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Professional Portfolio: Tips and Examples for 2024

In today’s competitive job market, it is essential to stand out from the crowd. Employers are no longer interested in just seeing on-paper qualifications and grades; they want to see practical evidence of your skills and knowledge. One of the best ways to showcase your experience, skills, and accomplishments is through a professional portfolio.

What is a professional portfolio?

A professional portfolio is a collection of materials that demonstrate your knowledge, skills, abilities, and accomplishments. It may include examples of your work, certificates, awards, testimonials, and any other valuable material that supports your professional development. A professional portfolio provides potential employers with a comprehensive view of your skills set, experiences, and achievements.

Why is it important to have a professional portfolio?

Having a professional portfolio is critical in today’s job market for several reasons. First, it provides potential employers with tangible evidence of your skills and achievements, which can be an influential factor in the hiring process. A portfolio shows employers that you have experience in your respective field and that you take your professional development seriously.

Second, having a professional portfolio demonstrates your ability to organize your work and plan your career. By creating a portfolio, you can reflect on and evaluate your past achievements and experiences, which can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses.

Third, a professional portfolio can help you to stand out from the competition. If you are up against other candidates with similar qualifications and experience, having a diverse and well-presented professional portfolio can set you apart.

A professional portfolio is an essential tool for advancing your career prospects. By investing time and effort into creating a well-structured and comprehensive portfolio, you can demonstrate your skills, knowledge, experiences and increase your chances of landing your desired job.

Types of Professional Portfolios

When it comes to building a professional portfolio, there are three main types to consider: digital, physical, and combination portfolios. Each type has its advantages and can be tailored to fit your specific needs and preferences.

Digital Portfolios

Digital portfolios are becoming increasingly popular in today’s digital age. They are created and hosted online, making them easily accessible to potential employers, clients, and colleagues. Digital portfolios can include a variety of different media types such as images, videos, and written content. One of the most significant benefits of digital portfolios is that they are easy to update and maintain, which is particularly useful if you are frequently adding new work to your portfolio.

Physical Portfolios

Physical portfolios, on the other hand, are physical collections of your work that you can take with you to interviews or client meetings. They can be made from various materials, including leather or fabric, and can be customized to fit your personal style. Physical portfolios are particularly useful if you work in a creative field, such as graphic design or photography, where showcasing your actual work in a tactile format is critical.

Combination Portfolios

A combination portfolio, as the name suggests, is a mix of digital and physical portfolios. This type of portfolio can provide the best of both worlds. It can be online, making it easy to share with potential employers and colleagues, but also include physical elements to showcase your work in a more tangible way. For example, you could include a printed booklet of your work alongside a digital version of your portfolio website.

Choosing the right type of professional portfolio depends on your specific needs and preferences. Digital portfolios are ideal for those working in digital and tech-focused fields, while physical portfolios are great if you work in creative fields. Combination portfolios can provide the best of both worlds and can be effective in many professions. Whatever type of portfolio you choose, make sure that it showcases your best work and highlights your skills and qualifications.

Planning and Organizing Your Professional Portfolio

A professional portfolio is a powerful tool that showcases your skills, accomplishments, and experience to potential employers, clients, or collaborators. However, creating a successful portfolio requires more than just gathering samples of your work and putting them online or in a physical format. To make sure your portfolio stands out and effectively communicates your value proposition, you need to plan and organize it strategically. Here are some key steps to follow.

Identify your purpose and audience

Before you start selecting or creating materials for your portfolio, ask yourself what specific goals you want to achieve with it. Are you looking for a job in a particular field? Are you trying to attract new clients for your freelance work? Do you want to showcase your development as a professional over time? By clarifying your purpose, you can better tailor your portfolio’s content, style, and message to the needs and expectations of your target audience.

Choose what to include and exclude

Once you know your purpose and audience, you can start deciding which items best demonstrate your strengths and potential to your stakeholders. Depending on your field, you may want to include different types of materials such as writing samples, design projects, presentations, academic papers, testimonials, awards, or certifications. However, you should also be selective and make sure that each item supports your overall narrative and enhances your brand. Avoid including redundant, irrelevant, or outdated work, even if you feel attached to it.

Create a logical and easy-to-navigate format

After you have collected your strongest assets, it’s time to organize them in a way that is coherent, user-friendly, and visually appealing. Consider different formats such as a website, a PDF document, or a physical binder, and think about how your content will flow from section to section. Use clear headings, subheadings, tags, or menus to help your viewers find what they are interested in quickly. Break up long texts with images, graphs, icons, or other multimedia elements that reinforce your message and style.

Balance design and content

Finally, remember that your portfolio is not only a showcase of what you have done, but also a representation of who you are and what you can offer as a professional. Therefore, you should pay attention to both the look and feel of your portfolio and the substance and quality of your work. Choose a design that reflects your personality, fits your target audience’s aesthetics, and highlights your uniqueness. At the same time, make sure that your content is well-written, coherent, error-free, and aligned with your industry standards and ethics.

By following these tips, you can create a professional portfolio that effectively communicates your value proposition, showcases your achievements, and lands you more opportunities in your career.

Essential Components of a Professional Portfolio

When creating a professional portfolio, there are several essential components that should be included to showcase your skills and experience. These components are:

Cover page:  Your cover page should be visually appealing and include your name, profession, and contact information.

Introduction and personal statement:  This section should introduce yourself and include a personal statement that highlights your goals and objectives as a professional.

