Learn In Public: Showcasing Your Skill Set with a Blog or Portfolio
My number one tip for those new to the tech space is to start a blog and/or build a portfolio. In this article, I’m going to share some benefits and valuable steps to get you started.
Now you may be thinking, “Deirra, I don’t want to be a tech influencer. Do I really need a blog?”
First, I want you to shift your thinking about the content (whether it’s a traditional blog or a youtube channel). The goal is to document your journey and what you are learning/building. That’s all! Second, no, you don’t need to blog or showcase your work, but it helps you stand out in the job market. Blogging benefits technologists in a few ways:
Build a Personal Brand and Online Reputation: By sharing what you’re learning and building, you are beginning to establish yourself in your industry. This allows you to show your thinking, your understanding of the topics you’re learning, and your communication/documentation skills. Don’t focus on being an expert; that will come with time; just show up and share.
Builds Community: You’re able to connect with other techies growing with you. Build genuine connections with the people you meet. It also expands your network to industry experts, which can open the door to career opportunities and even mentorship. The important thing is to be yourself.
Builds Confidence: Putting yourself out there isn’t easy. You won’t be polished, and it’s important not to get caught up in that. Think of this as training for your future roles. Learning to articulate your points of view, present to an audience, and break down concepts will all make you a better engineer or developer.
Getting Started with Blogging and Content Creation
My number one rule is to Keep it Simple!
Chose your platform
The quickest way to start is to use a site like LinkedIn, Medium, YouTube, or GitHub. You don’t have to worry about templates or web design; just sign up and get started. These sites are also free to use as they don’t have any hosting fees. If you do want to build a site, you can use Wix, SquareSpace, Blogger, or WordPress. They offer beginner-friendly templates and training. These sites are free with limitations (like not being able to use a custom domain). You can also build your own site hosted on a cloud service (AWS, Azure GCP).
Next, Buy a Domain and Reserve Social Media Handles on all platforms, even if you don’t think you’ll use them. This will save you the headache down the line and protects your brand and name.
Finally, enable the subscriber feature to build your email list. This will help you in the event something happens to your social media or site so you can still communicate with your audience.
Planning Your Content
Again, keep this simple.
Write about what you’re studying, what labs/projects you’re working on, and what tech you find interesting. Here are some examples to get you started:
Notes on what you are studying
Lab Walk-Throughs/write-ups
“How I Built This” for Projects/Lessons Learned
CTF Writes Ups
TryHackMe/Hack the Box Write Ups
Tech Event Re-caps (what was covered, who was there, what you learned/found interesting)
Industry Webinars
Twitter Spaces
Linkedin Rooms
Conferences
Re-Caps on Tech News Events
This is particularly helpful for info-sec folks
Don’t worry about being perfect; just put your content out there. Remember, no one is looking to you to be an expert! Authentically document your journey and present your perspective, and you will be fine!
Tools & Social Media
For Graphics and Stock Photos, I use Pixabay and Canva (create all types of graphics). Both are free (Canva offers a subscription-based version) and are beginner-friendly. For editing, I use the free version of Grammarly to check for grammar, spelling, and tone. They offer plug-ins for Microsoft Office and Google Chrome.
Finally, you need to tell people about your site or channel. This is where social media comes in. Choose a platform that feels most authentic to you to promote yourself. Follow others in your industry to network and connect with them. Genuinely engage with their content, ask questions, and provide feedback. Focus on one platform, so you don’t burn out. Don’t be afraid to set boundaries as you grow. You will find people will begin to seek your advice, and it’s okay to set your parameters with how you engage.
In conclusion, keep in mind why you started this; you are building expertise, your online reputation, and your brand one post at a time. Focus on building a body of work that showcases you as a professional. Be honest and don’t get caught up in the numbers or attention. If that’s your goal, that all will come in time.
