Jerome Hardaway
Vets Who Code
Course Description
Get advice from a pro who has mentored and helped over 300 people find their jobs in software development! Learn to create your compelling resume, optimize your GitHub profile for technical scrutiny, design a standout portfolio, and learn networking skills to find the best software engineering job for you.
This course and others like it are available as part of our Frontend Masters video subscription.
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Section Duration: 5 minutes
Jerome Hardaway begins the course with some background about how the current job market compares to the market from a couple of years ago. The course will cover the three users job applicants need to be prepared for, how to prepare content for a portfolio, and successful networking strategies for tech newbies.
Gatekeepers
Section Duration: 33 minutes
Jerome introduces the three gatekeepers a candidate encounters through the hiring process. Artificial intelligence is increasingly integrated into HR operations and is often used as a first-level filter for job applicants.
Jerome explains that recruiters play a crucial role in hiring since they are a bridge between the company and the candidate. A recruiter may be a primary point of contact in the initial stage of the process.
Jerome shares strategies for dev team interviews. The development team has a deeper understanding of the technical requirements of a job and can better assess a candidate's skills. Recommendations for how to approach full-stack positions are also shared in this lesson.
Resume
Section Duration: 37 minutes
Jerome suggests creating a personal brand database with a cohesive and compelling narrative to showcase a candidate's unique skills, experiences, and values. Notion, Trello, and Airtable are valuable tools for creating a brand database.
Jerome begins breaking down the components of an effective resume. A resume begins with a summary or objective statement along with contact information. Work experience should highlight how the responsibilities of previous positions directly apply to the roles a candidate is seeking.
Jerome shares strategies for including educational experience. Collegiate experience should be listed when seeking jobs requiring a degree. Boot camp experience should include the technologies learned and any soft skills acquired.
Jerome finishes the resume discussion by highlighting how to include a summary of a candidate's skills, project or articles written, and certification.
Preparing Your GitHub Account
Section Duration: 28 minutes
Jerome explains why a GitHub profile is essential to a developer's brand. GitHub showcases coding skills, collaborations, and contributions to open-source projects. Employers often review GitHub profiles to review technical abilities and quality of work.
Jerome discusses the type of work that can be showcased as a pinned project on a GitHub portfolio. Pinned projects should be active, deployed projects with a thorough README containing a detailed description of the project and instructions for running the code.
Jerome addresses the challenges faced when work experience is part of a private repo. Project boards are introduced and provide a public way to track work performed in private repositories.
Portfolio
Section Duration: 1 hour, 6 minutes
Jerome emphasizes the importance of a well-crafted portfolio. It is a powerful tool that helps engineers stand out from the competition and showcase their skills, experience, and projects.
Jerome begins working through the portfolio checklist. Showcasing projects with clean code and a rich version control history indicates a candidate is prepared for real-world projects and team collaboration.
Jerome answers some initial questions about the portfolio checklist. Questions include how long it takes to create an adequate portfolio, the importance of lighthouse scores, and how to manage time and complexity when creating a portfolio.
Jerome encourages adding Google Analytics or another tracking system to a portfolio to monitor traffic and engagement. Including a contact form allows potential employers to reach out and establish a line of communication quickly.
Jerome suggests leveraging an API in a portfolio. Incorporating a blog can also be a useful way to showcase technical communication skills. It is also crucial that a portfolio is viewable across all devices and screen sizes.
Jerome recommends using Lighthouse in the Chrome Developer Tools to monitor the performance of a portfolio. A slow-loading portfolio site can negatively impact traffic and deter potential employers. Using accessibility best practices should also be prioritized over complex UI functionality.
Jerome shares a few SEO tips to elevate the visibility of a portfolio. Candidates should ensure their portfolio ranks as well as possible for relevant keywords and is free of security issues like insecure or spam-like content.
Jerome emphasizes the importance of using design best practices when creating a portfolio. HR decision-makers may not understand the technical details of a portfolio site however poor design techniques or illegible content may hurt a candidate's chances to move forward in the hiring process.
Jerome completes the portfolio checklist with suggestions for incorporating error handling and dark mode into a portfolio website. TypeScript is also a valuable skill and one in which frontend engineers should have experience.
Networking for Newbies
Section Duration: 35 minutes
Jerome explains that networking is a powerful tool for building connections, gaining knowledge, and advancing your career. It's a skill that helps establish relationships with mentors, find job opportunities, and stay up-to-date on industry trends.
Jerome suggests volunteering to get involved in the industry and network with other engineers. Volunteering at tech conferences offers a unique opportunity to connect with professionals, speakers, and fellow attendees while contributing to the event's success.
Jerome explains that project-based networking is a powerful tool to expand professional connections and build relationships within the industry.
Jerome answers questions about specialization, portfolio strategies, and how to find the right job opportunities.
Wrapping Up
Section Duration: 4 minutes
Jerome wraps up the course with a few final questions about working with recruiters.
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