Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: How to Collect Materials
• Part 2 of 3: How to Build a Portfolio Website
• Part 3 of 3: How to Create a Print Portfolio
• Tips

A portfolio is a great way to show your creative and professional skills to prospective employers.The building blocks of a portfolio vary greatly depending on your industry, but there are a few universal dimensions as well. First, you will need to collect materials, including examples of work, recommendations and resumes. Then create a portfolio online or in print (or both).

Steps

Part 1 of 3: How to Collect Materials

1. 1 Choose 10-20 quality samples of your work. This is the most important part of your portfolio as samples showcase your working ability. Don't overload your portfolio with a complete listing of your past work. It is enough to limit yourself to 10–20 best examples by which you can judge not only the breadth, but also the depth of your abilities.
   • Specific work samples depend on your field of activity. Thus, the model should choose high-quality photographs, while the writer should prepare a variety of examples of articles or other written material.
2. 2 Make high quality photos their works. Originals may be too valuable to take risks and hand them over to employers along with a portfolio. Take photographs of 3D and 2D works, as well as photocopies of written works. Shoot subjects with a tripod to prevent accidental camera movement, and position the lighting assembly to avoid reflections.
   • If you are attaching an article published in a newspaper or magazine, then in addition to the text of the article, make also photocopies of the first page of the publication and the page with the content.
3. 3 Collect documentary evidence of your accomplishments. If your accomplishments have been covered in articles, attach copies of newspaper clippings. Federal newspapers and magazines will become the most impressive sources, but also do not shy away from articles in local publications, university publications or online publications.
   • If you have served in the army, please include your service record. Include information on awards, titles, or insignia.
   • If you have recently completed your studies or are entering an educational institution, then you can include a diploma or certificate supplement in the kit.
   • Attach any relevant awards or certifications.
4. 4 Ask 3-5 people for recommendations. A list of professional and academic sources should be prepared that can validate your skills and abilities if asked. Choose wisely and get permission from each person to list them on such a list. Include full name, title, email address, mailing address, and telephone number. Also, briefly describe how you connect with the person.
   • Such a list should be no more than one page.
   • This information should not be published online, but it will be useful in a printed portfolio or in an email to an employer who has seen your online portfolio.
5. 5 Make a personal statement. Write a paragraph with concise personal information, long-term and short-term goals, and your approach to work. Depending on your industry, you may also include your creative philosophy, management philosophy, teaching, or similar information.
   • If you are going to show your portfolio to a large number of employers, then your personal statement should be broad enough to cover all the relevant aspects.
   • Use specifics instead of generalizations. For example, write, “My experience in making a full-length student film taught me the perseverance needed to succeed in the challenging independent film industry,” instead of “I've worked on a variety of films and will be the right candidate.”
6. 6 Update your resume. If you haven't updated your resume for a long time, now is the right time, as the resume can be made part of the portfolio. The resume should reflect your current work experience, skills and academic achievements.
   • In the absence of extensive work experience, you can back up your resume with educational awards or volunteer experience.
   • Don't forget to update your resume online.

