Why did I start my online portfolio?
All I’ve been thinking about since I graduated was that I want to become a brand strategist. I figured that I needed to stand out when I’m applying to full-time positions because I know there are hundreds of other applicants.
Since graduation, I’ve been on break mode – I was actually in bed scrolling through Instagram when I came across this post from GaryVee.
I was like *Wait, he’s right.* I’ve been having the idea of creating my online portfolio for about a couple of years now. I bought my domain two years ago, but I never did anything about it, even though I have all the resources, e.g., my brother is a web developer! I know I can ask him for help at any time; all I have to do is ask! So after I read GaryVee’s post, I decided to do something about my goals to get there and so I created my online portfolio. I figured that my break is over, and I cannot wait for opportunities to come to me.
I started my online portfolio because I wanted to showcase my work, projects, and the teams that I had been a part of during college. I have a LinkedIn as well, but I felt like I couldn’t put my personality on my LinkedIn because everyone has the same type of page. Also, I had an upcoming job interview for an internship at a marketing agency, and I wanted to be able to show them my work and not just tell my interviewer. This detail helped me land my internship for the summer!
Take a look at my portfolio section below from my site!
How to start your portfolio? Not so fast…
It took me days to work on my portfolio. I would come home from work and work on it for hours straight for a couple of days. I only took a couple of breaks during the time I spent working on my site. BUT! This doesn’t mean it will be like this for you!
For starters, gather all the quality work, projects, items, etc. that you would like to showcase on your portfolio.
What do I mean by quality?
Well, you have so much coursework that you have done for your classes. This work is perfect because you probably have done different kinds of projects in each of your courses for various companies.
What if you got a grade that isn’t an A?
Usually, professors provide feedback on what you could’ve done better next time like grammar issues or if they think that you missed including metrics. Use their feedback to your advantage to fix up your projects and display them on your portfolio!
Okay, you gathered all your work, now what?
Great! Now is the time to start exploring which platform you can use to create your online portfolio.
Different Platforms
There are a ton of different platforms to use, but I created mine on WordPress. There is also Wix, Weebly, Squarespace and more! Every platform is different and offers different services to tailor your needs, so choose one that you think you can best showcase your projects. Personally, I barely started using WordPress, but I like it a lot more than Wix because of its features. I have used Wix in the past to create websites for my organizations that I was part of on campus. I am also using WordPress because I wanted to learn how to use a different platform.
27% of the Internet is Powered by WordPress
Chances are that I might have to use WordPress in the future, so I wanted to be ready. (Source)
You gathered all your work, picked out a platform… what do you do next?
Yay! You did it! Now it’s time to start building your site. Use your creativity or pick out a template from the platform that you have chosen to create your portfolio. This is your moment to shine!
Other things to include
I suggest including any letters of recommendations, certifications, and awards that you may have received. It will not only show your dedication and participation, but it will also show your credibility!
Good luck; you got this! If you have any questions, reach out to me and I’ll be happy to help.
If you have any specific topics you’d like me to feature about next, comment below!
