Learn, Build, and Apply

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Before we get into the nitty-gritty of portfolio preparation, I want to draw your attention to something critically important:

Do not stop learning and building as you apply for jobs!

I've seen so many prospective engineers "complete" their education, be it a degree, an online course, or a traditional boot-camp, and then stop learning. They stop building. They stop growing. They spend a few months applying, get discouraged, and then give up completely.

DO NOT DO THIS.

Every new bit of effort you put into your projects, resume, and skillset makes your future job search easier. It's a compounding effect that builds over time.

How Much Time Should I Spend?

I recommend spending roughly half of the time you dedicate toward your "future career" continuing to learn and build, and the other half doing job-search activities.

So, if you have 10 hours each week to spend on your future programming job:

• Spend ~5 hours per week learning and building projects
• Spend ~5 hours per week working on your resume, applying, and interviewing

If you spend all your time looking for work, your skills will decay, making the search harder over time.

If you spend all your time learning and building, no one will even know you're looking for work.