Part 2 of 3: How to Build a Portfolio Website

1. 1 Create a website based on a template. There are many companies that will allow you to create your website. Some platforms may charge you for advanced features and value-added services, but a simple portfolio site is free to create. There are also convenient sites that pay monthly or yearly (Squarespace).
   • It's best to choose a template with a simple design and minimal animation, rather than overloaded pages with flashy effects.
2. 2 Create a master page with examples of work. This should be the first page that site visitors see. Experiment with different sample layouts and find the most appealing solution. Arrange examples in a grid, frame slides, or scroll list. Use short captions or job descriptions. You can also add a concise subheading indicating your type of activity on the main page, but the bulk of your personal information should be reported on the About Me page.
   • Upload small files to make the page load faster.
3. 3 Add an About Me page. This is where you add your professional portrait and personal statement. Write in the first or third person. Here you can also attach a resume or leave a link to relevant social networks such as a YouTube channel and an Instagram work profile (not a personal page).
   • If you don't know what to write, then keep it simple: “I have been working in graphic design for two years. I live in Saratov and specialize in graphic design for marketing and advertising. I am open to new clients, projects and cooperation. "
   • Check out similar pages on the sites of your "colleagues in the shop".
   • You can also indicate here the current awards or certificates.
4. 4 Create a "Contact Us" page so that you can be contacted. You can create a form that people can use to send you emails, or you can simply provide your email address. If you don't already have a work email address, now is the time to fill that gap.
   • It is better not to list your phone on the network in order not to become a victim of spam. You can share your phone number with people who have contacted you by email for details.
   • Please understand that after you publish your email address, you will receive a lot of spam emails.
5. 5 Experiment with the settings to find the best design. Most website building services allow you to change fonts, colors, and layouts. Choose a simple, legible typeface because your work examples should grab attention, not your titles. Choose the color scheme and theme for your website that best reflects your professional goals.
   • For example, if you want to become an illustrator for children's books, then the site can use pastel colors, but for a financial copywriter, a dark color scheme is more suitable.
6. 6 Collect site feedback prior to launch. Share your site with a friend, family member, teacher, or colleagues. They will help you make the necessary improvements and fix any mistakes you might have made.
   • For a general rating like “good site,” ask for more specificity and explain that you will not be offended by criticism. Ask clear questions like, “Should I change certain text? What do you think about the location of the sample works? Can you get the right impression on the About Me page? "

Part 3 of 3: How to Create a Print Portfolio

1. 1 Use quality paper for printing. You will need quality paper and a color printer. As a general guideline, glossy paper is more suitable for showcasing fine art, while for business, educator, or writer, it is better to print on matte paper. Some creators choose matte paper for their artwork, so it's up to you to decide.
   • Make sure the orientation of all pages in the portfolio is the same (either horizontal or vertical). It should be convenient and easy for a person to browse portfolio pages without having to expand.
2. 2 Supplement the portfolio with a content page (if applicable). The content page will provide potential employers or clients with easy navigation through your jobs and speed up the search for the information they need. If you plan on mailing your portfolio out rather than showing it yourself, then a content page is a good idea.
   • Create content after the portfolio is complete, but place it at the very beginning.
   • You do not need to include page numbers if they are not used in the portfolio, but if you immediately numbered the pages, be sure to include the numbers on the content page.
3. 3 Submit your resume and personal statement first. Add multiple copies of your resume to your printed portfolio so you can leave a copy to a potential employer. Then move on to a personal statement so people get an idea of ​​your professional goals and qualifications. Place a personal statement in front of the work examples to put the work in context.
   • Your shoulder portrait next to your personal statement will give your portfolio a professional look. But if you are a model and your portfolio contains a lot of your photos, you can do without a portrait in your personal statement. If you present the portfolio yourself, then your portrait will be superfluous.
4. 4 Start with the best examples of your work. First, list the samples you are most proud of to make a lasting impression on the employer as soon as they open up the portfolio. Determine the best order of arrangement of works at your own discretion.
   • Resist the temptation to save your best work for last, or you will simply lose clients who do not make it to the end of the portfolio. Better to impress right away.
5. 5 Attach current awards and recommendations at the end of your portfolio. The purpose of a portfolio is to showcase your work, so you should start with examples of work. Do not miss the opportunity to display relevant awards and certificates. Place 3-5 recommendations at the end of the portfolio.
   • Dividers can be used between different parts of the portfolio.
6. 6 Place all pages in a screw file binder. Some types of binder may require separate transparent files. The advantage of a screw binder is the ability to fully open pages and present content in a more professional manner. The files will protect paper from moisture and give an organized look to your portfolio.
   • Files also allow you to insert or extract images to rearrange your work or update your portfolio.
7. 7 Ask your friend or mentor for an opinion on the portfolio. Show your portfolio to someone you know and trust. He can point you to mistakes and suggest the best order for examples of work.
   • Be honest about which review you're interested in. It's okay to want support, but if you want to hear constructive criticism, please report it right away.

Tips

• Update your portfolio regularly to showcase your best work.
• If you want to get a special domain name, you can purchase it on hosting. Choose a short and simple domain name. The ".com" variant seems to be the most reliable, not the ".net" or other variants.