Resume/CV:  Your resume or curriculum vitae should be included in your portfolio and should provide a detailed overview of your work history, education, and skills.

Work samples and project descriptions:  This section is where you can showcase examples of your work and provide detailed descriptions of your role in each project.

Professional development and certifications:  In this section, you can include any professional development courses, workshops, or certifications you have earned to demonstrate your commitment to ongoing learning and growth.

Awards and recognition:  If you have received any awards or recognition for your work, be sure to include them in your portfolio as they serve as a testament to your abilities and accomplishments.

Testimonials or references:  Including testimonials or references from clients or colleagues can help provide evidence of your skills and expertise from a third-party perspective.

Remember, a professional portfolio is a reflection of your skills, experience, and achievements, and it should be tailored to your specific goals and objectives as a professional. By including these essential components, you can create a well-rounded portfolio that showcases your strengths and sets you apart from your peers.

Designing Your Professional Portfolio

Your professional portfolio is not just about showcasing your work, it’s also about how you present it. The design of your portfolio is as important as the work you put in it. Potential clients or employers will judge your work based on how it is presented. The following tips will help you design a visually consistent and user-friendly portfolio:

Choose a consistent visual style

The first step in designing your portfolio is to choose a consistent visual style. Your portfolio should reflect your personal and professional brand. Your portfolio should have a consistent look and feel that complements the type of work you do. For example, if you are a graphic designer, a clean and minimalistic design may be more appropriate than a flashy and colorful design.

Use color, fonts, and layouts effectively

Color, fonts, and layouts are essential elements in creating a visually appealing portfolio. Choose a color palette that suits your style and brand. Stick to a maximum of three to four fonts for easy readability. Use grids or columns to organize your content and make it more accessible. Make sure your design is consistent across all pages of your portfolio.

Incorporate multimedia elements

Incorporating multimedia elements such as images, videos, and audio can add depth and interest to your portfolio. Make sure the multimedia elements you use are relevant to your work and complement the overall design. High-quality images and videos can help showcase your work in the best possible light.

Ensure accessibility and user-friendliness

Your portfolio should be easy to navigate and accessible to all users. Pay attention to the readability of your content by using appropriate font sizes and line spacing. Make sure your portfolio is optimized for mobile devices, as many users browse the internet on their smartphones. Consider adding alternative text to images so that visually impaired users can still understand the content.

Designing a professional portfolio is a crucial step in showcasing your work. Use consistent visual style, color, fonts, and layouts effectively. Incorporate multimedia elements while ensuring accessibility and user-friendliness. By following the above tips, your portfolio will not only showcase your work but also be an impressive reflection of your personal brand.

Crafting a Personal Statement

When it comes to building a professional portfolio, a personal statement is a crucial component. But what exactly is a personal statement and why is it important? We’ll explore all of that and more below.

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement is a brief introduction to who you are as a professional. It’s typically 1-2 paragraphs in length and highlights your skills, experience, and aspirations. In a job application or portfolio, the personal statement is often the first impression a reader has of you.

Why is it important?

As mentioned, the personal statement is often the first thing a reader will see. It’s your chance to make a great first impression and establish yourself as a highly skilled and capable professional. Additionally, an effective personal statement can help you stand out from other applicants and showcase your unique talents.

Tips for writing an effective personal statement

When crafting your personal statement, keep the following tips in mind:

Be concise: You only have a few paragraphs to work with, so make every word count. Stick to the most important information about your skills, experience, and goals.

Focus on your strengths: Your personal statement should highlight your unique qualities and what sets you apart from other professionals in your field.

Be specific: Use concrete examples to illustrate your experience and achievements. This will help paint a clear picture of who you are as a professional.

Avoid clichés: Phrases like “hardworking” and “team player” are overused and don’t showcase your individuality. Instead, use language that is specific to your experiences and accomplishments.

Edit, edit, edit: Make sure your personal statement is polished and error-free. Have someone else read it over for feedback and make any necessary revisions.

By following these tips, you can craft an effective personal statement that will make a great impression and help you stand out in your field.

Tips for Showcasing Your Work Samples

When putting together a professional portfolio, it’s important to carefully consider the work samples you include. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

Choose the right type and number of work samples:  Be thoughtful about which projects you include in your portfolio. Consider showcasing a variety of work that demonstrates your range of skills and expertise, while also highlighting your strengths. However, don’t overlook the importance of quality over quantity. It’s better to showcase three to five exceptional examples of your work than to include a lengthy list of mediocre accomplishments.

Provide context and description for each sample:  It’s not enough to simply display a project and expect the viewer to understand its significance. Instead, provide some background information about the project, such as the client, the goals, and your role in its creation. Additionally, include a brief description of your thought process and problem-solving approach. This will give potential employers a better understanding of your skills and experience.

Highlight your unique skills and achievements:  Don’t be afraid to showcase your accomplishments and highlight your unique strengths. This is your chance to stand out from other candidates, so make sure to emphasize what makes you special. Additionally, consider including testimonials from clients or supervisors that highlight your talents and abilities.

Keep your work samples up to date:  It’s important to keep your portfolio current by updating it with your latest and greatest work. Be sure to also remove any outdated or irrelevant projects that no longer showcase your current skill set. Aim to update your portfolio at least once a year, if not more frequently.

By following these tips, you’ll be able to create a professional portfolio that effectively showcases your skills and expertise while also highlighting your unique strengths and achievements.

