Blog
Practical advice for stuck developers
Job search strategy, portfolio building, interview prep, and the truth about the entry-level market.
Interviews
The STAR Method: How to Use It Without Sounding Robotic
The STAR method is useful. The way most candidates apply it is not. The fix is simple: spend less time on Situation and more time on what you actually did and what happened.
12 min read
Interviews
How to Answer 'Tell Me About Yourself' as a New Grad Software Engineer
This is the first question in nearly every interview, and most new grads treat it like a chance to recite their resume. It isn't. Here's how to answer it well.
11 min read
Portfolio
How to Write a Project Case Study (Not Just a Link to a Repo)
A GitHub repo shows what you built. A case study shows how you think. For the one or two projects that represent your best work, a written narrative is worth writing.
11 min read
Portfolio
The Portfolio Audit: What to Remove Before You Start Applying
Your GitHub profile is reviewed before your resume in many hiring pipelines. A cluttered portfolio full of abandoned projects and tutorial completions actively hurts you.
11 min read
Portfolio
Deploying Your Portfolio Project: Why It Matters and How to Do It
Keeping your project only on GitHub tells reviewers you know how to write code. A deployed link tells them you care about working software. Here's how to ship it.
11 min read
Portfolio
Writing a README That Sells Your Project Without Overselling Yourself
A weak README sends reviewers away. A strong one answers their questions before they have to ask, and shows you understand your own work well enough to explain it.
11 min read
Portfolio
What Good Commit Hygiene Actually Looks Like for Portfolio Projects
A reviewer who opens your GitHub and sees 'initial commit' followed by 'fixed stuff' is not going to spend more time looking. Your commit history is part of your portfolio.
10 min read
Job Search
What to Do When a Recruiter Reaches Out to You
Recruiter outreach is either a genuine opportunity or a data collection exercise. Knowing which one you're in changes how you should respond.
10 min read
Job Search
How to Follow Up After a Job Application Without Being Annoying
Most candidates either never follow up or follow up badly. Getting it right is less about persistence and more about reading the situation correctly.
9 min read