A portfolio is a collection of work samples that shows your skills and qualifications.
You can post a portfolio online, show it during an interview, or share at other times during your job search. Consider creating a portfolio to tell the story of your career.
Portfolios can:
- Provide evidence of work that you've done
- Illustrate your skills and abilities
- Show the quality of your work
- Help you get a job offer or attract clients
A career portfolio can also set you apart when you apply for jobs. Few job applicants have one. But a good portfolio can leave a strong impression of your experience and accomplishments.
Creating a portfolio also helps you prepare to network and interview. As you organize your materials, you will be reminded of examples and stories that helped you develop skills and strengths in your career.
Work samples make up the foundation of your portfolio. Choose your best work to show. For each item, include a description of the project, who the client or employer was, how you contributed, and any results of the project.
Check out these ideas for work samples you could use, based on occupation:
- Artist Photographs of your paintings, illustrations, sculptures, etc.
- Chef or baker Photographs of your culinary creations
- Dancer, actor, musician Video and/or audio recordings of your work
- Designer Photos of graphic, interior, or web design work
- Facilitator or trainer Copies of presentation or training materials, participant evaluations, and video recordings of your presentations
- Mechanic Pictures of auto restorations
- Multimedia specialist Copies of interactive programs you have created
- Photographer Prints of your photographs
- Public relations specialist Copies of press work and marketing plans as well as results of event promotions
- Office support staff Brochures, reports, newsletters, spreadsheets, and other examples of work that you have completed
- Researcher Copies of research reports, peer reviews, technical documents, and articles in newspapers and professional journals as well as any awards received
- Sales person Graphs showing sales results
- Tailor or seamstress Pictures of the clothing that you have produced (and wear your own creations to the job interview)
- Teacher Copies of lesson plans, class projects, and assignments
- Writer Copies of blogs, newspapers, and journal articles as well as grant proposals, reports, marketing plans, etc.
You don’t need to include much more than work samples in your portfolio. You don’t want to overload the viewer. But every person—and every portfolio—is different. Here are some items that might work in your portfolio:
- Introduction Start with an “About” page to introduce yourself. You could include your guiding principles or values, main interests, work or management philosophy, and your career goal for the next 2-5 years. Add a background summary and your strongest skills.
- Resume A summary of your education, achievements, and work experience, using a chronological or functional format. Read more about resumes.
- Testimonials and letters of recommendations A collection of any kudos you have received — from customers, clients, colleagues, past employers, professors, etc. This could include copies of favorable performance evaluations.
- References A list of 3-5 five people (full name, title, address, and phone/e-mail) who are willing to speak about your strengths, abilities, and experience.
- Articles Include any media or professional materials that showcase or mention you.
- Call to action This can be “contact me” or “learn more”.
You can create a digital portfolio to share with potential clients or the general public. Use a website such as WordPress, Squarespace, or a simple PDF. Or try a portfolio builder tool.
Free portfolio builder sites automate most aspects of the design, and may limit file size, type, or number of files you can upload. They may allow minimal customization, and display ads on your portfolio.
Subscription-based portfolios have fewer file limits, and tend to work well for visual/graphic elements. There are templates tailored for different industries, and greater customization options.
Digital portfolio tips:
- Organize material with a clear structure
- Keep ample white space
- Use high-quality images
- Make it mobile-friendly
- Proofread your portfolio before sending it out, check all links and overall appearance
- Include a link to your portfolio website on your resume, cover letter, and social media profiles
You can bring a hard-copy portfolio to job interviews to demonstrate what you have done. Begin with a loose-leaf binder with dividers:
- Use a clean copy of your resume for the first page, or front cover.
- Include a table of contents to make it easy to find items quickly.
- Display the rest of the content in clear page protectors.
- Group work samples into logical categories, i.e. skills used, project type, or product.
- Label and describe each item, your involvement, and the skills you used.
- Add color copies or colored paper for visual appeal.
- To reduce the volume, you could include partial work samples and offer full versions if requested.