The Value of Proactive Portfolio Building

In this episode, 37signals co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson talk about why résumés, job titles, and career timelines take a back seat to what really matters when hiring — your actual work. They share how real-world examples cut through the noise, and open doors for people who may not have a traditional path.

Key Takeaways:

• 00:00 – Episode highlights
• 00:10 – Why final hiring decisions come down to a candidate’s actual work
• 03:50 – The 37Better redesign project
• 07:27 – How real project work reduces the guesswork of hiring
• 14:29 – Why creating work outside your portfolio shows your range and creativity
• 20:02 – Hiring when it hurts

Links and Resources:

• “Years of Evidence” from Jason Fried’s HEY World
• The 37Better Project (archived)
• Record a video question for the podcast
• Books by 37signals
• Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
• HEY World | HEY
• The REWORK podcast
• The Rework Podcast on YouTube
• The 37signals Dev Blog
• 37signals on YouTube
• @37signals on X