Using Social Media and Online Platforms to Showcase Your Portfolio

In today’s digital age, social media and online platforms have become crucial tools for showcasing your professional portfolio. Whether you’re a graphic designer, writer, or marketing professional, it’s essential to have a strong online presence to promote your work and attract potential clients.

Here’s an overview of popular online platforms that can help you showcase your portfolio:

LinkedIn : LinkedIn is a professional social networking site that allows you to create a profile highlighting your skills, experience, and achievements. You can also showcase your portfolio by adding multimedia content to your profile, such as videos, images, and links to your work. With over 700 million users, LinkedIn is an excellent platform for networking and connecting with potential clients.

Behance : Behance is an online platform that focuses on showcasing creative portfolios, including graphic design, photography, and illustration. It’s a great platform to showcase your work and get inspiration from other creatives. Behance allows you to create a free profile where you can upload your work and curate your project display.

YouTube : YouTube is a video-sharing platform that offers great opportunities for showcasing your work in a dynamic and visually compelling way. If you’re a video producer, filmmaker, or animator, then YouTube is an ideal platform to showcase your portfolio. You can create a YouTube channel and upload your videos, along with descriptions and links to your other online profiles.

Now that you know about the popular platforms, here are some tips to optimize your profiles or pages:

Choose a professional profile picture : Your profile picture is your first impression, and it’s important to choose an image that reflects your professionalism.

Craft a compelling headline : When creating your profile or page, be sure to craft a succinct and compelling headline that conveys your expertise and value.

Showcase your best work : It’s essential to highlight your best work in your portfolio. Choose a selection of projects that showcase your skills and experience, and provide context and details on each project.

Include a call-to-action : Encourage potential clients to reach out to you by including a call-to-action (CTA). Invite them to contact you for more information about your services, or to view your complete portfolio.

Once you have optimized your social media profiles or pages, it’s time to start sharing and cross-promoting your portfolio.

Here are some best practices for sharing and cross-promoting your portfolio:

Be consistent : Create a consistent brand identity across all your online profiles and share your work regularly across multiple platforms.

Leverage hashtags : Use hashtags relevant to your industry or niche to make your content discoverable to potential clients and followers.

Engage with your audience : Engage with your audience by responding to comments and messages, and share relevant content to establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry.

Tailoring Your Professional Portfolio for Different Audiences and Goals

When it comes to creating a professional portfolio, it’s essential to keep in mind who your target audience is and the goals you want to achieve. No two job applications or industries are the same, and showcasing the same strengths and accomplishments for every audience will not yield the best results. Here are some tips on how to tailor your professional portfolio for different audiences and goals.

Adapting to Specific Job Applications or Industries

The first step in tailoring your professional portfolio is to research the job application or industry you are targeting. Each job application will have specific requirements and expectations. For instance, if you’re applying for a marketing job, your portfolio should feature your marketing campaigns, while if you’re applying for a teaching job, your portfolio should highlight your teaching experience.

Similarly, each industry has its own unique set of skills and qualifications that employers are looking for. It is important to showcase your specific skills that match with the industry requirements. For example, If you are applying for an AI developer position, you might want to include a list of AI programming languages you are skilled at.

Showcasing Different Strengths and Accomplishments for Different Audiences

Once you have researched the audience and job application, it’s time to tailor your portfolio content to showcase your strengths and accomplishments that align with the specific requirements. Your portfolio should demonstrate how your skills and experiences are relevant to the specific industry, job, or company.

For instance, if you’re applying for a leadership role, you should include projects you have led and their impact on the organization, while if you’re applying for a creative role, you should showcase your creative work.

Using Your Portfolio to Demonstrate Growth and Learning Over Time

Finally, your professional portfolio should demonstrate how you have grown and learned over time. Employers want to see evidence of personal and professional development, and one way to show that is by showcasing a range of projects that demonstrate different skill sets at different levels of expertise.

For example, you might include early projects that showcase your learning journey and later projects that demonstrate your mastery of advanced skills. You can creatively show growth by providing examples of projects that showcase progress and development over time.

Example Professional Portfolios: What Works and Why

In this section, we will review a range of professional portfolios from different industries and fields. Our analysis will focus on identifying the strengths and weaknesses of each portfolio, as well as highlighting key takeaways that you can apply when creating your own portfolio.

Review of Professional Portfolios

We have selected a diverse range of professional portfolios from various industries, including design, education, and marketing. Each portfolio showcases a distinct style and approach, which demonstrates how to tailor your portfolio to your industry or field.

Our analysis of these portfolios will include an evaluation of the following:

• Design and layout
• Content and organization
• Navigation and user experience
• Use of multimedia (e.g., images, video, audio)

Analysis of Strengths and Weaknesses

Through our analysis, we will identify the strengths and weaknesses of each portfolio, taking into account their intended purpose and target audience. We will highlight successful elements such as clear and concise storytelling, engaging visuals, and easy-to-follow navigation. We will also provide constructive feedback on areas that could be improved, such as organization and presentation of content.

Key Takeaways and Lessons for Creating Your Own Portfolio

We will conclude this section by sharing key takeaways and lessons that can be applied when creating your own professional portfolio. These takeaways will include actionable advice on how to showcase your skills and achievements effectively and how to create a portfolio that is engaging and relevant to your audience.

This section will provide a comprehensive review of professional portfolios from different industries and fields, with an analysis of their strengths and weaknesses. We will also offer key takeaways and lessons that can be used to create a successful and effective professional portfolio.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Professional Portfolios

Are you considering creating a professional portfolio? Perhaps you have already started, but are unsure about the best strategies for success. Here are some of the most common questions and answers regarding professional portfolios.

