5 Tips & Tricks For Mastering Your Digital Portfolio

In case you missed it, our latest site, Generation Hired, just launched! Presented by Neutrogena®, the platform helps students and recent grads be recruited for their dream jobs. With most interview processes being completely remote these days, there’s no better way to stand out to potential employers than by creating a sparkling digital portfolio. Whether you’re applying for an internship or your first job, here are some practical tips to boost your online presence and land your next big role.

Choose what kind of portfolio you want to create.

Before crafting your digital portfolio, establish your career goals. Are you a writer looking for an editorial role? Maybe you’re in tech hoping to catch the attention of a big corporation, or a student applying to graduate school. In this first step, it’s key to consider what roles you’d like to attract, and who the target audience will be so you can wow them with your skills and really stand out. If you’re not sure where to begin, take a look at the digital websites or portfolios of peers or mentors in your industry. Use these as inspiration for when you build your own. 

Identify what projects to showcase. 

Remember your amazing capstone presentation from senior year? Or an article you wrote that sparked a ton of conversation on campus? Maybe you built a successful campaign at your last job, which brought in new opportunities for your company. You’ve worked hard to get where you are, and your digital portfolio is the perfect time to brag about it. 

Make a list of anything and everything you’re proud of, from awards and accolades to personal passion projects. Then, go through and highlight which items best represent you and your abilities. During this step, you may feel pressure to showcase everything you’ve done since the beginning of time — but sometimes, less is more. Aim to focus on quality over quantity. Your portfolio should spark just enough interest for your employers to call you for an interview, where you can really pitch yourself and highlight your unique achievements that make you stand out from the crowd.

Create a mood board for inspiration.

Collage lovers, this one’s for you. Who says professional portfolios have to be boring? Get creative with a fun mood board to help set the tone for your digital presence. While you definitely want to keep things professional, there may be certain colors, fonts, or graphics you can add to make the portfolio feel more “you.” This is also a great time to research the companies you’d like to work for and notice how they’re presenting themselves online. What colors and themes are popping up? What kind of language are they using, and what’s the overall “feel” of the brand? This can be helpful when considering your personal brand and how to demonstrate that you’re the perfect candidate.
 

Find an online website builder that can help.

There are many ways to create a digital portfolio, and chances are, you don’t want to spend a fortune or endless hours learning to code a website from scratch. Once you’ve decided what kind of portfolio suits you best and which projects to highlight, choose a website builder and get creative. There are plenty of templates, styles, themes, and colors to choose from online, including free, user-friendly platforms that’ll make the process less stressful. When your resume lands in a recruiter’s inbox, having a polished, professional website to match your application will impress your future employer.

Have someone look over your portfolio before publishing.

This step is key. Just as you’d have a professor look over your resume before sending it out to a company, make sure your portfolio looks stellar before publishing it online. Ask a friend or colleague you trust to look over it and give honest, constructive feedback. Does the portfolio speak to who you are? Is it free from typos and awkward language? If you’re linking out to any projects, make sure everything works properly so recruiters won’t have trouble sifting through your work. And while your portfolio should definitely be professional and polished, know that it’s an evolving space that you can always add to as your career continues to grow.

As someone who has worked in multiple industries and interviewed for tons of jobs over the years, I understand how tough the job search can be. With a crisp digital portfolio, you’ll stand out in the sea of resumes by highlighting your unique skills and showing future employers what you can do for them. With these simple tips in mind, you’ll be on your way to getting hired in no time. And if you haven’t joined Generation Hired yet, you can build your profile here.