On the Job

Building a portfolio can seem daunting especially when you don’t know where to start. This guide shows you everything you need to know and a step-by-step guide.
By having a professional portfolio, you can showcase specific examples of work you did in the past. This can have a positive impact on the recruitment process when applying for a permanent or freelance work.

Step by Step Guide

1. Introduction/ Bio

Introduce yourself using a short bio around 100-200 words. Take this space to define the type of work you do.

2.Examples of work

The information you collect to include in your portfolio primarily depends on the type of job you are looking to get. If you are interested in graphic design or art, your portfolio should be put together with specific examples of your artistic work.

Start by categorising your work; this could be using themes, campaigns, styles etc. Within these categories, select your best achieving pieces of work. Your portfolio shouldn’t be about volume, but rather the quality. A well written description should be added to each piece of work to add context. This description should include the goal of the project, your role, the technique, and conclusions (such as results and things you’ve learned). You can also add links to showcase other projects that have been published previously.
 

3. Creative process

Showing the creative process with write-ups, time-lapses, sketchbooks, and mood boards can make you stand out and show your personality. Don’t be afraid of adding photos of yourself working on projects. It is important for some employers to see you in a work environment.


4. Collaborative projects

Add collaborative projects into your portfolio. This can add value and demonstrate you can work within a team. This could be important your future employer.

Regarding the design and platform is completely up to you. We suggest you keep the design intuitive and relatively clean, but also see it as a way to show your personality and to enhance your work. The most common platform for online portfolios are online websites that you can easily create. Behance is a common portfolio platform that is free

Extra Tips

• Sprinkle in your personality to make your portfolio stand out
• Don’t forget to include your contact information and list your social media accounts
• Having other people (experts, previous managers, colleagues, etc) commenting on your work can make a real positive impact on any employer.