If you are a job seeker in the tech industry, having an impressive resume no longer cuts it. Hiring teams seek to understand what is on the other side of your application.
We’ve heard all the stories that we’re living in a highly competitive job market, and the tech industry has companies paying a premium for top talent. Well, the data is in, the job market IS that competitive, and it’s critical that you know how to stand out. So, what should you do?
Luckily, you’re in the right place.
As a recruiter who’s been recruiting top data talent for the last 15 years across Amazon, Robert Half, and now phData, I can confidently tell you that having a robust GitHub makes you stand out from the crowd.
Let’s get into it.
Build a GitHub Portfolio That Proves Your Skills
Sure, recruiters and hiring teams review your resume, but they also scan for evidence of your hands-on work. That proof often comes from what you create and make visible online. So how do you stand out in the crowd of impressive tech talent? This advice is really for everyone, though especially important for recent grads or those trying to break into the industry.
GitHub may just be your ticket.
GitHub is one of the strongest ways to showcase that because there’s no guesswork; you can present interactive UIs for front-end roles, dashboards for data analysts, or applications for developers, tailoring the portfolio for the jobs you want.
By seeing your accomplishments laid out, you can build confidence and be better prepared to speak about your strengths during interviews.
Translate Curiosity Into ROI
As a recruiter, I’ve heard it all: I can’t do that, my work is proprietary.
We understand that… but this is your opportunity to build your brand. So, what can you share (even if that’s a passion project you’re doing alone)?
If you want to stand out today, we need to understand what you’re passionate about.
Do you like learning new languages?
Are you always trying out the latest AI platform?
Do you enjoy experimenting with cloud services?
That’s what companies are actually looking to hire today: people who are curious, have attention to detail, and make evidence-based decisions. You might be the most technologically sound individual they have ever met, but can you translate the why? The ROI? Why should someone care about what you’re showing them? Demonstrate the sweet spot where technology and business value can blend beautifully.
Plus, do you know who is most likely to be browsing contributions on GitHub? Tech leaders and tech-savvy recruiters who know what they are looking for. The challenge is that nearly everyone is on LinkedIn, but few have a library of hands-on contributions to browse.
Polish Your Repos: Clear READMEs, Clean Code, and CI
Once they’re in your GitHub, what will they find? Hiring managers will be clicking into your repositories. Create a good Readme for each of the projects you’ve pinned. Ideally, the Readme should include:
Why does the project exist? What does it do for its users?
How do I clone and run it?
Are there any dependencies I need to install?
How do I run the tests?
How do I contribute?
Review the Readme on the project, and clean up the code if you haven’t looked at it in a while. Maybe organize some of those files and clean up some of the code to make it more readable. Or even add some linting rules or automated CI tests. The point is, if an engineer hops into your project and pokes around some of the files, you want them to be impressed.
GitHub recently added a new feature that allows you to add a markdown-styled intro to your profile page. It’s an excellent opportunity to write a slightly more detailed bio with additional links to things like your resume, LinkedIn profile, top projects, etc. Consider it a one-stop shop to hire exceptional talent. I do think you should keep the Readme fairly short because it will push your pinned repositories down the page, and that’s really where you want to keep your readers’ attention.
Your Degree Signals Potential, GitHub Proves Results
Another thing I hear often is, My CS degree should be enough
. Not so fast. A degree communicates the subjects you studied and the time you invested, but a GitHub can reveal the tangible outcomes. Besides, what you studied in school may no longer exist, or new versions may be deployed, so you’re constantly required to adapt.
This is not to say a strong GitHub replaces a degree or years of experience, but it strengthens your story. It makes it easier for employers to see how you’ll add value quickly. For candidates, that is an advantage you should not leave on the table. If you want to understand how we evaluate technical talent and how you can use GitHub to give yourself an edge, reach out, and we would be glad to share more.
Your GitHub can show what you’ve built, the problems you have solved, and how often you put your skills into practice. Employers see how you think through code structure, testing, and documentation. It’s a good demonstration of the type of work you’re capable of producing. They also notice whether you keep your skills sharp by committing regularly or experimenting with new tools.
Stand Out Through Collaboration: Open‑Source Contributions and Smart Hygiene
Another overlooked piece is collaboration. GitHub allows others to see how you work within a team. Contributions to open-source projects highlight your ability to collaborate, respond to feedback, and operate in a shared codebase. These are the same skills you’ll need when joining a new engineering team, and they make you more compelling than someone whose work only exists on a resume. This is your chance to really sell your skills!
At phData, we often see GitHub repositories make a difference when comparing candidates. Many resumes look similar, especially when people share the same titles, degrees, or certifications. What sets candidates apart is the visible proof of their work. A well-structured project, clear documentation, or an innovative solution stands out much more than a credential alone.
A few more tips for a Successful GitHub:
We want to see your contributions, but exercise caution and use a
.gitignorefile to exclude sensitive or proprietary files.Make your repo public so others can find and browse your contributions.
Contribute regularly. Your contributions will display on a
heat map
, which is an indication of how active you are on GitHub. The more activity, the more likely the right person will find and scroll through your page.Make updates to old contributions and display your commitment to quality.
By the way, this is what the heatmap I’m talking about looks like. The more green the better.
What We Look for in a Strong Technical Portfolio
You don’t necessarily need production-grade, polished code. In fact, if it looks too perfect, it can raise questions about how authentic the work is. What we really want to see is how you think, build, and explain your work.
What Stands Out:
-
Real-world data
Show that you can handle messy, imperfect data. Bonus points if you’re pulling data yourself from APIs or databases. -
Thoughtful modeling
Don’t use the same model every time. Explain why you made certain choices and how they fit the problem. -
Meaningful results
Accuracy scores alone don’t tell the story. Explain what your results actually mean and why they matter. -
Clear communication
As a consulting company, we need people who can explain complex work simply so clients understand it. -
Curiosity
If you had more time or resources, what else would you explore? Avoid saying you’djust run more models
.
A Great Project Usually Includes:
A clear question or goal you’re trying to answer
A dataset you created or pulled yourself
Some exploratory analysis and insights
Thoughtful feature engineering and data handling
Discussion of model selection and validation
Interpretation of results that connect back to your goal
Some focus on feature importance and explainability
Enough documentation that others can follow your process
Demonstrate your approach to problem-solving, how you deal with real-world data, communicate clearly, and show curiosity for learning and improving.
Start Today: Here’s A Simple GitHub Launch Plan
- Choose a target role; list 3 repos to pin.
-
Write profile
README(150–200 words) + link stack. - Clean one flagship repo (lint, /tests, screenshot).
-
Add persuasive
READMEsections (problem, setup, demo, ROI). - Make a small open‑source contribution (docs or minor fix).
- Publish a new mini‑project aligned to the role.
- Practice two‑minute demos; pin and reorder repos.
Conclusion
Are you still not convinced, or just unsure how to start? Reach out to me (Andy Bunn), and I’ll share some examples of candidates who are working at phData because of their impressive portfolios.
Think you’d be a great fit?
phData is always looking for exceptional talent (preferably with a stellar GitHub). If you’re in the market for a new job, explore our open positions today!
