How to Make a Perfect Portfolio
Sometimes it is not enough to have the ideal resume and professional self-presentation and whether you fit the job.
A portfolio contains the best examples of the candidate's work that best demonstrates his skills in one area or another. Today, a portfolio is not just a collection of photos, articles, or sketches. It can include presentations and a personal site of a specialist, etc. Many people use professional executive resume writing services, but still, let`s figure it out.
Who needs a portfolio?
First of all, for the successful employment of the portfolio use representatives of the creative professions:
- designer
- actor
- musician
- journalist
- model, etc.
Recently, examples of their professional activity also began to provide PR specialists, teachers, programmers, builders, and confectioners, all of those whose work can be seen in reality. Also, the portfolio will be relevant if you have created something fundamentally new. For example, a university teacher who created his program or your work is project-based.
If you are an accountant, public servant, clerk, or pharmacist, then you are unlikely to need to showcase your work. Usually, the employer makes it clear what candidate he expects for examples of work. Therefore, vacancies can often be found with the note «Please include portfolio references in the CV».
What is the structure of the portfolio?
Examples of your work can be provided to the employer either electronically or in hard copy. An online portfolio is sent with a resume to make it easier for the employer to decide on the application.
Applicants take the job interview with them for a visual demonstration of their skills. When creating a portfolio in any format, you need to follow a few simple rules to get a potential manager to consider your talent.
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Structure
A portfolio should not be a reliable document with an unclear structure. Divide your work into categories: yes, a photographer can have family, subject matter, wedding, and street photography. A journalist has analytics, reports, interviews, feuilletons, and more. It will help your employer understand that you are not a specialist and are not afraid of new challenges.
Also, think about the principle of sorting in headings: alphabetical order, direction, date, distance, etc. Specialists advise you to place jobs in the portfolio from older to new so that you will show an employer your professional growth and experience.
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Variety
The portfolio should contain as many different jobs as possible. That is, if you are a designer, then add all your creations, from booklets to serious scientific journals. But if you are a journalist submitting your resume to a vacant political columnist position, it is best not to include your show business notes or auto parts materials in your portfolio.
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Only the best
A small amount of your best work is required in the portfolio - ideally, 5-7, so that the employer can look at them all and make a reasonable opinion about you. Some applicants deliberately show off their brilliant work so that the management does not expect them to be uninterrupted masterpieces.
But this strategy is wrong. Because the employer understands that a portfolio is a presentation of your achievements, not a daily task, also, do not add all your work. Still, no one will be able to see them, but you will only think of yourself as a narcissistic person.
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Description
Do not spare time for a detailed description of your work. Tell the employer what goals you set, how much time you spent completing the task, what difficulties you faced, and how you overcame them. If you have feedback from grateful customers, attach that as well. Make sure you include your date and contact information.
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Check your literacy
Small stylistic or even punctuation errors can outline all your merits. In particular, this applies to journalists, copywriters, and teachers.
Therefore, before submitting your portfolio, be sure to read it and correct any errors. If you are unsure of your knowledge, then seek professional help.