The author's intent here is for young engineers to build signal and reputation. Open source contribution is one potential way to go about that. Another comment here referenced the importance of a CS degree. There are other ways to go about accomplishing ways of signaling to gain reputation.
As general advice for those early in their career, I find this to be inadequate. These tactics (no offense to the CS peeps) might "get you noticed", but that won't sustain if you don't back it up. A github account or a cert from your favorite uni might potentially get you in the door somewhere, but you will have built expectations about what people can expect from you once you're in the fold.
Very few have ever kept a job because of their G/H reputation or GPA. The number of times I've seen a hire who was "noticed" that failed in their new role is almost meme-level. It's amazing how quickly credibility and reputation from that get-you-noticed effort can be burned down.
By all means, make logical efforts to get noticed, but that will only take you so far. You will significantly improve that signal/rep when you translate your previous activities to skills, learning, and value as you go forward.
As general advice for those early in their career, I find this to be inadequate. These tactics (no offense to the CS peeps) might "get you noticed", but that won't sustain if you don't back it up. A github account or a cert from your favorite uni might potentially get you in the door somewhere, but you will have built expectations about what people can expect from you once you're in the fold.
Very few have ever kept a job because of their G/H reputation or GPA. The number of times I've seen a hire who was "noticed" that failed in their new role is almost meme-level. It's amazing how quickly credibility and reputation from that get-you-noticed effort can be burned down.
By all means, make logical efforts to get noticed, but that will only take you so far. You will significantly improve that signal/rep when you translate your previous activities to skills, learning, and value as you go forward.