I'm glad to have read this. I don't list on my resume or talk about the technologies that I've dabbled with personally or academically since they are not my core set.
Maybe I suck at interviewing, but there's no helpful feedback even when I ask. One company told me to look for a junior position at a smaller company for "more experience to be stronger candidate" even though the position that I applied for was a junior position. It was one of those interviews where you answer all the questions and feel great about it, but the hiring manager has some hidden doubts.
I wholeheartedly believe that the projects I am doing use general skills, knowledge, and abilities for PHP/JS developer positions.
Some of my projects are open source on github.
I haven't contributed to anyone else's open source projects. That should not be a deal breaker though.
My resume is available on CareerBuilder, which is basically a huge feed for recruiters. I've applied to recruiters who email me, but never a response back.
Actively working on my personal projects (a online game, community moderated forum/comments system, online journal and lastly my php/javascript library that helps me reuse what I build across my personal projects.
I've applied without much success on craigslist, indeed, cybercoders, simplyhired, weworkremotely, stackoverflow careers.
1 or 2 interviews per month and yes, I do ask for feedback... Most will tell you that you they are going go forward with other candidates or other vague saying which doesn't tell me much.
Whiny? I am not saying "Give me a job" or "I deserve a job" I am looking for work.
Maybe I suck at interviewing, but there's no helpful feedback even when I ask. One company told me to look for a junior position at a smaller company for "more experience to be stronger candidate" even though the position that I applied for was a junior position. It was one of those interviews where you answer all the questions and feel great about it, but the hiring manager has some hidden doubts.
My biggest issue is getting interviews.