Are you a graphic designer, UX designer, web designer, or UI designer looking to stand out in the job market? Crafting an impressive portfolio is essential to differentiate your skills and make yourself attractive to hiring managers. With the right approach and tools, you can create a portfolio that captures your creativity, expertise, and accomplishments.
Your portfolio is your calling card — it can be the key to opening the door to your next great opportunity. Creating a portfolio may seem like a daunting task, but there are several steps you can take to make it easier. Here’s our advice for crafting a portfolio that stands out to hiring managers.
##Identify Your Target Audience
The first step in setting up your portfolio should be focusing on the audience it’s meant to serve. Are you targeting potential employers, clients, or partners? If you’re looking for work, your portfolio should be tailored to the specific roles you’re pursuing. Think about the types of roles you’re interested in and the types of companies you’d like to work with. Your portfolio should be tailored to the type of job you’re applying for so hiring managers can quickly identify whether you have the necessary skills for the role.
##Choose Obvious & Unique Projects To Include
When it comes to choosing which projects to include in your portfolio, focus on obvious, unique projects that demonstrate your range of skills. It’s important to showcase your best work, but don’t be afraid to include smaller projects that show your creative process and problem-solving skills. Include case studies of completed projects, screenshots, wireframes, sketches — whatever you think will demonstrate the quality of your work. Remember to keep the content relevant to the specific roles you’re looking to apply for.
##Focus On Quality Over Quantity
Quality is key. Focus on showcasing a few quality projects, rather than a plethora of mediocre work. Hiring managers will appreciate being able to concisely see what you’re capable of. Even if you don’t have a lot of examples to show, focus on the quality of your work — not the quantity.
##Make Sure Your Content Is Up-To-Date
When creating your portfolio, make sure you keep your content up-to-date. If your portfolio includes any outdated content, be sure to delete it so your portfolio is easy to navigate and hirers know they are looking at your most recent work.
##Tell Your Story
A portfolio should tell a story about who you are, why you’re qualified for the job, and what your goals are. Think of your portfolio as an extension of your resume and a creative way to showcase your skills and experience. Use video, photos, text, and animated gifs to draw the viewer in and tell your story.
##Pick the Right Platform
When it comes to selecting the right platform for your portfolio, a portfolio website is usually the best choice. A website gives you the flexibility to design your own portfolio and present your work in a professional way. There are a variety of portfolio website builders available that make it easy to create a website without needing to know how to code.
##Final Thoughts
Creating a portfolio is an essential part of standing out in today’s competitive job market. You want to focus on showcasing your range of skills and creating a portfolio that will draw attention to the types of roles you’re looking to pursue. Remember that the quality of your work is more important than the quantity — focus on telling a story about your accomplishments. With the right portfolio website builder, you can create an impressive portfolio that will send the right message to hiring managers and help you land your dream job.