---
title: Final Polish Checklist
---

:::caution[Programme Sunset]
The open Mentorship Programme has been sunset and is no longer accepting new participants. These pages remain available as reference material.

I'm now running a private, personalised professional development programme on an invite-only basis - hand-selecting a small number of participants so the shape of each journey can be built around them. There is no application process; participation is by direct invitation only.

Being active in my [Discord community](https://chat.nhcarrigan.com/) increases your chances of being invited.
:::

**COMPREHENSIVE CHECKLIST FOR PROJECT FINAL POLISH**

Use this checklist to ensure your flagship project is ready for professional presentation.

## Code Quality

- [ ] All code follows project style guide
- [ ] Code is clean, readable, and well-organised
- [ ] No commented-out code or debugging statements
- [ ] Error handling is comprehensive
- [ ] Code is properly commented where necessary
- [ ] All functions and methods are appropriately sized

## Testing

- [ ] Comprehensive test coverage
- [ ] All tests are passing
- [ ] Tests are meaningful and test actual behavior
- [ ] Edge cases are covered by tests
- [ ] CI/CD pipeline is configured and passing

## Documentation

- [ ] README.md is complete and professional
  - [ ] Project description
  - [ ] Features list
  - [ ] Installation instructions
  - [ ] Usage instructions
  - [ ] Screenshots or demo links (if applicable)
  - [ ] Technology stack
  - [ ] Contributing guidelines link
- [ ] CONTRIBUTING.md is complete
  - [ ] Development setup instructions
  - [ ] Code style guidelines
  - [ ] Pull request process
  - [ ] Testing requirements
- [ ] LICENSE.md is present and appropriate
- [ ] Code comments are clear and helpful
- [ ] API documentation is complete (if applicable)

## Security

- [ ] No sensitive data in code or configuration
- [ ] Environment variables are used for secrets
- [ ] Dependencies are up to date
- [ ] Security best practices are followed
- [ ] Authentication/authorization is properly implemented (if applicable)

## Deployment

- [ ] Application is deployed and live
- [ ] Deployment is automated (CI/CD)
- [ ] Environment variables are properly configured
- [ ] Application is accessible and functional
- [ ] Domain is configured (optional but recommended)

## User Experience (if applicable)

- [ ] Application is intuitive and easy to use
- [ ] Error messages are clear and helpful
- [ ] Loading states are handled appropriately
- [ ] Responsive design works on all screen sizes
- [ ] Accessibility standards are met

## Performance

- [ ] Application loads quickly
- [ ] No obvious performance bottlenecks
- [ ] Database queries are optimized (if applicable)
- [ ] Images and assets are optimized
- [ ] Caching is implemented where appropriate

## Project Organization

- [ ] Repository structure is clean and logical
- [ ] Files are properly organised
- [ ] Git history is clean and meaningful
- [ ] Issues are properly labelled and organised
- [ ] Project board is organised (if used)

## Professional Presentation

- [ ] Project can be confidently shown on resume
- [ ] Project demonstrates relevant skills
- [ ] Project solves a real problem or demonstrates capability
- [ ] Code quality reflects professional standards
- [ ] Documentation is professional and complete

## Final Review

- [ ] All checklist items are completed
- [ ] Project is ready for portfolio/resume presentation
- [ ] You feel confident showcasing this project
- [ ] Optional: Request feedback from community or programme leadership

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*This checklist is comprehensive. Work through it systematically to ensure your project is polished and professional.*

