Crafting a Developer Website For Professional Growth

Let's take a look at what makes an interesting, effective, professional developer website, with some advice from some engineering leaders.

by Andrew Magill

A professional website has become a tried-and-true method for developers and engineers to showcase their skills and experience. When building my website, I thought it could be a worthy exercise to examine what makes a great professional website. There are endless examples of beautiful portfolios, and informative weblogs to offer insight and inspiration, but what's really interesting for employers and clients?

In a competitive job market, a strong portfolio can be your secret sauce. It's like a digital handshake, introducing you to potential employers and clients before even meeting them. Unlike a traditional resume, a portfolio lets you showcase your skills and experience in a dynamic, visual way. A polished, engaging portfolio can lead to all kinds of professional opportunities: job offers, consulting work, or freelance gigs. It's your chance to control the story of who you are as a developer and why people should want to work with you.

Show Growth, Not Projects

A good professional website should not just show your best projects in a portfolio format, it's also about sharing your thought process and how you tackle challenges. Addy Osmani, an Engineering Manager at Google, talks about how highlighting what you learned to set you apart: "The practice of writing about learning encourages a growth mindset. It fosters curiosity, critical thinking, and a willingness to engage with challenging subjects." He suggests including details about the obstacles you faced, and how you solved them. This way, you're not just showcasing your coding skills; you're also highlighting your critical thinking and adaptability in your published work and previous experiences.

Storytelling And Your Personal Brand

A professional blog is your chance to tell your story—think of it as your origin story, minus the radioactive spider bite. It's where your projects, creativity, and personality collide. As Brad Frost, creator of Atomic Design, writes: "Writing on your own website associates your thoughts and ideas with you as a person." A great professional blog shows how you think, how you solve problems, and why you're the kind of developer people want to collaborate with.

The Self-Closing Tag

Your website should reflect your journey as a developer. As you build and maintain it, focus on incorporating current trends, addressing relevant challenges, and telling your unique story. With a thoughtful approach, your portfolio can become a powerful tool in showcasing not just what you do, but how well you can do it.

These ideas, along with the resources below helped shape my thoughts on how I would build my website and work portfolio.