[lifeisstillgood]

Side projects have three uses, HR and recruiters only have one

- projects give you actual real world development experience, possibly with others, they provide a genuine validation of your skills, and (if built with others) give you a network of peers / mentors to work with

- HR and recruiters just filter out the obvious chaff so the person who is really going to hire you is not drowning.

Really do not expect HR to hire you, do not expect anyone to beat a path to your door because you built a better mousetrap - you must sell your mousetrap. (Which is considerably easier if you build really good mousetraps alongside well connected mousetrap builders )

The way to sell your services is to a) talk to people already working in the companies you want to be, b) Identify the companies you want to be hired by c) politely remind a) of b).