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Comment by ToastyMallows | Hacker News Reader

Is having a portfolio website necessary now-a-days? What does HN think?

Having a portfolio website is necessary to get a job at the place most HN entrepreneurs are interested in running. For better or worse, a portfolio or an active github are almost necessary to land a position at a top-tier company or a startup. If you want to work for a generic business that has grown a software division out of necessity then your basic resume will do just fine.

Would you/they discount people who have >5 years experience working for mainstream organisations that might have "grown a software division out of necessity", but no github activity?

Typical thought process for deciding what features a candidate needs to have.

1. I am a good programmer.

2. I have/am X.

3. (Optional) Just-so story about how X makes you a good developer.

4. Therefore, job candidates must have/be X.

I've seen this taken to stupid lengths, where employers want someone who has done professional work with the exact toolchain in use. I don't like car analogies, but it would be like hiring a driver and saying "well, we need someone familiar with the Ford Fusion, and you only have driven a Ford Taurus."

@danielweber i agree about what you're saying, but i tend to find that only happens when a recruiter gets their hands on your CV. If you generally allow yourself or HR team to have direct access to the CV's, they tend to know what will make a good hire, and won't be looking for people who have only driven a Ford "focus"

Maybe a startup, but not a top tier company like google or apple, and definitely not for more senior hires who already have tons of experience.

There are 20 people applying for a job, and 19 of them don't have source code on the web. 1 does.

Who do you think has a higher chance of getting the job? It's a definite plus.

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