Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Talk by Gina Verrastro
socallinuxexpo.org/scale/23x/presentations/check-your-own-boxes-how-i-used-my-blog-land-my-first-job-tech
Whether you're a fresh graduate or a career transitioner, breaking into tech can feel like getting stuck in an infinite loop:
while need_job:
if not have_experience:
need_job = True
In this talk, I’ll share how I demonstrated my value to potential employers - and got noticed - by transforming my personal blog into a living portfolio that showcased more than just my burgeoning technical skills.
Attendees will learn how to check their own boxes by showing off transferable skills, creating visible proof of competence, and highlighting how their learning process can be a strength rather than a limitation. I’ll discuss the practical steps I used to craft my blog to meet my needs as a career transitioner and how I positioned my seemingly-unrelated skills - like copywriting and photography - as useful and relevant to my development as a programmer. My blog got me noticed at networking events, served as a talking point in interviews, and bolstered my confidence. I’ll give attendees the tools to develop their own strategy to break the cycle and land their first job in tech.
Talk by Gina Verrastro
socallinuxexpo.org/scale/23x/presentations/check-your-own-boxes-how-i-used-my-blog-land-my-first-job-tech
Whether you're a fresh graduate or a career transitioner, breaking into tech can feel like getting stuck in an infinite loop:
while need_job:
if not have_experience:
need_job = True
In this talk, I’ll share how I demonstrated my value to potential employers - and got noticed - by transforming my personal blog into a living portfolio that showcased more than just my burgeoning technical skills.
Attendees will learn how to check their own boxes by showing off transferable skills, creating visible proof of competence, and highlighting how their learning process can be a strength rather than a limitation. I’ll discuss the practical steps I used to craft my blog to meet my needs as a career transitioner and how I positioned my seemingly-unrelated skills - like copywriting and photography - as useful and relevant to my development as a programmer. My blog got me noticed at networking events, served as a talking point in interviews, and bolstered my confidence. I’ll give attendees the tools to develop their own strategy to break the cycle and land their first job in tech.
