Portfolios are a collection of work samples such as class projects, write-ups, events managed, photos, graphics, and other visual designs. They are an excellent and practical method to display your strongest abilities because they act as evidence—they not only tell recruiters about what you can do, but they also show it. Portfolios may be physical or digital, but in today’s age of technology, you may want to appear modern and up-to-date, so go for digital. Read through our article about what digital portfolios are to learn more.

Now that you have a good idea of what a portfolio is, you might be wondering how you can make it appealing and hire-worthy. Well, we’ve got you covered.

1. Remember the purpose of your portfolio.

Bear in mind that you are applying for a job, so you have to impress potential employers with who you are and what you can offer. Your portfolio should then present why you are the best candidate in a coherent and cohesive way. Usually, you have to submit a résumé alongside a portfolio. Therefore, your portfolio should also support the information found in your résumé.

Tailor your portfolio to meet what your target company is looking for. Take a look at your past work and choose the relevant samples. This actually takes us to the next tip, which is a well-known golden rule…

2. Focus on quality over quantity.

Don’t you agree that less is more? So a portfolio may be a compilation, but it does not mean you have to compile everything you have accomplished. Include work samples that you are most proud of. If you are having a difficult time, what you can do is rank all of them first and then select the top 10. Another trick is to pick the most recent ones, for example, within the past 5 years.

3. Ensure your portfolio is organised and easy to navigate.

Whether it is physical or digital, your portfolio should look clean and professional. Ensure the content is in a systematic order, for example, you can lay them out by category. In fact, Outwiths arranges your projects in industrial categories like Art and Design, Business, Engineering, Healthcare, and Marketing. In the portfolio tab, your work samples and their corresponding featured photos are presented. The specific industrial categories are also laid out.

4. Go back to the basics.

Other than your work samples, your portfolio should contain your basic information like contact details and academic history. Make sure your contact information is complete and put only one active email address and phone number to avoid confusing recruiters (and yourself, too). Your academic background is also something potential employers would want to look into, especially if the job position entails a certain level of education. Moreover, your academic history, by some means, demonstrates your progress as a student, desire to succeed, and work ethic.

Writing a bio or “About” page is something you might want to consider as well. This adds a personal touch to your portfolio and you can be as creative as you want here. Use that as an advantage to draw attention, but be careful about oversharing information and overselling yourself.

Outwiths neatly presents your contact information, educational profile, and personal bio. It also lets you upload a copy of your résumé. 

5. Include testimonials. 

Testimonials, endorsements, or simply recommendations, can truly enhance your portfolio. They help boost your credibility and validate your skills and character. You can request testimonials from former and/or current teachers, employers, colleagues, and other respected professionals.

There you have it! We hope these tips help you put together a hire-worthy job portfolio!

To get you started, give Outwiths a try and unlock the power of your portfolio.