You might have a run-of-the-mill résumé, but a portfolio that draws stars, on the other hand, can make all the difference when applying for internships and jobs. Employers don’t want to see a résumé. They want to know that you can do something. A portfolio that exhibits your aptitude, experience, and creativity can score you more than just a job; it can also show exactly what you’re capable of. However, building a student portfolio can be daunting, especially if you’re not artistically inclined. So, how exactly do you go about doing it? Here are a few pointers.
Start with Your Best Work
When curating your portfolio, focus on quality, not quantity. An e-portfolio with a few exceptional pieces that show off your strengths is better than one cluttered with everything you’ve ever done. A design project, a research paper, or a paid marketing campaign? Choose something you’re particularly proud of and something that demonstrates your skills for the internship or job to which you’re applying.
Be sure to include short descriptions of each project so your reader knows what it is about. Summarise the project goal, your role within it, and the outcome. This differentiates between a laundry list of jobs and a compelling explanation of what benefited from your work.
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Highlight Relevant Skills
Your portfolio should be specific to the field or industry you are applying to. If you’re applying for a design internship, be sure your portfolio features design-focused projects. Similarly, if your goal is a position in marketing, highlight campaigns or other promotional projects you’ve created. Be sure to include the skills you used in each – problem-solving, creativity, technical ability, communication, etc.
One technique is to align the skills in your portfolio with the internship or job description you’re applying to. Here, you’re demonstrating fit and differentiating yourself from other candidates who likely did not go to the trouble of tailoring their portfolio.
Organize Your Portfolio for Easy Navigation
A messy or unorganized portfolio leaves a wrong impression, and employers will not be able to search for your strengths. Keeping your portfolio simple is essential so that your employers can navigate it easily and find what they are looking for in no time. Here are a few ways that your portfolio can be organized:
- Organise by category: Divide your work into categories so viewers can easily find what they want to see.
- Keep descriptions concise: Get to the point as quickly as possible. Don’t let your image get lost in a box of text.
- Don’t make them wait: If your portfolio is digital, the first thing to do is make sure it loads fast; don’t frustrate your viewers by making them wait a few moments, especially on mobile devices.
- Keep the layout clean: Choose a simple, uncluttered design that lets your work shine but skip the flashy graphics.
If you follow these tips, your portfolio will be easy to navigate and will keep the spotlight on your skills, not distractions.
Incorporate Testimonials and Feedback
Testimonials or feedback from professors, previous employers, or clients make your portfolio seem more professional. If you’ve interned somewhere or worked on a freelance project, see if your supervisor or client would be willing to write a short testimonial for you. This is a simple way to make your portfolio look more authoritative, proving that you do good work.
External endorsements can give you an advantage over other candidates. Employers want to know that others have been satisfied with your work, and testimonials give them confidence that you are a good bet.
Keep It Updated
You should make changes to your portfolio regularly – because experience and exposure to new skills and project types arrive relatively quickly during your student career. Throughout your degree, you should be able to replace any starter pieces you initially included, add in new accomplishments, and simply iterate on the pieces you had early on. Keep it up to date by reviewing it every few months, removing any pieces you think should come down, and adding any new, more substantial work.
To increase your chances, keep your portfolio in top form and up-to-date. This shows that you are constantly improving and expanding your skills, not just at the beginning of your creative career but throughout your entirety. A portfolio will also come in handy during the internship-hunting process.
Make Your Portfolio Shine
Creating an exceptional student portfolio is not about throwing every project, club, TED Talk, Netflix series binge, and honors science fair you’ve participated in. It’s about presenting your best and most relevant work that is well-organized and kept up to date. A strong portfolio creates an excellent first impression and may help you clinch that coveted internship or a job. So take your time. Create a product showcasing your offer, and let your portfolio advocate.
