Side projects are projects you do alone or with a small team that is different from the scope of your job. These can be great for two reasons: First, they allow you to be creative and dive into something that you are personally interested in. Second, they make a great addition to your portfolio.
Side projects are one of the most important ingredients for career success. In this tutorial, we teach you everything you need to know about side projects, if and how they should be used in your job search, how to create a side project portfolio, and much more.
It's equally important to have a strong portfolio as it is to land a job at a place where you can work on projects that inspire you. Having examples of past side projects and passion projects in your portfolio gives you an edge over the competition both when applying for new jobs and when applying for promotions.
Here are some side project ideas:
- Blog
- To-do app
- Weather app
- Messaging app
Side projects
Side projects are a great way to build up your portfolio and sharpen your skills. They also allow you to test out new approaches, languages, libraries, and frameworks. And the best part is they can help introduce you to other developers who share the same interests outside of work.
How to name side projects?
You've had an idea for an app, website, or program, but you don't know what the name should be. You could always pick something totally random, but why not use an old-fashioned name generator? This site can help you decide what to call your next great creation. Pick a name with a dropdown list, or click the "Generate" button for some truly random inspiration.
What is the goal of a side project?
As you plan your side project, think about the goals you have for it. What problems is it trying to solve? Why is it going to be impactful? What makes it interesting or different? You should have a clear sense of direction and purpose when starting a project, whether or not you end up meeting that goal or being successful in the end. Don’t be afraid to start over if you realize your approach isn’t working.
