Reactions to this topic regularly break down into two camps: The people who are proud to have online portfolios, and the people who are angry at the idea that t

Reactions to this topic regularly break down into two camps: The people who are proud to have online portfolios, and the people who are angry at the idea that their sterling work experience is undervalued because of the lack of easily available proof. Here's the thing: No one's saying your under-NDA work with proprietary toolsets isn't excellent work or that you're not at the top of your field. All we're saying is that people who might want to hire you need as much information as possible about you and you're not giving them much to go on. The entire "github/Stack Overflow/your portfolio/the web/Work for Pie* is the new resume" movement is about the information asymmetry that plagues the job market. Employers want to hire awesome people! Job seekers want great jobs! Historically neither side really knows what they're getting until well after the offer is signed and the employee is in the building. There are just too many questions you can't ask without sinking the deal, like "is it OK if I punch out at 5 every day?" or "do most of your former coworkers hate you?" A sweet github "resume" offers two things: - Social proof. Are competent people following and working with you in this public setting? - Hard evidence of your technical skills, work style, communications abilities, interests, and persistence. You can't get enough of these from an interview or from a resume. Both of these things are gold to a hiring manager, and it's hard to get better answers than the ones you and your trusted associates can glean by reviewing someone's online portfolio. If you've got a portfolio that compares favorably with the job requirements and the hiring manager actually sees this portfolio, you're getting an interview. This means two things for a job seeker: (1) Have an excellent portfolio. (2) Do everything you possibly can to get that portfolio in front of the people you want to work for. How are we going to make that happen? Focus! Buy targeted Facebook ads for people at the company. Maximize the SEO potential of your personal blog and profile. Become respected and known by the people that your prospective manager also respects and knows. Attend the conferences your dream employers attend. Make every professional move with an eye towards career growth and increasing your desirability on the market. The enemy's gate is down. Good luck. * Disclaimer: I know, like, and work with the founders of Work for Pie. It's a solid idea with lots of room to grow.