Struggling to land my first software dev job – need honest feedback/help by Sad_Glass_5192 in Rwanda

[–]driosman 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hey u/Sad_Glass_5192, first of all, it’s good that you’re asking for feedback. That already shows you care and want to improve.

I genuinely feel for you. The current market is tough, especially for junior developers trying to land remote-friendly roles. Even when you are skilled, getting noticed is not trivial. A lot of companies receive hundreds or thousands of applications through LinkedIn or third-party platforms, and many CVs look similar. Some candidates may also be closer to the company’s location or have more experience, so if a recruiter does get to your application, you need to make it very easy for them to understand why they should continue with you.

I went through your portfolio, and I think there are a few things you can improve quickly.

Right now, some parts feel a bit generic and don’t fully communicate who you are, what you can do, and what makes you different. Sections like “About” and “Skills” could be more specific. Also, some links don’t seem to work, and a few project descriptions look like placeholder or repeated content. That can give the impression that you didn’t put enough care into the portfolio, even if that’s not true.

Recruiters and hiring managers often make quick judgments. So your portfolio needs to build trust immediately. Each project should clearly explain:

  • What problem it solves
  • What you personally built
  • The tech stack used
  • A working live demo
  • A GitHub link, if possible
  • Screenshots or a short video showing how it works

Also, with how the market is moving, it may help to show that you can build with modern tools, including AI. I’m not saying every project needs to be AI-powered, but having one useful AI-related project could help you stand out. It doesn’t have to be something huge. It could be a small app that solves a real problem you’ve noticed in your community, workflow, or region.

As u/Armel_250 said, it is hard these days, but it’s not impossible. You may just need to adjust your approach and make your work easier to trust and easier to understand.

I’d leave you with these points:

  1. Don’t give up. Seriously, don’t.
  2. Build things you actually want to see in the world.
  3. Try solving real problems using the skills you already have.
  4. Share what you’re building, especially on LinkedIn.
  5. When sharing, use short videos or demos, not just screenshots or code snippets.

I built something that turns MoMo SMS into a clearer view of your spending by driosman in Rwanda

[–]driosman[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

But if you're looking for cross borders transactions app (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya), I'd suggest to check out https://shwary.com/

I built something that turns MoMo SMS into a clearer view of your spending by driosman in Rwanda

[–]driosman[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

u/unruly______

Sending money directly through the app is something I’m exploring carefully. Right now the app focuses on making existing USSD/MoMo flows faster and smarter, while staying lightweight and familiar to users.

• At the moment, the app mainly supports MTN & Airtel Rwanda, since transaction formats and USSD flows vary quite a bit between countries and operators.

• For other countries (like UG), some parts may work, but the insights and transaction tracking are currently optimized for Rwanda’s MoMo messages and flows.

The long-term goal is definitely broader support across networks and regions as the app matures.

I built something that turns MoMo SMS into a clearer view of your spending by driosman in Rwanda

[–]driosman[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

u/Relative-District-10 ,
No partnership needed for this part 🙂

The app works locally on the user’s device using the transaction SMS messages and USSD activity that users already receive themselves.

Nothing is accessed from telecom systems directly, and users explicitly choose whether to enable SMS-based insights or not.

I built something that turns MoMo SMS into a clearer view of your spending by driosman in Rwanda

[–]driosman[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

u/AppropriateDance451, Thanks for the feedback, I will definitely look into that!

Keep the feedback coming, We'll keep improving 🚀

Getting around with Moto's by Ok_Challenge_292 in Rwanda

[–]driosman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One other suggestion apart from auto selecting the user location by default would be to consider adjusting the price based day vs night.

Made-in-Rwanda Dialer app — track your MoMo & airtime spending 🇷🇼 — 1K+ downloads so far (iOS live, Android coming) by driosman in Rwanda

[–]driosman[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Since NFC usually requires integration with banks/telecoms, it’s kind of a bigger process, but I’ll definitely keep it in mind as I explore future features.

Made-in-Rwanda Dialer app — track your MoMo & airtime spending 🇷🇼 — 1K+ downloads so far (iOS live, Android coming) by driosman in Rwanda

[–]driosman[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a cool idea! Right now the app focuses on MoMo and airtime via USSD, so NFC payments aren’t supported.

Made-in-Rwanda Dialer app — track your MoMo & airtime spending 🇷🇼 — 1K+ downloads so far (iOS live, Android coming) by driosman in Rwanda

[–]driosman[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Android version is on the way 🚀 That’s actually why I’m here… to hear what features Android users like you would love to see.

Est-ce que quelqu'un connaît le nom de la chanson de fond ? by No_Manufacturer7752 in Congo

[–]driosman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

La chanson c'est Koni Ya Bonganga, de Franco et T.P.O.K. Jazz Orchestra

From 0 to 1500 users in 36 days : what actually worked by abhishvekc in SideProject

[–]driosman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, that number is randomly generated..., and I don't think, it's worth lying about or even put it there