Who needs a professional portfolio?

Ideally, everyone who is seeking to advance their professional careers should have a professional portfolio. However, certain professions may require them more than others, such as designers, photographers, artists, writers, architects, and other creative professionals.

Even if you are not in a creative field, having a professional portfolio can still be beneficial, as it showcases your skills and accomplishments. It gives you a competitive edge and makes you stand out in a crowded job market.

When should you start building your professional portfolio?

The earlier you start building your professional portfolio, the better. Starting early allows you to collect and curate your work over time, making it easier to compile a finished product later on.

Ideally, you should start building your portfolio in college or the early stages of your career. However, it’s never too late to start. Even seasoned professionals can benefit from having a current and updated professional portfolio.

How often should you update or revise your professional portfolio?

You should aim to update and review your professional portfolio regularly. It’s important to keep it updated with your latest work, accomplishments, and achievements.

In general, you should aim to update your professional portfolio every six months to one year. However, if you have a lot of new work to showcase, it’s better to update it more frequently.

What are common mistakes to avoid when creating a professional portfolio?

One common mistake when creating a professional portfolio is not tailoring it to your audience. It’s essential to understand who your audience is and what they are looking for. You should curate your work accordingly and highlight your most relevant and impressive pieces.

Another mistake is including too much or too little information. It’s important to strike a balance between showcasing your work and overwhelming your audience. You should aim to include only your best and most recent pieces.

Finally, not paying attention to the presentation can also be a mistake. Your portfolio should be well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate. It should showcase your work effectively and make it easy for your audience to view and understand.

A professional portfolio is an essential tool for advancing your career. By answering these frequently asked questions, we hope to have provided you with some useful tips and strategies for building a successful professional portfolio. Remember to keep your portfolio updated and relevant, and showcase your best work in a professional and visually appealing manner.

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14 Fantastic Professional Portfolio Examples

A professional portfolio is a powerful tool to advance your career. That’s because it’s a great showcase of your expertise and dedication, using real-world samples and examples of your work.

These examples may come from your studies, previous work experience, and even hobbies. What really matters is that you  use your earlier experiences to land a new job, more clients, build a bigger professional network or garner some recognition.

It’s easier to understand this concept by checking out a few exceptional examples of professional portfolios:

Professional portfolio examples

What is a professional portfolio?

A professional portfolio is a physical or digital document containing work samples. Whether a professional portfolio should be a digital or physical document depends on the standards in your field. If you’re not sure, just know that nowadays, digital portfolios are the standard.

The work samples in your portfolio can be

• organized into galleries or folders , or
• included in case studies that reveal the process behind them.

Case studies mix visuals and text to demonstrate professional skills and processes in practice. Galleries achieve the same while remaining almost purely visual: grids, feeds, carousels, etc.

Who needs a professional portfolio?

In some professions, having a portfolio is mandatory to land a job. In all other cases, you should consider having a professional portfolio if you think it could advance your career: get new clients, grow your professional network, and help you reach more people. But also, wanting to have a portfolio is reason enough.

The 4 purposes of a professional portfolio

1. back up your resumé.

Almost all jobs require a resume listing your skills, achievements, educational background, and work experience. However, there are many fields where you also need to submit a professional portfolio.

Such fields include design, architecture, engineering, artistic fields, and everything that’s heavily visual. In many of these professions, the portfolio is weighted heavier than the resume.

There are many reasons for this, two of the most important being taste and precision. Using your work samples – drawings, designs, layouts, and whatnot – you can prove that:

• You’re familiar with industry standards and practices , and
• Your work and taste are fit for the potential employer.

2. Show your personal taste

Since portfolios are a more substantial format – mostly websites – they provide the perfect canvas for you to showcase more of your work, your personal taste, or your process. There’s an important takeaway here:

Throughout your career, you might have been influenced to make choices that don’t necessarily represent your aesthetic preferences, and that’s a valuable asset: it shows that you can adapt. But in the case of your portfolio , you are the commissioner. Therefore, how it looks will give your potential employer or client a better idea of your taste.

So, choose your portfolio layout, colors, fonts, whitespace, and visuals wisely.

3. Reveal more about yourself

A portfolio can also contain your professional manifesto. Many professionals use their About page to tell their story of becoming who they are today – their inspirations, goals, and struggles. People find it much easier to relate to such stories than a timeline of work experience.

People find it much easier to relate to stories than a timeline of work history.

4. A hub for all your professional material

Portfolios are also practical. They are like a one-stop hub for everything relating to you as a professional: samples of your work, case studies, resumé, and contacts. This is especially beneficial if you do freelance work since a potential client can check out your work, your accolades, and contact you from the same place.

Create a professional portfolio in 8 steps

Step 1: choose your platform.

Unless you’re specifically requested to submit a physical or PDF portfolio, you should go for a portfolio website. To build one, the first step is choosing the best portfolio-building platform for you. You can go for dedicated portfolio builders – such as ours, UXfolio, that’s made for UX designers – or general website builders. Both comes with its own benefits:

Website builders

With website builders you can create any type of website: e-commerce, blog, landing pages, portfolios, and more. They usually have a vast gallery of templates that can be altered for your purposes. However, website builders can be overwhelming and distractive for those who just want a professional portfolio.

