NewRoleKit

Side projects guide

How to build side projects that help you break into tech

Side projects are how career changers build portfolios without waiting for a first job. Learn how to choose the right project, build it effectively, and present it to employers.

Why side projects work for career changers

Employers want evidence that you can do the job. Side projects provide that evidence before anyone has hired you for the role.

A well-documented project that solves a real problem demonstrates exactly what an employer needs to see: you can think, execute, and communicate.

The core principle: a resume tells hiring managers what you did. A side project shows them how you think. That difference is what separates shortlisted candidates from the rest.

How to choose the right project

The best projects are: solving a real problem (yours, or someone you know), in the domain you are targeting, showcasing the specific skills the role requires, and completable in 2–4 weeks.

Here are ideas by role:

PM

  • Write a PRD for an app improvement you have wanted.
  • Analyze a product and write a teardown.

UX Designer

  • Redesign an app you find frustrating.
  • Conduct 5 user interviews and present findings.

Data Analyst

  • Analyze a public dataset (Kaggle, data.gov).
  • Build a Tableau Public dashboard.

Business Analyst

  • Document the requirements for a software tool you use.
  • Map an existing business process.

QA Engineer

  • Write a test plan for a public web app.
  • Build automated tests with Playwright.

The project documentation formula

Every side project should be documented as a case study. Use this five-part structure:

1

Problem

What are you solving and why does it matter?

2

Process

What steps did you take? What did you learn along the way?

3

Solution

What did you build or recommend?

4

Outcome

If measurable — what changed? If hypothetical — what would you measure?

5

Reflection

What would you do differently?

Where to publish your projects

Pick the platform that matches your role. The best project is a live URL you can drop into any application.

Notion

Any role

Clean case studies with embedded images. Easy to share via link.

GitHub

Technical

For any code, SQL, or automation work.

Figma Community

Designers

For UX/UI designs — public and discoverable.

Kaggle

Data Analysts

For data analysis notebooks.

Tableau Public

Data Analysts

For dashboards.

Medium / Substack

Any role

If you write about your project process — great for thought leadership.

How to talk about side projects in interviews

The way you present a side project matters as much as the project itself. Three principles to follow:

1

Frame it as real work

Do not undersell it as 'just a personal project'. It is evidence of your capability.

2

Talk about your decisions

Interviewers care about your reasoning, not just your output. 'I chose to approach it this way because...'

3

Acknowledge limitations

'If I had done this as a real project I would have also [done X]. In this version I focused on Y.'

Next steps

Build your portfolio

Once your side project is complete, learn how to present it as a portfolio that gets you hired.

Build your portfolio