I read your link and it was a snoozefest, and I'm not really sure twitter posts count as references.
People want to see your code before they hire you. Github is a place to share code. That's it really - white male or not.
This is especially relevant to OP because he doesn't have commercial experience coding. Most interviewers will be nervous of this, a large portfolio accessible in a familiar format will alleviate much of their tension.
Don't forget, most interviews for the interviewer are basically an ass covering exercise. Nobody wants to be remembered as "the person that hired THAT guy".
I was actually referring to the multiple listed references at the bottom of the article you "read." There are several other ways to see someone's code than expecting them to do work that they aren't getting paid for. Being "nervous" about people that don't do work for free perpetuates inequality. Try to see past your privilege and perhaps you won't hire "THAT guy."
I fail to see where I made the assumption that you were a white man. I merely assumed that you share the privilege of having time to devote to Open Source projects, based on the words that you used, and your casual dismissal of the idea that everyone might not share that privilege.
But congrats on your win, all the same. The judges were really impressed. Welcome to HN.
I read your link and it was a snoozefest, and I'm not really sure twitter posts count as references.
People want to see your code before they hire you. Github is a place to share code. That's it really - white male or not.
This is especially relevant to OP because he doesn't have commercial experience coding. Most interviewers will be nervous of this, a large portfolio accessible in a familiar format will alleviate much of their tension.
Don't forget, most interviews for the interviewer are basically an ass covering exercise. Nobody wants to be remembered as "the person that hired THAT guy".