How does GitHub contribute for my applience for a job?

[stilorene]

Select Topic Area

Question

Body

Im programming for almost a year and i would like to know how to get a job (im also gonna study a university in like 4months) in programming and how GitHub could help. Also would like to know how complex my project needs to be to aply without studying.
Thanks however i havent done much research about GitHub, i know just the basics, like how to open a repositiory and so on.

[EdgarJP006]

To secure a programming job, especially as you prepare to start university, focus on building a portfolio of projects on GitHub to showcase your skills. Your projects don't need to be overly complex; what's crucial is demonstrating your understanding of key programming concepts and your ability to solve problems. Start with smaller, manageable projects that highlight your proficiency in different areas such as web development, data analysis, or app development. Regularly update your GitHub repository with these projects, write clear documentation, and include detailed README files to explain your code. When you have more experience, contribute to open-source projects to gain experience and visibility in the developer community. This portfolio will serve as a practical demonstration of your skills to potential employers and can significantly improve your chances of landing a job without extensive formal education in the field.

Don't forget to like the answers we give you

[stilorene]

looks like much work, but as long the fun belongs its hopefully no stressfull work

[MaxGripe]

Honestly, I don't think GitHub plays a significant role in job hunting. In my humble opinion, other factors matter more:

1. Your CV should look professional and match the job listings you are applying for.

2. You should have some experience with the technologies related to those job offers (this is the hardest part for juniors).

3. You should create a proper profile on LinkedIn and really spend a lot of time filling it out as much as possible. This is quite difficult because the UI is terrible and navigating it is challenging (like everything Microsoft does).

4. Do some good research on job boards for developers that are popular in your country. For example, where I currently live, there are three
   popular job boards, and even though they are in English, they are specific to this location. Just find out which job boards have the most recent and best listings in your region.

5. And one more very important point. You should really, really get involved in various projects and internships while still in college. You don't have to do this right at the beginning, but you should seriously think about it after the first semester. If you focus solely on studying and graduate without any other experience, you might have huge problems finding a job (currently, it is extremely difficult to find a job in IT without experience).

[stilorene]

i often heart that LinkedIn is really useful, thanks i gonna remember

[LiteBrite82]

Hi @stilorene !

Thanks for participating!!
I fully agree with @EdgarJP006 and @MaxGripe, there are so many different things you can focus on to be job ready. It is tough trying to figure out what is most important; where to invest your time and efforts. Every user on here probably has a great story to share, and different tactics.

Focusing on the specifics of your question: "How does GitHub contribute for my applience for a job". If the employers you are targeting use GitHub; having an active and organized GitHub profile can help a lot.

I think there are two factors to consider: Your coding skill level; as demonstrated by your repository code, and your ability to communicate and work within an organization; as demonstrated by use of proper git practices, collaborations, project boards, and documentation (detailed, high quality READMEs).

Your coding skills are important, but demonstrating that you know how to work with a team is even more valuable. So, showing off that teamwork through your GitHub profile history is super important. And remember, this is still one small piece of a much bigger puzzle.

@MaxGripe 's #5 is probably the absolute most powerful job search tactic, get any experience you can. Internships, Open source projects, anything you can do to work and build relationships with other professionals. No one can help get you a job like a good friend with a job in the industry can.

As far as other GitHub tools that can help: learning GitHub Actions is super useful, learning to use GitHub Copilot responsibly can save you lots of time, and check out the student resources we can help with in GitHub Education

Lastly, in whatever you do, be passionate and have fun! People are drawn to it and it makes the work environment awesome.

[stilorene]

I was once told that Programmers need to improve there social skills, now i know why. And i often use ChatGPT or Gemini, but i also let them explain how the code works (But necessary to say, there sometimes trash talk or imagine things, than im forced to troubleshoot for hours, hate it)

[LiteBrite82]

Truth!

[stilorene]

thanks to ya all, know i get a more specific picture for what i need to work on. I can truly see that everyone has his own tactics. Looks like i need to find a certain way on my own too. But i still quite young and its just the start. But im gonna pick some of your expertise and use it wisely on my unpredictable future. Thx >.<

Greatings from Germany btw

[LiteBrite82]

Good Luck!!! We are glad you are here!
I can't believe I missed this, be sure to browse through and post in the Profile section too!