A guide to creating the perfect portfolio

Your portfolio is your visual resume – make it count!

If you’re a student in a creative program such as graphic design, photography, journalism or digital communications, having a good portfolio is key to standing out in a job application.

While having a cover letter and resume with relevant job experiences and skills in your field is crucial for your career, at the end of the day, a portfolio showcasing samples and examples of your work is what really catches the eye of hiring managers.

Throughout your school years, you’ve produced tones of different pieces and designs – you can’t show them all to potential employers. A portfolio is a curated space where you highlight your best works to share your skills and abilities with your potential employer or collaborator. The truth is that many job applications in creative fields require a portfolio along with a resume and cover letter.

If you’re now realizing you need to create a portfolio and don’t know where to start, we did the homework for you. Sometimes searching “how to make a portfolio” online can be more confusing than helpful.

Here are tips and thoughts you should consider when creating your portfolio.

Determine the purpose of your portfolio

Picture of a person setting goals on a piece of paper and a tablet. — *Picture by Firmbee.com via Unsplash.*

First things first, what’s the goal of your portfolio? Is this the place for all your creative work? Are you focusing on a niche and targeting specific clients? Or is this a demonstration of your expertise in multiple areas? Whatever your answer is – and it might be a mix of different goals – you need to have this clear in your mind before you start the design process.

Decide the primary function your portfolio will serve. While a well-organized portfolio can make you stand out in a job application, a poorly structured one can be your downfall. A portfolio with a clear intention and vision will shine your application, but one that is hard to navigate and cluttered with information can lower your chances of scoring the position.

Deciding the goal of your portfolio can sound like a simple decision, but it’s sure one of the most important steps in creating an effective showcase of your work.

Once you’ve figured out this answer, it’s time to decide what platform you’ll use. If you’re into coding everything from scratch, there are many user-friendly websites like Wix, Squarespace or WordPress that offer plenty of templates to help you build your portfolio easily.

What to include

Picture of a smartphone displaying a thinking yellow emoji. — *Picture by Markus Winkler via Unsplash.*

Don’t be tempted to include everything you’ve ever created. On average, hiring managers spend about a minute evaluating both your resume and portfolio, so you want to make sure you only include your best work. For example, if you were once a writer but now focus on graphic design, there’s no need to include your writing samples in your portfolio.

Set some time aside and go through all the work you’ve been producing. A good tip is to start by excluding anything you’re not proud of or think isn’t your best work. Then, select your top-notch and favourite samples that you think a hiring manager would like to see. Think of your portfolio like your shoes – you have some for casual use or the gym, but you always save a special pair for important occasions.

Your best projects could be the most successful ones, those that got great reviews or even the ones you’re just proud of. Make sure to add a short blurb about each project to give the hiring manager some context and highlight any challenges you faced.

And don’t forget, it’s OK to include school projects. Just because a project was for an assignment doesn’t mean it can’t go in your portfolio. Sometimes your school or self-started projects can lead to bigger results.

Demonstrate variety

Picture of an office desk. — *Picture by Lee Campbell via Unsplash.*

Although you have to select only your favourite work to include in your portfolio, you also have to show a variety of projects and skills. For example, if you’re selling yourself as a journalist, don’t just include articles in your portfolio. Make sure you add audio stories, interviews, feature documentaries and more.

In case you’re focusing on a specific niche, like a digital communicator with expertise in content creation, show work from different platforms like Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Premiere Pro or Canva.

Having a variety of samples and skills is important, you got it. But you should also be able to demonstrate your unique approach to the work you do. The reality is that most of your competitors can do similar work, but your unique approach should make you stand out. A variety of samples can show a hiring manager that you have skills across different platforms and a distinctive approach to your projects.

Put a spotlight on the work you’re enthusiastic about

Your portfolio should tell your potential employer not just the work you can do, but also the work you want to focus on in the future. Highlight the projects you’re passionate about and wish to continue working on.

Don’t get me wrong, this doesn’t mean you’re overtaking your future boss, but rather showing them the topics that excite you. Let’s say your portfolio showcases your skills as a graphic designer, you’re applying for a role at an environmental organization and you’re passionate about sustainability. Show through your portfolio how you can use your skills to align your passion with campaigns about environmental conservation.

Hiring managers often seek candidates who are passionate about a certain topic. In most cases, passion can be translated into an eagerness to advance and contribute meaningfully to the company.

Don’t hide your personality

Picture of a brown wooden puzzle game board that reads “Who are you?” — *Picture by Brett Jordan via Unsplash.*

Having an “About me” section on your portfolio may not be your first priority, but it’s just as important as showcasing your work.

When you apply for a job, the hiring manager may know about your professional skills but not who you are as a person. In addition to your projects, your portfolio is a chance to introduce yourself. Provide some background information and include any personal projects that reflect your personality, passions and interests.

For example, if you’re a photographer with a keen interest in travel, use the “About me” section to share your story and passion for capturing different cultures and landscapes. Include a few personal anecdotes and use a design that reflects your adventurous spirit. This section should add your personal touch and let your personality shine through.

Picture of two men facing each other and shaking hands. — *Picture by Sebastian Herrmann via Unsplash.*

Besides being mindful of the content in your portfolio, you must ensure it’s user-friendly. Even the most impressive portfolios will be ignored if it’s chaotically jumbled with gigantic blocks of text or filled with low-quality images lacking alt text. Make sure your portfolio is easy to navigate and visually appealing to keep the hiring manager’s attention.

Another important aspect to consider is making sure your portfolio is optimized for different screen sizes and devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops. Ensure all the images, videos and text are properly formatted to work seamlessly across different devices.

If you have a portfolio and think other tips could have been added to this guide, let us know @shareignite.

Feature image courtesy of Anete Lūsiņa via Unsplash.

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