Creating A Digital Portfolio For Engineering Work

Confession: While I've reviewed thousands of portfolios, I've never read a case study all the way through. I ALWAYS scan them. I just don't have the time to look through every detail. And I know that most other folks who are reviewing portfolios are doing the exact same thing for the same reasons. This means that your portfolio should: 1. Make it easy to scan 2. Use big, high quality visuals 3. Tell quick, concise stories 4. Most importantly, make that story easy to consume in two minutes or less If I were to build my portfolio today, here's how I would do it using these principles: 1️⃣ I'd have a top overview section that has a short blurb of what to expect/what I accomplished AND the final mockups/prototype of what I created. 2️⃣ I'd write out each case study using a word document first to make sure that my headlines told the entire story quickly and concisely. I'd use a classic story arc 1. Context/background 2. Conflict 3. Rising action 4. Climax 5. Falling action 6. Resolution The simpler version of this is the 3 Cs of storytelling: 1. Context 2. Conflict 3. Change (AKA what improved as a result of your work) 3️⃣ I'd optimize my headlines below the overview to tell the story of what I learned. Once everything was written out in a Google doc, I'd edit everything down to the essentials. I'd make sure to pull out the important learnings/quotes and make them big so reviewers could easily scan them. 4️⃣ I'd break up sections with large images to make it feel more interesting and less fatiguing. 5️⃣ I'd ask friends and family to read it and provide feedback about clarity and how much time it took them. If they can easily understand it, see my impact, and quickly go through it, then I'm on the right track. 6️⃣ I'd use LinkedIn and adplist.org to find more folks to provide feedback. Again, I'd focus their feedback on clarity and the amount of time it took for them to go through it.

In my junior year of college, a Google recruiter told me that none of my portfolio projects stood out... I thought “building a portfolio” meant uploading a few code snippets and calling it a day... She showed me what real portfolios actually look like, and how top candidates quietly bypass the resume pile. Since then, I’ve helped thousands of students use this same system to land internships and New Grad offers at top AI companies. Here’s the play: 1. Pick a portfolio project that turns heads. Forget Titanic datasets and MNIST. Try one of these instead: - Fine-tune a real open-source LLM - Implement a research paper from scratch - Build a RAG pipeline with your own data These are what hiring managers actually get excited about. 2. Don’t just build, showcase it like a pro. Spin up a clean portfolio site (no need to code from scratch) And walk through: - Why you built it - The architecture and tradeoffs - What you learned Make it skimmable but technical. 3. Optimize for recruiters AND engineers. That means: Buzzwords for ATS ✅ GitHub links ✅ Clean formatting ✅ Deep README ✅ This is what I call your Second, Invisible Resume...it works for you even when you're not actively applying. 4. Stop cold applying. Start attracting. Once you’ve got the right project + positioning: - Turn it into a LinkedIn post - Add it to your profile - DM engineers at your dream companies It’s not about going viral... It’s about being impossible to ignore.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐨 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫? 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐈𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐁𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐉𝐨𝐛 𝐈𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬: A recruiter is looking at two resumes for a data analyst position. Both candidates have similar skills and experience, but one has a portfolio filled with real-world projects, detailed explanations, and tangible results. Which candidate stands out? When I was starting, I didn’t have a portfolio. I quickly realized that without it, I was missing a crucial opportunity to showcase my work. A strong portfolio isn’t just a collection of projects, it’s your story. It demonstrates how you think, solve problems, and make an impact. Here’s how to build a portfolio that truly shines: 1️⃣ 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤: Focus on quality over quantity. Pick 3-5 projects that highlight your skills and have clear, measurable results. Whether it’s a model that improved decisions or a dashboard with impactful insights, each project should tell a story. 2️⃣ 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭: Don’t just list what you did, tell why it mattered. What problem were you solving? What was your approach? How did your solution benefit the business or users? This context helps employers see the value you bring. 3️⃣ 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬: Employers want to know how you think. Detail the steps you took, the tools you used, and any challenges you faced. Did you clean a messy dataset? Choose a specific algorithm? Showing your process sets you apart from others. 4️⃣ 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐈𝐭 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞: Make sure your portfolio is easy to navigate. Use a simple layout, and clear headings, and ensure all links work. If it’s a website, make sure it’s mobile-friendly. The easier it is to explore, the more likely it is to impress. Your portfolio is more than just an add-on to your resume, it’s a reflection of your skills, creativity, and attention to detail. In a competitive job market, it could be the difference between landing an interview and being overlooked. If you don’t have a portfolio yet, start building one today. If you have one, review it, does it showcase your best work? If you need feedback or help getting started, I’m here to support you. Found this helpful? Consider re-sharing 🔁 with your network. Follow Mohammed Wasim for more tips, success stories of international students, and data opportunities in US!