Portfolio builders

As their name suggests, portfolio builders are more specialized. Their templates are designed for portfolios, and their features are aimed at people who want to build something simple yet expressive. Because of their limitations, portfolio builders will keep you focused on all the essentials that are necessary to land a job.

Step 2: Pick a template

Once you have the platform, you should take a close look at its template gallery to find the template that’s best for you. While browsing, keep in mind that those are just templates , nothing but a foundation: you will be able to customize them according to your liking.

What makes a good portfolio template?

Above all, a good portfolio template is usable. Think of the people who will come in touch with it, and make sure that the template you choose will be convenient for them to use. Don’t try to reinvent the wheel: if something works or is the industry standard, there’s a good reason for it.

Our advice is simple: it’s hard to miss with a clean and streamlined portfolio template. 

Step 3: Customize your template

The next step is to add your personal touch to the template. For most people, this is the most enjoyable part of portfolio building. Customization means that you can play around with colors, fonts, images, page layouts, and all the fun stuff.

If you’re easily distracted or prone to procrastination, we suggest you keep this step for last. Yes, the look of your portfolio is important, but it’s only second to content.

Step 4: Add your work samples

This is the part where your professional portfolio fulfills its purpose, which is to showcase your skills through samples and examples. Depending on your profession, this step can be time consuming, but here are a 5 pointers that’ll make it easier:

• Feature your best work only (“kill your darlings”).
• Leave out everything that’s irrelevant or outdated.
• Lead with the most impressive samples/projects.
• Be frugal with your words (keep the copy to a minimum).
• Create order with whitespace, visual hierarchy, and font styles (weight, size).

Step 5: Create an About page

According to our data, About pages are extremely popular among portfolio visitors. Not only do they click on them, but they also spend a considerable amount of time reading them.

This reflects our time as we realize how vital company culture is. Today, HR managers are looking for people who, on top of being qualified, are also a good fit. An About page can help them in this quest.

What to write about on your About page?

If you’re not sure what to write about, just answer a few questions from this list:

• Why did you choose your profession?
• What was your journey to becoming a professional in what you do?
• What are your inspirations? Where do you find inspiration?
• What motivates you to do what you do?
• What is your favorite part about being
• Who are your professional heroes, and why?
• Your favorite books that relate to your profession.

You can also upload an image of yourself (if you feel like it). This doesn’t have to be a professional portrait unless you’re working in one of those serious professions (looking at you, architects). For the rest of us, a high-quality selfie will do.

Step 6: Fill in the details

By this time, the most challenging steps are behind you. The rest can be done on autopilot with a nice playlist in the background:

• Upload your resume in PDF format and make it easy to find. Always use a downloadable format so it’s easy to save. Remember: the wheel doesn’t need any reinventing.
• Add your contact information or a contact form (preferably on a dedicated contact page). You can use a mail-to link for your email address to make everyone’s life easier.

Step 7: Find your domain

Having a domain with your name makes a big difference. It signals that you take your career seriously and makes a portfolio feel complete. If your name is already taken, try with various abbreviations, add your title, or try different top-level domains (.info, .net, etc.).

Step 8: Test your portfolio before sharing it

Now that’s everything set up, send the link to your portfolio to that one friend (or more) who loves you enough to be honest. You can also ask a colleague or classmate to check your portfolio. The purpose of this is to make sure that everything works as it should.

How to utilize your portfolio?

On top of sending it with your applications, your portfolio can help you in many different ways. Here are a few ideas on making the most of it:

• Ask for portfolio reviews in Facebook groups, Slack communities, or online forums. With the feedback you’ll receive you can polish your portfolio. Also, in the process you can find new opportunities and build your professional network.
• Share your portfolio on LinkedIn and in professional communities. LinkedIn is given, as its purpose is to promote yourself. Other professional communities (Slack channels, Discords, Reddits, Facebook groups) have dedicated channels or days where/when you can do self-promo. This makes it less awkward, as everybody else will be self-promoting.
• Reach out to people you look up to in your profession. No, this doesn’t have to be pushy or awkward. Just ask for their professional opinion on your work and for career advice. This, also, can help you perfect your portfolio and build your professional network.

If you’ve read this far, you’re ready to take the first steps toward creating an impressive portfolio for yourself. If you want to learn more about portfolio building and portfolios in general, check out some of our relevant guides and articles:

• 18 Digital Portfolio Examples & a Guide for Yours
• 3 Portfolio Cover Page Tips with Great Examples
• 49 Stunning Portfolio Templates & a Guide for Choosing Yours

If you’re looking for a portfolio builder that was made for UX/UI and product designers, try our product, UXfolio !

10 mins read

5 About Me Examples for Your Perfect Portfolio

What does a good "About Me" section look like on your portfolio? Try getting some ideas from these 5 examples.

Shreya Bose

Written by Shreya Bose , edited by Protim Bhaumik , reviewed by Eric Hauch .

2. Aug 2023 , updated 2. Aug 2023

Your potential clients aren't just looking to hire your skills. They are also seeking to hire YOU.

Aren't they the same? Well, no.

Let's say a brand is looking for a content writer. The catch is that they want this writer to attend relevant industry events, gather insights and use them to create cutting-edge content. To do so, a writer doesn't just need to be good with the written word. They also need to be sociable, verbally articulate so that they can ask the right questions, and generally outgoing — it’s better to be an extrovert if you have to attend 2 events a week!

