@acjay
Fun backstory- it's because of projects like my keyboard that I got my first job in a full-IT company and my career actually started moving forward. I learned a lot by simply putting together my first keyboard and would highly recommend anyone to do so if they want to learn more as well.

My best friend years ago took me to his workplace and show me his ErgoDoxInfinity which was a splut-format. That got me interested in mechanical keyboards and I soon joined a reddit community. There, I learned many other people were deeply invested in the hobby. I also then learned how amazing and expensive it could be.

My first keyboard was a::
GH60 Satan pcb
Clear Gateron Keyswiches
Clear blank keycaps

I wasn't all that confident in making it myself, but I figured the worse case scenario would be that it would be a learning lesson. I _did_ end up having to resolder a few switches around as I had them in the wrong alignment.

I broke the usb-b port off a few times and had to improvise traces few times using leftover legs from used LEDs. Also had to replace a few resistors after having been dropped (all this overtime after initial completion).

Some skills honed::
-soldering/resoldering
-firmware flashing
-continuity and general component testing with voltmeter

Other skills can be exampled through it but those were the biggest takeaways in my interview. Though again, there are setups that allow a new user to not have to learn such in order to get started