Building a strong portfolio as a software engineer isn’t just about showcasing what you’ve done. It’s about telling your story and proving your growth. Whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience, a well-curated portfolio can set you apart from the crowd. Here’s how I built mine and how you can do the same: 1️⃣ Show real projects, not just theory: Employers want to see what you can do, not just what you know. Include personal projects, open-source contributions, or freelance work. Real-world examples speak volumes. 2️⃣ Focus on quality, not quantity: A few well-done projects that demonstrate a range of skills are better than a ton of half-finished work. Show your best, not everything. 3️⃣ Explain your thought process: Don’t just share the code—tell the story behind it. Why did you choose that tech stack? What challenges did you overcome? Show how you think, not just what you build. 4️⃣ Highlight both technical and soft skills: Don’t forget to mention collaboration, communication, and problem-solving. These are just as important as writing clean code. 5️⃣ Keep it updated: Your portfolio is a living document. Update it with every new skill or project you take on. It should reflect your growth as a developer. A strong portfolio isn’t about impressing others, it's about proving to yourself how far you’ve come and where you’re heading. What’s one project in your portfolio that you’re proud of? Let’s chat about building a portfolio that stands out! #softwareengineer #faithwilkinsel

1 specific action my client and I did to earn her a new job and 180,000,000 KRW salary 🎉🤝. (𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗷𝗼𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 ⬇️) If you want a high-paying job at a top company, you need to do more than the average candidate. One of the easiest ways to stand out? ✅ Create a project portfolio ✅ This is a website or slide deck sharing a few of your biggest/best accomplishments (whatever proves you'd be a great fit for the job you're applying to!) • I've heard from hiring managers across countries & industries that this is better than a cover letter • Significantly less people send a portfolio, so you'll stand out more • Since I started making portfolios with all my clients last year, they've had a > 90% success rate getting international job offers (with many getting multiple job offers within the time we work together) 𝗕𝗔𝗦𝗜𝗖 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝟭: 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲 ✅ Include the company Logo and a few 'key skills' from the job description 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝟮: 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗷𝗼𝗯/𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 ✅ Be specific! Say things that are unique to that company/role 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝟯-𝟵: 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝟯 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀/𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 ✅ When did this happen ✅ What was the problem/challenge ✅ What actions did you take (YOU...not 'your team') ✅ What happened as a result? 𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗜𝗣𝗦: • Make a 'Master Portfolio' that is 80-90% the same for all applications. You can just customize that 10-20% before sending it to companies • In addition to including this in your application, send it via email/LI message at least one member of the hiring team to make sure someone sees it • You don't need to be a graphic designer, but it definitely helps to have a layout that looks professional  𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲? Definitely. But I'd rather spend a few extra hours making a great portfolio than a few extra months unemployed. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘂𝗽 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼 𝘁𝗼 Creating & sharing a standout career portfolio = one of the best ways to make that happen 🤝 Want some help making a portfolio hiring teams will love? 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 :)

Last week, someone asked me, “How do I showcase my skills as a data scientist or engineer to land a job?” So here’s my take for this week’s post, where I try to break down what I’ve learned (and struggled with). First, your portfolio isn’t about quantity; it’s about relevance. Think of it as your personal pitch deck. Recruiters aren’t scrolling through it like Instagram —they’re looking for proof you can solve their problems. Here’s a real-world example: Take Amazon’s recommendation system. It’s not just about suggesting items; it’s about driving sales. If I were building a portfolio project, I’d take a dataset like movie ratings and show how to design a basic recommender system. Then, I’d highlight how it improves user engagement or retention. Make it more specific by adding technologies you used, like Python, Spark, or AWS. If you're thinking, but where do I even start?—just pick a problem you find interesting and tackle it like a mini-case study. For example, in my own project on sneaker resale dynamics, I analyzed market trends and built predictive models to forecast price fluctuations. What I realized is that recruiters were interested not just in my Python code but in the why. Why does this matter? What was the impact? That’s where you stand out—connect your work to real-world outcomes. Another tip: share your work publicly. Use GitHub or even LinkedIn. Show that you can communicate findings, not just code. It’s one thing to build dashboards in Tableau; it’s another to explain how that dashboard helped optimize inventory or reduce costs. And lastly, remember: your portfolio is like dating it’s not just about looking good; it’s about compatibility. Tailor it to the job you want, not just any job. What projects are you working on right now? Would love to hear how you’re making your portfolio shine! #datascience #dataengineering #jobsearch #portfolio #projects #career #linkedin