If I was learning to code again and wanted to compile a reasonable portfolio that would successfully demonstrate my skills to an employer, I would put together something like this:

• First, all of the projects that you've built in all the tutorials along the way, don't ditch these. Dress them up, add a solid README, and be proud of them. They are the projects that got you in the ring and are a good talking point.
• Second, I would have a solid, semi-substantial, app built. This can be from a tutorial or from elsewhere, just make it look good and be able to explain whatever could be asked of it. 
• Third, I would have a solid, semi-substantial, app built, but this time built entirely by you and thought up by you (see this video for more info). You should complete it by consulting the documentation when you get stuck, and put in every effort to adhere to best practices, clean code, SOLID (if applicable), etc. This should be your capstone. The wrestling you will have to do to finish this out will make you much better at that language and programming overall. Also, be sure it's running on a server somewhere so that it can be demo-ed by whoever. 
• Fourth, I would have some solid, semi-substantial, workflow in the Cloud. Take AWS for example. Use Lambda functions, maybe API gateway, SNS, and S3 bucket to put together some sort of workflow. This can be hooked up to one of your other apps, or an original altogether (this video for ideas). I can't stress this one enough. Put something together in the cloud to demonstrate that in addition to your coding skills, you are cloud knowledgeable which in my opinion is essential to demonstrate these days.

​Technologies

Front-end: I would lean JavaScript/React/Next.js if I was starting over in the front-end exclusively. Even though it's saturated, it presents more job opportunities, by far, than other front-end technologies like Vue and Angular. 

Back-end: You could go in a number of directions here. Python is always a good bet. If DevOps, then Python/AWS is a good combo. If web, then look at Django and API development like FastAPI or the Django API. Other frameworks are good as well like C#/.NET, and of course, anything with the Node.js runtime. Be sure to understand MVC, OOP, and a surface understanding of SOLID principles. For freelancing, you could carve a niche out with the above technologies, but probably PHP and WordPress are still your hot-button items and may get you more opportunities. E-commerce, even more so.

Other considerations could be Golang in the DevOps/Platform Engineering/SRE space. It's used for a lot of microservices and is very big in Kubernetes/Docker circles. We use it exclusively where I work, it's fast, typed, and compiles.

Another consideration could be going all in with Data. Learn databases really well and handling of data and you could go the corporate route or freelancing. 

Having said all this, the goal is to get better at coding principles and reading documentation such that you can shift between languages and technologies. This comes with time and will show up when you're least expecting it.

​All in All Though

​Overall, though, your portfolio will probably serve more to get you to the interview than to be talked about in the interview. Aside from preparing for all the random questions you will get in the interview, the key is to pass the coding exam.

Many companies will give you a choice of a handful of programming languages that you will use. This is a good thing. Pick one before this stage (obviously) and do algorithm practice. Make it a weekly routine while you are in the "looking" phase and into the "interview" phase. This can be practiced on many sites from Free Code Camp to Codewars (free) to Leetcode (paid). 

Be sure you know the more popular ones as you will probably see at least one. (Yes, my last job used FizzBuzz as 1 of 4 questions). 

Discussion

What does your portfolio look like? What is your experience with searching for jobs, technology, and everything in between? What is your plan? Let's discuss.