I can say from the perspective of hiring at Twilio that we often look first for a github or projects link in a cover letter or resume. Fairly often we decide to

I can say from the perspective of hiring at Twilio that we often look first for a github or projects link in a cover letter or resume. Fairly often we decide to give someone an interview based on that. The opposite is often true as well. Without seeing code, a candidate who is on the fence may get passed over. Ultimately we are looking for creative hackers, and public projects are crucial in determining the inquisitiveness of a potential candidate. Other employers may have different priorities, but I think most startups are looking for similar types.