Standing out from the crowd when applying job

Question

Because of the economic crises in this country, getting job has been more difficult. Because of that I am looking for good suggestions for ways to build a portfolio on a hobby basis, so that I can show it on a possible interview.

Type of job I'm looking for is basically IT consultant / system administrator area. I’m not sure what of stuff I can do to build the portfolio on hobby basis for this kind of job. So hoping for some good suggestions so that I can stand out from the crowd when applying for a job

Answer 1

Now, more than ever, employers are looking for VALUE for MONEY. So, you need to demonstrate that you can do specifically what they need without the need for a ramp-up period where you need to familiarize yourself with the code-base, etc. Once you've done that, you'll need to also convince them that your daily/hourly rate or salary is good value compared to the market-place.

Naturally, there are other factors such as a cultural fit with the rest of the team, etc.

I've often found that potential employers like to see a well polished product that you've delivered in the past, even if it was only for yourself. If you half-ass your own work, they'll see that and discount it accordingly.

I hope this helps and good luck!