could even order a items with their voice. It was an ecommerce website but I put my own spin on it.

And could I talk about this project in my interviews? You bet I could because I put my own touch on it. I could talk about my failures and my successes because I was interested in developing that feature.

Check out the project here: AI-Enhanced Shoe Store 

So, here is my advice.

Your portfolio should be a reflection of what ignites your curiosity and enthusiasm. It's not just about showcasing skills – it's about displaying your journey, your challenges, and your unique approach. If a project doesn't resonate with you, how can it resonate with others? It doesn’t have to be a difficult decision to decide what to put on your portfolio.

Just ask yourself, would you be interested in it?