Stop Sending Just Resumes — Do This Instead to Get Shortlisted in 2025
Most resumes look the same.
They tell, but don’t show.
And in 2025, showing is everything.
Hi friends 👋
After 12+ years of building across startups — from backend to frontend, CI/CD to real-time video apps — I’ve noticed something:
📌 Candidates with “visible proof” of their thinking and building often get shortlisted faster than those with a perfectly written resume.
But wait…
💬 What exactly do I mean by a portfolio?
💡 Quick Clarity: Resume ≠ Portfolio
Here’s the difference — because this confusion trips up even great developers:
A resume gets you in the door.
A portfolio shows what you’ll do once you're inside.
🔍 The “S.P.A.R.K.” Portfolio Framework
How to audit your portfolio in 2025 — with examples
S — Specificity
Generic: “Built a weather app.”
🔥 Better: “Built a weather app using OpenWeather API with offline caching, pull-to-refresh UI, and TailwindCSS for responsiveness.”
✅ Bonus:
🎥 1-Minute Loom Walkthrough
This is not for your resume. This goes in your portfolio site or GitHub README.
👉 It’s the first thing hiring managers actually click.
P — Problem-Solving Depth
Talk about trade-offs, not just tools.
🛠 Example:
“Used PostgreSQL over MongoDB due to the need for relational joins in leaderboard queries. Indexed columns to stay under 200ms response.”
📘 Inspired by The Pragmatic Programmer — share why you made choices, not just what you used.
A — Audience-First Design
Who was the project for? Show empathy.
🧩 Example:
“Built a voice-activated to-do list for my mom, who’s not tech-savvy. Used speech-to-text and SMS reminders.”
✅ Instantly adds purpose to a project that otherwise sounds basic.
R — Real-World Constraints
Simulate production.
⚙️ Example:
“In my stock ticker app, handled network drops using exponential backoff and auto WebSocket reconnect logic.”
🎯 Shows you understand more than just how to make it work. You know how to make it last.
K — Knowledge Gaps Closed
People love to see you learn — not just win.
📚 Example:
“Learned how to debounce input in React using
useCallbackandlodash.debounceto cut down API calls by 80%.”
📘 As Cal Newport says in Deep Work, signal craftsmanship by focusing on deliberate learning.
🧠 A Portfolio Site Worth Visiting
Here’s a simple portfolio layout you can follow (Github Link):
Bio + 1-line headline
Projects (each with GitHub, demo, Loom video, and lessons learned)
Blog posts (even short ones are powerful)
Resume download button (PDF)
🤝 Resume opens the door. Portfolio starts the conversation.
📘 Book I Keep Recommending
🖼️ Show Your Work – Austin Kleon
→ “Don’t be a genius. Be an amateur. Share your process.”
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be visible.
💬 Have Questions?
Not sure if your GitHub counts as a portfolio?
Need help framing your projects better?
📩 Just reply to this email — I read every message.
Also follow for more dev-ready insights:
👨💻 PS:
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“The best signal of your potential is the story your work tells — even when you’re not in the room.”
— Adapted from James Clear