Ask HN: How should I build my portfolio to land a job as a developer?

My background is electronics and IT support. Day to day I keep a big financial company running. I have 12 years of experience in this field, but my professional goal has always been to be a developer.

I haven't needed a degree so far, but I have re-enrolled in school to get a software engineering degree. At this rate, working full time, I might graduate by 2025... that's too far in the future.

I've been sharpening my skills and I've started applying to jobs recently. I still think my resume and portfolio don't really sound appealing to a hiring manager, so I want to improve that.

I am working solo on a personal project that should be of significant impact in the biotech community and might land me a paper once finished, but it's also taking me a considerable amount of time to complete. It's nothing too fancy from an algorithm standpoint, I'm not breaking ground, the value is in it's functionality, not the tech stack.

What can I work on to put in my github to demonstrate that I am ready to devote myself to the change and that I deserve a chance? I really want to do this, but I think I need better material to sell myself.

Any help is appreciated, and if anyone wants an apprentice, I will gladly work ad honorem after hours or on weekends.