So, if your bio on your portfolio mentions that, along with writing, you were also a member of your university's debate club, they'd be more interested in you. Debaters have to think on their feet, interact with new folks at short notice, and be able to say exactly what they mean. Therefore, you, the content writer + university debate champion, just became their ideal candidate.

Here lies the value of a great "about me" in your portfolio. In this article, I'll lay out a set of portfolio about me examples that'll give you an idea of how the experts do it.

What a great "About Me" section should include… from an actual employer(manager)

The "About" section of your personal portfolio needs to give insight into your professional skills in a way that captivates and intrigues any potential employers or clients.

In order to give you the most actionable device, I decided to take the advice of Protim Bhaumik , a seasoned writer & digital marketing professional who hired me for my last full-time job. He's also my manager at Authory, and ran his own agency in the past, so he knows what he is talking about:

There isn't a single way to achieve this: some marketers prefer to elaborate on their accomplishments, while others opt for just a single line. If you're in doubt, a good rule of thumb is to follow a format that I've seen around a lot and is something that I've adopted myself:

Start with a page title that coalesces your career into a few words. I've gone for "Product-led Marketer | Startup Founder, Advisor & Consultant" to encapsulate the various aspects of my career. (I love using the "|" symbol to squeeze a few more details into my title.)

Then expand on your current career stage. So, I'd say something like, "I'm the Director of Content Marketing at Authory."

And then add a brief history of your recent work. I'd probably say, "Recently, I've been in the developer-tooling industry, working primarily in the content & SEO space for companies like Hasura (Series C of $100M). I've also been a marketing consultant to numerous startups from Seed-stage to Series C."

If you like, you can conclude it by touching upon your past work. I usually go with, "In the past, I've run a branding, advertising & digital marketing agency for over seven years, where we served over 100 clients, including conglomerates like Vodafone, Ford, ITC, and Wipro."

The objective is to use language that illustrates the strategic and tactical nature of your work experience to potential clients and employers so that they have context on what you may have been responsible for. Feel free to speak about yourself in the first or third person."

At a high level, what goes into a great "About Me?”

Keep things as concise and to the point as you can. Obviously, sometimes this isn't possible, especially in cases like Dr. Lena Axelsson, where people do want to know about all her qualifications. But if you're working in non-technical fields (like marketing), it might be best to think of your "About Me" section as a written elevator pitch.

This isn't a set-in-stone necessity, but you'll always stand a better chance of being selected/appealing to your target visitors if you can make them chuckle. However, only try to be witty if it's part of your regular personality and creative projects. Don't force humor; your clients will see through it..

Inject creativity, whenever possible

Again, the necessity of visually striking creativity varies with industry/domain. Joe Nyaggah has to showcase his designer chops to make a bold statement, which is why his "About Me" page is a visual treat. Clients who want him onboard will prioritize aesthetic appeal, and he's the kind of person who can make a page announcing a company's achievements memorable with design alone.

You don't need this as much if you’re working as a science reporter ( Chris Gorski ) or Marijana Kay (freelance B2B SaaS writer). That said, creativity can always help you stand out.

Present social proof, if possible

Mention awards, honorable mentions, a particularly successful blog with actual numbers on engagement, publications in esteemed journals/websites... anything that illustrates your expertise.

Be authentic

When desperately looking for a job, I made the common mistake of trying to be what I thought recruiters in my industry would want from a potential employee. It went terribly. I cannot pretend to be more formal than I am, no matter how much I want a job. I wouldn't fit into company culture either, which would make working that much harder, even if I did get the job.

So, while this entire process of creating the “perfect” About section is an exercise in putting your best foot forward, remember to be authentic. And you’ll find your people. Or they’ll find you. And both your worlds will be all the richer for that.

5 "About Me" examples for professional portfolio websites

Rogette harris.

Normally, I would advise against such a long "About Me." It's too long for a personal website, let alone a professional portfolio website. But... look at the first line:

Rogette Harris has been following American politics from a young age.

An impactful statement, especially since not too many kids do that. This is the kind of serious-minded, naturally analytical person that most employers are dying to hire. The fact that she starts with this line shows that Rogette knows her target audience — employers who value her history of political education and activism.

Rogette goes on to describe her qualifications & achievements in a lot of detail, which might not always work for everyone. She has a long list of milestones to describe, but they could also have been laid out in bullet points.

If you're trying to convey a lot of information to clients at a single (or maybe two) glance, try not to use long paragraphs. A block of text doesn't make for quick reading. Bullet points or some other listing system serves you better.

Todd R. Weiss

Todd keeps it brief by just naming a few of his past employers. This is a solid tactic if you have worked for truly renowned brands/organizations, though a line or two about his personal tastes (what he likes reading, what he does on a weekend) wouldn't have hurt.

A no-nonsense "About Me" like this is great for getting jobs, but you might need to add a bit more about yourself if you want to create a personal brand that employers, or anyone visiting your online portfolio, would remember.

Pithy and essential. Luv Puri has quite a few impressive names on his resume, but the fact that he lists them out makes the list more intimidating (in a good way) than if he would have waxed eloquent about himself.

His straightforward approach probably attracts clients who like to keep things true and to the point. since he is a journalist & analyst, those skills probably come in very handy.

Prudence Gourguechon

This isn't a run-of-the-mill "About Me." I wouldn't advise you to follow this format unless you are already quite established in your field. But once you are, it's possible to describe yourself with a couple of lines. Pair that with a great work history, shows through samples, and you'll be impressing clients without much effort.

But once again, use this format for your "About Me" only if you're as skilled and academically respected as Prudence .

