What Is a Portfolio?
Think of a portfolio like a museum of you — a collection of materials that show who you are, what you can do and the qualifications and experiences you’ve gained. Like a resume and cover letter, a portfolio helps you stand out in job searches, college applications or freelance proposals by providing detailed and curated insight into your capabilities and achievements. Unlike resumes, and sort of like cover letters, portfolios are all about showing rather than telling. If you’re a graphic designer, your portfolio might be a collection of promotional artwork you’ve completed for clients or school courses. If you’re a publicist, it might include news coverage you’ve helped to arrange. No two portfolios are alike, but successful ones start — and end — with lots of work examples that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. No two portfolios are alike, but successful ones tend to share a few key themes — namely, a clear structure and a diverse selection of relevant work.
Do I Need a Portfolio?
It depends on the job you’re going for, but in many industries like advertising, journalism and entertainment they’re a huge plus. Independent of any given job application, they’re a great way to consolidate all of your best work in one place, both for your own reference and to show how valuable you are during a performance review.