[Non-CS Major, Surviving as a Developer] 9. Website Ideas for a Great Portfolio

Surviving as a Non-Computer Science Major Developer

#9. Websites Ideal for Portfolio Creation

When studying through government-funded programs or bootcamps, you often participate in around 12 team projects. These projects involve assembling teams of about 35 individuals and working on projects from planning to design, implementation, and testing. This provides a valuable opportunity to gain hands-on experience and serves as a strong tool to showcase your skills to potential employers.

However, the initial planning stage, where you decide what to build, can often be daunting. Sometimes, teams even come up with unique or niche services that are not yet available in the market. However, it's important to be cautious about overly unique ideas as they can sometimes be detrimental to your job prospects. The individuals reviewing your portfolio are typically current industry professionals, and it's crucial to create deliverables that appeal to them from their perspective. Tailoring your project topic to the type of company you aspire to join (service, SI, general company IT team, solution provider) will be more effective.

So, what kind of topics should you consider?

1. Websites Commonly Used in Companies

Websites and services commonly used within companies are often procured from solution providers or developed through SI companies. By creating a project based on widely used services, you can effectively highlight your experience to solution or SI companies. Commonly used programs include groupware, ERP, and internal HR systems. You can plan and develop services that are likely to be used across a broad range of companies.

2. Cloning Famous Web Services

If you're aiming for a career in service-oriented companies, creating clones of well-known web services can be a good approach. Instead of social networking platforms (SNS), consider developing delivery apps, online marketplaces, or other services with a specific business model. You don't need to replicate every feature. Choose a service to benchmark, create a user-centric functional analysis table, and then implement the functionalities as closely as possible based on your analysis. This experience can serve as a differentiating factor in your portfolio, particularly when applying to companies that operate in a similar domain.

3. Avoid Overly Unique Ideas

Teams often consist of younger students, and sometimes they propose very unique ideas for their projects. This approach can be perfectly acceptable for startups seeking to establish themselves. However, the individuals assessing your portfolio are not typically part of the younger generation, so it's best to steer clear of ideas that might not be easily understood from their perspective.