(About) My resume homepage
Building My Own Digital Home: The Story Behind My Resume Homepage
It's 3 AM, May 2023, and it just happens to be the day I graduated from my MBA program. As I lay awake, grappling with a whirlwind of emotions, I decided to pen down the reasons why I chose to build my own homepage from scratch. This post will serve as both an introduction to me and a guide to navigating this page. I'll also address the question that's probably on your mind: why go through all this effort to create a homepage?
The Why Behind Building from Scratch
First, let's discuss why I chose to get my hands dirty and code this entire homepage from scratch instead of using 'ready-made' homepage builders like WIX or WordPress, or blog services like Medium (which I actually subscribe to and find to be a fantastic information source).
Confession time - the first reason is to show off my skills. I've always been open to new technologies and consider myself tech-savvy. But without a dedicated portfolio page, demonstrating my abilities can be challenging. After two years of analytics-heavy classes at Tepper School of Business and machine learning courses at CMU's computer science department, I have more to share and archive for future reference. Most of my analytical work so far has been under strict NDAs. However, I felt a compelling urge to preserve and share at least the basic methodologies and styles I employ to address business challenges.
Secondly, I don't like wasting time, and sometimes the recruitment process can feel unproductive. Sending out resumes and filling out company-specific forms doesn't contribute to my personal growth or learning. Moreover, my career thus far has been focused on a specialized area that might not be well-known to the general public or falls under strict NDAs, making it challenging to describe straightforwardly on a single sheet of paper.
With these thoughts in mind, I realized that creating a resume homepage could be a more efficient way to promote myself. Plus, it's an opportunity to learn new things without feeling like I'm wasting my time. It's a win-win scenario!
Powered by Django
Now, a little about the technical aspect of this homepage: it's built using the Django framework. I acknowledge that Django may not be the most popular choice for a simple homepage builder, but as a Python enthusiast, it's the framework I'm most comfortable with. Plus, the flexibility Django offers is unrivaled. It's often called a "batteries-included" framework due to its wide array of built-in tools and features, including robust security. However, Django also offers resilience, enabling me to create and deploy my ideas in any style I choose.
Scalability Matters
Another aspect I considered was scalability. I don't just mean scalability in the sense of expanding this homepage endlessly - in fact, I aim to keep this space as straightforward as possible. My interest in Python frameworks for web applications was piqued just before the pandemic when my wife needed a portfolio homepage for her art gallery and studio.
Back then, with GMAT preparation and full-time work, I couldn't spare time to help her. She opted for a ready-made homepage builder and hired web developers. However, she wasn't entirely satisfied with the result. One day, she'd like to revamp it according to our desires, and I plan to be the contractor who brings her vision to life.
Interestingly, the Django framework is well suited for her needs too. A notable fact about Django is that it powers Instagram, a platform renowned for image sharing. Given my wife's need to showcase her paintings and digital art, a posting style similar to Instagram's is precisely what we envision for her site.
I anticipate it may take a few months to complete. However, having already built this homepage, I believe the timeline for the next project will be much shorter. For her professional site, I plan to introduce new features such as an online store, which will present another set of challenges that I'm eager to tackle. Stay tuned as I share my journey in the world of web development and beyond!