Reyes Mata III

Another long "About Me" that works. Check out the last line in the first paragraph:

I attained a peculiar distinction among homeboys by lettering in classical Latin.

While Latin might not be directly relevant for Reyes ' job & employers (or maybe it is if he writes for archaeological publications, for eg.), it points to a brilliant, inquisitive mind that looks beyond conventional knowledge gathering. Isn't that the kind of skill you want in an investigative journalist who reports on border issues?

And, there you have it. Five examples of what a great "About Me" section should look like. Of course, a huge part of creating a bio is understanding where you are in your career. Are you starting out, or are you an established expert, or may you get enough paid work but aren’t quoted by others? — shape your "About Me" accordingly.

Why Authory should help you build your portfolio

Now that you know how to create an eye-catching "About Me,” let's talk about where it goes. Specifically, how do you build a portfolio as interesting as the "About Me" you're writing?

To start with, you need a dedicated portfolio-building tool, which is why I'm going to ask you to consider Authory.

Authory doesn’t just give you the space to copy-paste links and assemble a digital portfolio. It literally does over half the work: finding all bylined content you’ve ever published, importing it automatically, saving it permanently (again, automatically), and enabling you to organize your pieces into different collections.

If you want your own website (like, a business website) or you work with graphic design or web design, Authory might not be the best fit for you. It can still work, but a photographer, graphic designer, or visual artist would probably get more use out of a portfolio tool that specifically caters to them, such as Adobe Portfolio, Carbonmade, Format, etc.

A self-updating portfolio (no need to keep adding new work manually)

Authory will AUTOMATICALLY import a copy of every bylined piece from every site into its own database.

These sites are called "sources." You add as many sources as you want, and every single bylined piece from every single source will be imported automatically.

You don't have to track down links to your published work (especially older pieces). As long as you remember the URL of the site where your work exists, Authory will collate all your content for you in one dashboard.

Authory can import content from behind most soft paywalls (as long as it is a bylined piece) and some hard paywalls. However, it cannot be used to import copies of articles, podcasts, and videos you haven’t created or featured in.

Automated backups (never lose your content, ever)

All the content that Authory imports from different sources is saved permanently. Even if the original website where it's published goes defunct for any reason, you'll always have a copy safely stored on Authory's server.

All backups are in the original format — text and/or media. No screenshots.

Continued importing of past and future content (less effort for a 100% updated portfolio)

Once you enter a source, Authory won't just import your existing publications. Anything you publish on the same site (after you've fed its URL into Authory) in the future will also be imported automatically. In other words, Authory will import your past and future content.

Authory also sends email notifications for every new piece it imports, so you'll always know if something you submitted has been published.

Apart from these, you also get a slew of miscellaneous but necessary features:

• Ability to search through both your portfolio and your content database to find articles/audio/videos based on keywords . Prospective employers and hiring managers can use this to look for topics on your portfolio, and you can use it to find specific pieces within your Authory content bank.
• Ability to create a custom domain with a click.
• All imported content can be downloaded as high-res PDFs or exportable as HTML files — no lock-in period.
• All Authory portfolios are responsive and SEO (search engine optimization) - optimized.
• Get a custom domain and personalize your portfolio even further.
• Multiple, low-effort options for customization to make your portfolio visually appealing and easy to navigate.
• In-built analytics that provides real numbers on content performance (engagement, readership) across the web and popular social media sites every 30 days . You get to see how your readers/viewers are responding to your work.
• Allows creation of newsletters with a couple of clicks. After setup, Authory will automatically send your newly published content to subscribers.
• Widgets to display your personal portfolio on other sites, such as your personal website (if you have one).

Get started with Authory for free and see for yourself what works for you!

Seasoned writer & editor working with B2B & B2C content since 2017. Writes about music on weekends. Trying to overcome caffeine addiction.

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3 Crafting Your About Me Statement

“You never get a second chance to make a first impression” and this section is your opportunity to form that first impression. This short introduction tells your audience a little bit about you, and it sets the tone for the rest of your portfolio. This chapter will help you to adapt your statement to your audience and purpose. In addition, there will be brainstorming activities to help you craft an about-me statement that is right for you.

What is an About Me Page?

According to Dr. Angela Williams, former Career Center Executive Director and Teaching Assistant Professor, “The about me page is an opportunity for you to describe more about you and highlight the connections between your skills, experiences, and knowledge. Consider including your major, interests, or future plans. What future challenges do you plan to work on? What motivates you? What background details about yourself do you want your professors, employers, or other possible visitors to know? Make sure your biographical information is relevant and professional. The about me page could also feature your personal brand or message and can include a professional photo and even fun videos and photos or whatever you think represents you and other relevant hobbies, skills and experiences.”  

Think of These Things First

As you begin to write your about me statement, you need to ask yourself, “Why am I writing this” and “Who do I want to read it?” Defining your audience and purpose will help you craft your about statement in a way that best tells your story.

What is the Purpose of Your Portfolio?

The About Me is where your story begins. Much like the opening scene of a movie where you meet the character for the first time, your About Me Page allows the reader to begin to see who you are.  You are not telling everything about you, rather you are telling them the things that help you get closer to your goals. Your About Me should include things about your purpose and write about your potential audience. 

Jeremy Zimmett, has graduated and is seeking a career in data librarianship, in his About Me statement, he makes his purpose and his passion clear.

