Developer Portfolio: What Tech Recruiters Actually Look For

You've built projects. You've written code. Now you need a portfolio that lands interviews.

The problem? Most developer portfolios focus on the wrong things. They showcase impressive tech stacks while ignoring what hiring managers actually evaluate.

Here's what really matters.

What Recruiters Look For (It's Not Your Tech Stack)

We spoke with tech recruiters and hiring managers. Their answers might surprise you.

They want to see problem-solving, not just code. Anyone can follow a tutorial. They want to know you can identify problems and build solutions.

They scan for communication skills. Can you explain what you built and why? Clear writing signals clear thinking.

They look for relevance. A portfolio full of to-do apps won't impress someone hiring for a fintech company. Show work that relates to what they build.

They check for completion. Half-finished projects signal half-finished work. Better to show three complete projects than ten abandoned ones.

The Essential Sections

1. A Clear Introduction

Who are you? What do you do? What are you looking for?

Skip the "passionate developer who loves coding" cliche. Everyone says that. Be specific:

• "Full-stack developer focused on React and Node.js, looking for early-stage startup roles"
• "Backend engineer with 4 years of Python experience, interested in data infrastructure"
• "Junior developer transitioning from marketing, bringing user-focused thinking to frontend work"

One or two sentences. Make it scannable.

2. Featured Projects (3-5 Maximum)

Quality beats quantity. Choose projects that:

• Solve real problems. A tool you built because you needed it beats a tutorial clone.
• Show range. Different types of projects demonstrate versatility.
• Are complete. Working demos trump half-implemented ideas.

For each project, include:

The Problem: What issue did this solve? Why did you build it?

The Solution: What did you create? What's the core functionality?

The Tech: What technologies did you use? Be specific.

The Link: Live demo and/or GitHub repository. Make it easy to verify your claims.

3. Skills Section (But Make It Honest)

List technologies you actually know. Not things you used once in a tutorial.

Organize by category:

• Languages
• Frameworks/Libraries
• Tools & Platforms
• Databases

Skip the progress bars and percentages. "75% proficient in JavaScript" means nothing. Either you can use it professionally or you're still learning.

4. Work Experience

If you have professional experience, show it. But focus on impact, not responsibilities.

Bad: "Responsible for frontend development" Good: "Rebuilt checkout flow, reducing cart abandonment by 23%"

No professional experience? That's fine. Your projects section carries more weight.

5. Contact Information

Make it obvious how to reach you:

• Email (professional, not gamer tag)
• GitHub
• LinkedIn
• Location (city is enough)

What to Avoid

The Tutorial Graveyard

Your portfolio shouldn't be a collection of:

• Generic to-do apps
• Weather apps using the same API
• Calculator clones
• Obvious tutorial recreations

These prove you can follow instructions. They don't prove you can solve problems.

The Kitchen Sink

Listing every technology you've touched makes you look unfocused. Pick your strengths. Be known for something specific rather than vaguely competent at everything.

Broken Links and Demos

Nothing kills credibility faster than a "View Demo" button that leads to a 404. Check your links regularly. Keep demos running.

Walls of Text

Recruiters spend seconds on initial review. They scan, not read. Use headers, bullet points, and white space. Make information easy to find.

Outdated Design

A portfolio that looks like it was built in 2010 raises questions about your awareness of modern practices. It doesn't need to be fancy, but it should look current.

Projects That Actually Impress

Not sure what to build? Here are ideas that stand out:

Developer Tools

Build something other developers would use:

• A CLI tool that solves a real problem
• A VS Code extension
• A debugging utility
• A code generator

These show you understand developer experience.

Data Projects

If you're interested in backend or data:

• An API that aggregates useful information
• A data visualization dashboard
• An automation tool
• A web scraper (for ethical purposes)

Full Applications

Complete, functional applications demonstrate end-to-end thinking:

• A SaaS product (even a simple one)
• A marketplace or platform
• A tool people actually use

Open Source Contributions

Contributing to established projects shows you can:

• Read and understand existing codebases
• Work with other developers
• Follow contribution guidelines
• Handle code review

Link to meaningful pull requests, not typo fixes.

The Technical Interview Connection

Your portfolio should prep you for interviews, not just get you in the door.

Know your projects deeply. You'll be asked about implementation details, trade-offs, and challenges. If you can't explain it, don't include it.

Be ready for "what would you do differently?" Every project has flaws. Acknowledging them shows maturity and self-awareness.

Have GitHub activity. Some companies review your commit history. Green squares matter less than consistent, quality work.

Building Your Portfolio Fast

You don't need to spend weeks building a portfolio site from scratch.

1. Gather your content. Write descriptions for 3-5 projects. List your skills. Draft a brief intro.

2. Use a portfolio builder. Tools like Pastefolio let you create a professional developer portfolio in minutes. Paste your content, choose a template, and publish.

3. Add project links. Connect to live demos and GitHub repos.

4. Get feedback. Share with developer friends or communities. Iterate based on reactions.

A simple, clean portfolio you actually publish beats a complex one you never finish.

Keeping It Current

Your portfolio is a living document:

• Add new projects as you complete them
• Remove outdated work that no longer represents your skills
• Update your tech stack as you learn new tools
• Refresh the design periodically

Set a reminder to review it monthly. Treat it like code—maintain it.

The Bottom Line

Recruiters want to see that you can solve problems, communicate clearly, and ship working software.

A focused portfolio with 3-5 strong projects beats an overwhelming one with everything you've ever touched. Quality over quantity. Clarity over complexity.

Build projects that interest you. Document them well. Make them easy to find and evaluate.

Your code speaks for itself. Your portfolio makes sure people hear it.