The fall semester is kicking off very shortly. It is easy to lose focus of the bigger picture when you’re juggling classes, partying, and participating in the things you love. You cannot afford to forget the real reason you are in college! Getting a job after college is not easy. The only way to obtain success is to work hard and plan strategically. My professional portfolio helped me get to where I am today and it will help you make it into the workforce as well.
- Save projects from internships. This is the quickest way to start building a portfolio in college. Digital copies are the best. House them in your Google Drive until you’re ready to make your portfolio website.
- Take class assignments and projects seriously. In my communications and business courses, I was able to save writing pieces and business plans to show potential employers what I could do. Execute each assignment and project with the idea that your potential employer can see it. Bring your best work to the table and you’ll have some awesome pieces to add to your portfolio.
- Ask for extra work. If you haven’t done much on campus or in your internships to have a significant amount of pieces for a portfolio, seek out other opportunities to gain experience! There is no excuse why you shouldn’t have a decent portfolio coming out of college. Opportunity is everywhere. Go find it!
These are my main tips for starting a professional portfolio. When it comes to organization and portfolio hosting, that is left up to you. As a communicator I had things for marketing, public relations, and journalism in my portfolio. Depending on your field, you might want to provide pieces that show you are well rounded. Be creative when it comes to what you put in it and how it looks! WordPress is a great place to house your work as well. So get out there and start building your portfolio!
Keiana Holleman 