When I got my first job as a professional SE, I'd been in technical fields for almost 15 years, and had been programming as a hobby for most of my life. I was smart, articulate, and passionate, but had no experience. I think the thing that pushed me over the edge during the hiring process was that I had made a number of hobby projects that I shared with them and they could see my work.

https://apps.stupid-genius.com/Brotplot/