Portfolio Workshop Recap

By Louisa Mattozzi

Get Hired With a Web Portfolio

In an industry constantly evolving and become more visual by the day, why place all your bets on a conventional resume? Why not use the internet age to your advantage?

Why a web portfolio?

Web portfolios have never been more accessible, necessary, or widespread than they are today. Especially in a field continually moving towards digitalization and visualization, web portfolios provide an easily shared collection of any and all forms of work you can use to market yourself to an employer. Physical portfolios are limited in the volume and format of the work you can present. On the other hand, web portfolios allow you to link as many resources as you want without the limits of having to transport your portfolio and enable the seamless integration of any unconventional skills or experience that can assist you in the ever-changing job market. They are also extremely shareable as all one needs for access is a link.

How?

To create a web portfolio, there are plenty of easy to use programs available. The most popular are Wix, Weebly and Squarespace. Throughout the entire website, make sure to use consistent color, font and graphics. The portfolio already contains your resume so take the opportunity to add depth that is impossible through a resume. Only show your highest-quality work. It doesn't matter the volume of work you display if all of it is sub-par. Also, make sure what you advertise is relevant to the niche you want to work in. If you're going to do entertainment PR, for example, display your entertainment work.

What to include?

Cover page

Your cover page should be the least in-depth page in the portfolio. You can use a professional photo of yourself, write a short bio, or concisely showcase your most relevant experience. Display your name, use visuals that represent you well, and keep consistent with your visual branding.

Resume Page

Either design a webpage as your resume or have one page where you have embed the resume for easy access. This is simply here to provide your resume as a resource.

Work Experience Pages

Divide up your experience into separate pages. You can use a full webpage to describe one internship. Use photos of your work life, screenshots of media you created and anything else to help outline your corporate experience. Pics, or it didn't happen!

Leadership Page

Create a page that showcases any leadership experiences. These are usually extracurricular leadership positions from your university.

Skills

If you work in various mediums, then laying out the services you offer can be helpful. Create a page that lists out every area in which you are skilled.

Published Work Page

If you have any published work, put it here. Either embed a preview or simply link directly to where the work is located.

Analytics Page

If possible, display how your work created a marked improvement in analytics over the time you made content for an account. This shows your work begins a tangible increase in revenue and relevance, which increases your value to a potential employer.

Blog

In addition to your published work, self-publish some pieces you are personally passionate about to showcase your writing. We live in a modern, interconnected age. Who needs a pre-established platform to create? Maybe you can even grow your own reader base for extra kudos.

Award Page

A great option to showcase any awards won in college.

Contact Page

Now that everyone's seen your work, they need to contact you to hire you. Make it easy for them.

Other

If you have a creative interest or experience that doesn't fit into any of the above categories, add a page! You never know what about you could get you your next job. Maybe it's your expert banjo playing.

Since everyone brings different skills to the workplace, your portfolio will be far removed from mine or any other professional. I can't tell you precisely what to create, so now it's up to you. What do you want to showcase? How do you want to market yourself? You've got endless options and creativity to guide you. Go get 'em, tiger.