It's called Skillmatch. I'm a Junior software engineer and I've suffered the problems of job search. I have a well built portfolio but sometimes I feel that you need to get out there in so many places in order for it to be worth something (ie. Leetcode, Linkedin, Indeed, HackerRank, Github, Udemy). My project is based on the idea that everyone with a strong portfolio of projects, courses and academic and job background is considered a a good candidate for a job position. That said my project starts as a gamified center for gathering all that portfolio, courses, academic and job info for a person, where people get XP points in the different programming languages and technologies they have worked on according to a certain criteria. This doesn't just mean that the app will make web scraping for your info, just for the ones with open APIs, and the rest of the data should be submitted and then corroborated (using ML or manual). This is the first step of the project. With all that info, recruiters can post job offers applying filters according to the languages and technologies they need to query the database for people that meet the requirements, easing the job search and recruiting tasks since everything is centralized. Additionally people can post their positions and say how much is their salary, so that people for example can see how much does a Lvl 10 JS dev gains. The project can be expanded by adding courses like Udemy, competitions and exercises like Leetcode, becoming a social media platform for developers, and so much more.

Certainly! User stories are a fundamental part of the Scrum framework, helping to outline the features and functionalities from a user's perspective. Here are some user stories for the development of the core application of Skillmatch, along with corresponding small issues that could be tackled in a Scrum development process:

User Stories:

1. As a user, I want to create a profile so that I can showcase my skills and background to potential employers.

• Issue: Implement user registration and profile creation functionality.

2. As a user, I want to add my programming languages and technologies to my profile so that I can track my skills and XP points.

• Issue: Develop a form for users to add and manage their programming languages and technologies.

3. As a user, I want to earn XP points by updating my skills and contributing to projects so that I can see my progress and level up.

• Issue: Design a gamification system that assigns XP points based on user actions and skill updates.

4. As a user, I want to connect my GitHub account to automatically update my portfolio and repositories.

• Issue: Integrate GitHub API to fetch user repositories and display them on the profile.

5. As a user, I want to manually submit courses, certifications, and job experience to enhance my profile's completeness.

• Issue: Develop forms for users to input course details, certifications, and job experiences.

6. As a user, I want to search for job openings based on my skills and preferences.

• Issue: Create a search functionality that allows users to filter job openings by skills, location, and other criteria.

7. As an employer, I want to post job offers and specify required skills so that I can attract suitable candidates.

• Issue: Develop a job posting feature that includes skill requirements and job descriptions.

8. As an employer, I want to review candidates' profiles and skill levels to identify potential matches for job positions.

• Issue: Implement a candidate search and review system for employers.

9. As a user, I want to see salary information for different skill levels and technologies to gauge industry standards.

• Issue: Add a salary information section to the user profiles and display aggregated salary data.

Issues:

1. Registration and Profile Creation:

• Create registration form.
• Develop user profile page layout.
• Implement profile picture upload.

2. Programming Languages and Technologies:

• Design skill management interface.
• Implement add/remove skill functionality.
• Calculate XP points based on skills.

3. Gamification:

• Design XP point allocation rules.
• Develop XP point tracking system.
• Display user's XP level on the profile.

4. GitHub Integration:

• Integrate GitHub API authentication.
• Fetch and display user repositories.
• Provide an option to update repositories.

5. Manual Data Submission:

• Design forms for courses, certifications, and experiences.
• Implement data validation and submission.

6. Job Search Functionality:

• Design job search interface.
• Implement search filters (skills, location, etc.).
• Display job openings with relevant details.

7. Job Posting:

• Develop job posting form.
• Implement skill selection for job requirements.
• Display posted jobs on the platform.

8. Candidate Review System:

• Design candidate review interface.
• Implement candidate search functionality.
• Provide options for employers to shortlist candidates.

9. Salary Information:

• Add salary section to user profiles.
• Gather and aggregate salary data.
• Display salary information in a clear format.

These user stories and corresponding issues form a starting point for the development of the core application. Each issue can be estimated for complexity, assigned to team members, and tracked through the Scrum development process. As the development progresses, the team can continuously iterate, refine, and adjust the features based on user feedback and changing requirements.

