Create a professional portfolio that gets results

You have just graduated from college and are about to embark on your first ever job search. Or, you have several years of experience under your belt and want to pursue your next career goal. Whatever situation you are in career-wise, building a professional portfolio is a great idea.

A resume and cover letter can only do so much for your job applications. The strong job applications almost always contain a great professional portfolio that wows potential employers. But how do you go about creating an impressive professional portfolio?

First things first: Paper or online?

You can go two ways with your professional portfolio; a paper portfolio or an online portfolio. What are the differences between the two?

Paper portfolio

A paper portfolio is a physical collection of your best and most impressive pieces of work. A paper portfolio contains items that highlight your unique skillset. Your paper portfolio can be an excellent conversation starter during a job interview. If you work in fashion design or architecture, a paper portfolio can give a new dimension for your work by adding texture and feel. Even if you work in healthcare field or business, a paper portfolio can help you gather all your certifications in one place.

Electronic portfolio

Paper portfolios were more common in the past years. However, online portfolios are the new thing in the market right now. The best thing about an online portfolio is that you can simply include a link to it on your resume or LinkedIn profile to direct interested employers to view your work. Electronic portfolios are great for a number of industries such as design, writing, construction, healthcare, IT, business, etc. The best thing about an electronic portfolio is that it is portable and convenient – you can fit it in your phone!

What goes in a professional portfolio?

Whether you decide to go paper or online, a professional portfolio has several distinct sections:

Table of contents

Potential employers don’t want to go through a corn maze to get to where they want. Make it easy for viewers to find the sections of your portfolio by including a table of contents at the beginning of the portfolio.

Resume

Most professional portfolios carry an updated version of the job seeker’s resume. If you decide to go with a paper portfolio, include multiple prints of your resume to share among the interview panel. Ensure that your resume aligns with the style of your portfolio.

Work samples

This is the most important section of your portfolio. This is where you get to shine and impress potential employers with your best pieces of work. Choose a few samples that showcase a wide variety of your skills and abilities. Be sure to provide a brief description of each piece, highlighting any special techniques you have used.

Skills and accomplishments

If you have professional certifications that you want potential employers to spot, this is the place to include them. Highlight any professional training and licenses you have received. Ensure that you provide all the necessary information about each qualification.

References

This is an optional section for your portfolio. If you want to save some time during the hiring process, you can include your professional references in the portfolio. Use a selection of personal, professional, and academic references for your job search.

Not having much luck scoring a job with your portfolio? There could be something wrong with your resume. Visit www.resumemansion.com today and revamp your resume for a successful job search!