How to Stand Out in a Sea of “Average” Developers

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Welcome to another week, another opportunity to become a great DevOps and Software Engineer

Today’s issue is brought to you by TheEngineeringLadder→ A great resource for devops and software engineers. We break down career-changing lessons in DevOps and Software Engineering to help you level up fast.

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A few years ago, I was part of a hiring panel for a mid-level backend engineer role.

We had 143 applications.
Out of those, 103 resumes said this exact line:

By the 20th one, we stopped reading past the first paragraph.

Not because we were harsh. But because they all sounded the same.

And that’s the problem.

Everyone says the same things.
Everyone follows the same paths.
Everyone builds the same portfolio projects.

So when people ask me how to stand out in tech, I don’t talk about learning faster or working harder.

I talk about doing things differently.

The Real Reason Most Developers Don’t Get Noticed

Let me tell you the truth you won’t hear in bootcamps or tech Twitter:

You don’t stand out because of what you know.
You stand out because of how you think.

Everyone knows how to follow a tutorial.
But can you solve problems that aren’t already solved on Stack Overflow?

Can you explain why you built something a certain way — not just what you built?

Can you connect your work back to how it helps the business, the user, or the team?

That’s what makes people pause and pay attention.

You Don’t Need a Flashy Project. You Need a Sharp Angle.

I’ve seen developers get hired because of:

• A one-page write-up explaining how they improved their company’s CI/CD speed by 30%.

• A blog post showing their thought process debugging a nasty production issue.

• A portfolio with only one project — but with insanely clear documentation, architecture diagrams, and business impact.

Not because they were geniuses.
But because they showed how they think.

Anyone can build a to-do app.
Not everyone can break it down, explain the decisions, and show why it matters.

You’re Not Just Competing With Junior Devs

You’re competing with bootcamp grads, CS majors, self-taught engineers, and even laid-off seniors willing to take a step down.

The field is noisy.
Standing out takes intentional effort.

You can:

• Document your thought process as you solve real problems.

• Share breakdowns of bugs you’ve fixed or features you’ve improved.

• Create value-first content on LinkedIn, even if you only have 10 followers.

You’re not trying to look smart. You’re trying to build trust.

And trust comes from clarity, not credentials.

This Week’s Challenge

Pick one small project you’ve built — or one you’re working on.

Write a short “dev log” or breakdown of:

• What problem it solves

• What tools you used

• What you struggled with

• What you’d do differently next time

Doesn’t have to be polished. Doesn’t need a fancy site.
Just a clear, thoughtful breakdown of your process.

This kind of work compounds.
It turns into portfolio material, interview talking points, and proof that you don’t just code — you think.

Stop trying to be “better.” Start trying to be clearer.
That’s how you stand out.

Coming up next week:

DevOps Roadmap 2025: Skills You Actually Need to Get Hired
We’ll separate the fluff from the fundamentals and show you how to focus your learning.

If you’re looking for a supportive community to help you grow faster, check out MentorAura.
We’re building the next generation of real-world engineers. And we’d love to have you with us.