Developer Portfolio Checklist: 20 Things Hiring Managers Look For

Most developer portfolios are filtered out in 60 seconds. Not because the developer is unqualified — but because the portfolio doesn't communicate their skills quickly enough for a busy hiring manager who's reviewed 40 portfolios today. This checklist is built from what actually causes portfolios to pass or fail the initial screening. It's organized around the 60-second review flow. The 60-Second Portfolio Review Here's what a hiring manager actually does: Skim the homepage (10 seconds) — What do you do? What's your headline stack? Click one featured project (20 seconds) — Is there a live demo? Does it look real? Scan the code (20 seconds) — Is it readable? Any README? Check GitHub profile (10 seconds) — Is there recent activity? If all four pass, you get a longer look. If any fail, you're filtered. Section 1: Portfolio Site Fundamentals ✅ 1. Clear engineer identity above the fold Your title and primary stack should be visible without scrolling. Vague self-descriptions ("developer who