Stop Searching for a 'Side Project' Topic—You Already Have One
- Lucy Chen
- Self growth , Work
- September 4, 2022
Table of Contents
This post is for engineers who have at least one year of experience and feel the pressure to have a “perfect” side project to land their next role.
The ‘Engineer Identity’ Trap
When I first started as a Java dev, I was surrounded by people who lived and breathed code. They were building chat bots and full apps in their spare time. I felt like I wasn’t a “real” engineer because I didn’t have a giant GitHub repository to show off.
It wasn’t until I became a PM that I realized what companies are actually looking for in a side project.
What Recruiters Actually Want to See
A flashy repo is great, but it doesn’t tell the full story. As a hiring manager, a side project alone can’t tell me:
- How do you troubleshoot? When something breaks, what is your logic?
- Is this code original? Or did you just follow a YouTube tutorial line-by-line?
- What was your learning curve? How fast can you pick up something you’ve never seen before?
Many people “talk a big game” in interviews but struggle when they actually join the team. That’s why companies use pair coding or take-home assignments—to see your actual professionalism and communication skills in real-time.
Your Notes Are Your Best Side Project
A side project doesn’t have to be a finished app. It just needs to show your train of thought and your growth.
Why technical logs/worklogs are superior:
- They show the “human” side of your coding.
- They prove you can document complex ideas—a rare and valuable skill.
- They serve as a “proof of concept” for your learning journey.
If you don’t have the time or energy to build a whole new product, start a Technical Blog or a HackMD Log. Document the bugs you fixed, the new frameworks you explored, and the “lessons learned” from your daily work.
Final Thought
People are interested in the process, not just the result. Showing how you got from Point A to Point B is much more impressive than just showing Point B without any context.
Stop looking for the “perfect” idea. Your learning journey is the project. Start documenting it today.