A career portfolio functions as a valuable visual platform for creatively showcasing your work and experience. It can be a physical document, an electronic folder, a website, social media, cloud storage, a blog, or a video channel. A well-designed portfolio can convince a potential employer or client that you are the right person for the job!
Portfolios are expected in
- marketing
- business
- communications
- culinary arts
- digital media
- information technology
GETTING STARTED
A career portfolio (also known as a “work portfolio,” “professional portfolio,” “e-portfolio,” “digital portfolio,” or “job portfolio”) can accompany your resume, cover letter, and reference list and help the potential employer see the full range of your qualifications and skills. Depending on the career field, your portfolio may include primarily visual work or data/text examples or both.
When should I start my career portfolio?
Start now! A college degree cannot fully show who you are as a professional. Creating an e-portfolio while you pursue your education will help you gather additional evidence of your skills and credentials for
- finding internships
- pursuing scholarships
- connecting with mentors
- creating a professional career portfolio after graduation
Decide your purpose and audience
Ask yourself these questions to guide the content and visual design of your career portfolio:
How is a portfolio used in my career field?
Will a hiring manager view it as part of my application?
Will a department supervisor use it to decide my level of skill or experience?
Will a client look at it to decide if I’m the right person for the job?
Keep a project notebook
To begin, write down the dates and descriptions of the all the important career-related projects you have completed. Store this visual or written material in a folder as a resource for creating your career portfolio.
Use a high-quality digital platform to create your portfolio
Here are some of the top digital platforms for career portfolios:
Choose a format that is easy-to-navigate and has the expected sections
Portfolio sections may vary depending on your career field, so be sure to look at portfolio examples in your field before you start. For help with creating each section, see Creating the Sections of a Career Portfolio.
- Cover Page
- Contents
- About (with optional photo)
- Skills
- Accomplishments
- Work Samples
- References and Recommendations
- Education, Licenses, and Certifications
- Resume and/or CV
- Contact
Put the link to your career portfolio in your resume heading
FULL NAME (Credential, if applicable)
Street Address, City, MI 00000
(000) 000-0000 email@example.com
Digital Portfolio Link LinkedIn
Career portfolio examples
Use these examples to inspire your own portfolio design!
Culinary Portfolio
Health Science Portfolio
Marketing Portfolio
Teaching Portfolio
Business Portfolio
Web Design Portfolio
Games Software Development Portfolio
Revised 11 November 2024