Skillmatch sounds like an interesting concept that aims to address the challenges faced by job seekers in the software engineering field. The idea of creating a centralized platform that showcases a developer's portfolio, skills, courses, and background, and then using gamification to incentivize skill development, has potential. Here's a breakdown of various aspects of your project:

Strengths:

1. Problem Solving: You're addressing a real pain point in the job search process for software engineers. The need to maintain a presence on various platforms can be overwhelming, and having a centralized platform could streamline the process.

2. Gamification: The use of gamification can be motivating for users. By rewarding users with XP points for their skills and achievements, you're tapping into psychological aspects that encourage engagement and learning.

3. Centralized Information: Creating a single platform for employers and job seekers to connect based on skills and requirements can simplify the hiring process for both parties.

4. Expansion Opportunities: Your vision of expanding the platform to include courses, competitions, and becoming a social media platform for developers indicates a potential for growth and diversification.

Areas to Consider:

1. Data Integrity: Corroborating data manually or with machine learning is crucial to maintain the credibility of the platform. Ensuring accurate information is essential, as misinformation could hurt both job seekers and employers.

2. Privacy and Security: Given that personal information and professional data will be shared, security and privacy measures are paramount to protect user data.

3. User Experience: The platform's usability and interface will significantly impact user engagement. Designing an intuitive and user-friendly interface will be important to attract and retain users.

4. Initial Adoption: Convincing both job seekers and employers to adopt a new platform can be a challenge. Offering unique features and clear benefits will be crucial to gaining traction.

Roadmap:

1. Build the Core Platform: Develop the foundation of the platform with user profiles, skill tracking, and gamification elements.

2. Implement API Integrations: Start with open APIs for data extraction. Gradually expand to manual data submission and verification processes.

3. User Testing: Conduct extensive user testing to identify pain points and refine the user experience.

4. Launch and Marketing: Launch the platform and market it to job seekers and employers. Consider offering incentives to early adopters.

5. Iterate and Expand: Gather feedback from users and continuously improve the platform. Start adding courses, exercises, and social features as the platform gains traction.

Target Audience:

• Job Seekers: Junior to senior software engineers looking for new job opportunities and a platform to showcase their skills.
• Employers: Companies seeking talented software engineers who match their specific technology and skill requirements.

Scaling Options:

• Collaborate with Coding Bootcamps: Partner with coding bootcamps to offer Skillmatch as a supplementary tool for their students to showcase their skills and enhance their job search.

• Expand to Other Industries: Consider expanding the platform to other technical and creative fields where skills and portfolios matter, such as design, marketing, or data science.

• Internationalization: If initially focused on a specific region, consider expanding to a global audience.

Profitability:

• Subscription Model: Offer premium features to job seekers and employers for a subscription fee, such as enhanced visibility in search results or access to advanced analytics.

• Job Posting Fees: Charge employers for posting job openings on the platform.

• Partnerships: Collaborate with companies for talent acquisition services, offering them access to a pool of pre-qualified candidates.

Step-by-Step Getting Started Guide:

1. Research and Analysis: Understand your target audience, their pain points, and existing solutions. Identify the unique value proposition of Skillmatch.

2. Platform Design and Development: Create wireframes and design mockups for the platform. Develop the core features, including user profiles, skills tracking, and gamification.

3. API Integration: Begin with open API integrations for data extraction.

4. User Testing: Invite a small group of beta testers to try the platform and provide feedback.

5. Refinement: Based on user feedback, refine the platform's user experience and address any issues.

6. Security Measures: Implement robust security measures to protect user data.

7. Launch and Marketing: Launch the platform and market it through social media, developer forums, and tech communities.

8. Feedback Collection: Encourage users to provide feedback and suggestions for improvement.

9. Expansion and Iteration: Gradually add new features like courses, competitions, and social networking as the platform gains users.

10. Monetization: Introduce premium features for job seekers and employers to generate revenue.

11. Continuous Improvement: Regularly update and enhance the platform based on user needs and technological advancements.

Remember that starting a project like Skillmatch requires careful planning, execution, and adaptability. As you proceed, keep an eye on user feedback and market trends to ensure your platform remains relevant and valuable to its users.