For me, pursuing a career in data librarianship is a call to action. It is a call to engineer technologies and ideas that will dismantle the barriers that separate us from one another. It is a call to build a better bridge between people and information. It is a call to build community through the act of reading, togetherness, and access to resources. With drastic changes occurring in government and the economy every day, it’s clear that the time to act is now—and we can’t waste any of it. 

Emmira Harris is a Junior Civil Engineering major and writes this on her About Me Page:

I am currently an Undergraduate Research Assistant for Dr. Sarah Hernandez, a transportation civil engineering professor in the College of Engineering. Education and STEM are two of my passions, so through the years I’ve had to figure out how to incorporate these passions in the development of my future. I have goals that align with both, and I plan to fulfill them through my life’s journey.

Hunter Anderson, a Senior Music Major writes about the intersection between his passion and his major:

I’m Hunter, a driven and compassionate musician who has been studying, teaching, and performing the guitar for most of my life. Currently, I’m a senior at the University of Arkansas with a major in Guitar Performance. Post-graduation, I strive to teach and inspire others through lessons, performances, compositions, and to continuously ignite my passion for music. Exercise: Brainstorm Your Purpose  Spend two minutes writing on each of these prompts to help you brainstorm  your purpose. Where do you see yourself in one to three years? How does the work that you want to do fit into the world you want to live in? What is a story about you that shows your character? What kinds of creative endeavors or projects interest you?   How have you grown as a person in the last few years?

Who is the Audience for Your Portfolio?

You are making your portfolio for a particular audience–a professor, a program director, a graduate school committee, or a future employer.  To get into the mind of your audience, write out the answers to these questions and keep these answers in front of you whenever you work on your portfolio.

• What are your professional goals?
• Who can help you reach those goals?
• What things are important to that person/people?
• What skills, experience, and knowledge are they looking for in a candidate?
• What motivates them?
• What phrases or terms would appeal to them?

What Buzzwords Should You Include or Exclude?

Once you determine your purpose and your audience, you need to decide if that is a narrow or wide audience. If you are writing to a graduate school in a particular field, that is a very narrow audience and you will want to use insider language. They will be looking for certain words that demonstrate your knowledge.  If this is the case, make a list of insider words that they expect to see. If you are making your portfolio for a variety of different employers, you will want to minimize specialty language and explain any necessary insider terms that you decide to use.

What is the Level of Your Audience’s Understanding?

While we are talking about audience and purpose, it is important to think about the knowledge level of your portfolio audience.  For example, in my early career, I interviewed with a board of directors made up of physicians and social workers. They wanted to hire me to be a fundraiser, volunteer coordinator,  and a media director for a not-for-profit. As a newly minted master’s graduate, I might be tempted to reference the Elaboration Likelihood Model and Judgemental Heuristics and how I built my projects using those as foundations. It is unlikely that my interviewers would understand. They would, however, understand that I studied persuasive theory and how it applied to the way people make decisions. They would understand that I worked on projects where I used persuasive theory to get concrete results. They would especially understand a story about a project that I worked on and the results that I got.

When we work closely with things for a long time, we don’t even realize that we speak in “code.”  Alan Alda realized that the more people know, the harder it is for them to talk to others; he called this the “curse of knowledge.” In his book, If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on my Face?  he wrote, “ Once we know something, it’s hard to unknow it, to remember what it’s like to be a beginner. It keeps us from considering the listener. Using shorthand that is incomprehensible to the other person, or referring to a process they’re unfamiliar with, we lock them out, and we don’t even realize it because we can’t believe we are the only person who knows this stuff.”

Thinking About Who You Are

When crafting your about me statement, it can be helpful to take a deep dive into who you are and what you value. After all, how can you tell someone who you are if you don’t know yourself?

I want you to think about your identity. Who are you? If I were to ask your parents who you are and then ask your best friend, I might get different answers. One might see you as outgoing and confident and the other might see you as unsure about yourself. Different people know different versions of you. In short, you have different identities. Most of us never really take the time to think about the many different ways we live out those different identities. When faced with building a portfolio, most students find they have never really thought about all the different identities they bring to the world and how to align those. For your portfolio, you are building your professional identity and you are highlighting your strengths, and talking about your experiences in a way that will be meaningful to employers or graduate programs.

To get started, you need to brainstorm your strengths. There is a chapter dedicated to helping you with this. Engaging in assessments, employing brainstorming frameworks, or seeking input from trusted friends and family can all prove instrumental. Once you have a list of your strengths, you can use those to start crafting your about me statement. Take a look at these examples and notice how each person highlights their strengths.

I am a chronic puzzle-seeker and a lifelong learner. I unpack complicated problems by approaching each with the flexible process and attention it deserves. This means that I work with others to ask questions, find approaches and execute solutions… August Winfield Miller I learned, at a very early age, the importance of a strong work ethic, diligence, organization, and ambition. Growing up on my family’s farm involved physical labor, a willingness to work, and an ability to keep a positive attitude in adverse working conditions.  Patience Marsh

Throughout my life I have prided myself upon my ability to adapt. Moving around a lot as a child forced me to take charge of my situation and surroundings. I excel at improvisation as well as complex problem solving as a result of my childhood experience.  Amanda Seidner

The trick is to talk about professional skills and examples while still showing your personality. Look at these two statements to see how they are professional and still highlight the person’s personality.

From a very young age, I was always the type of person who loved helping people and got satisfaction out of making a difference in someone’s else’s life. Abby Christie Personal Statement. 

I’m a Photographer and Designer based in Edinburgh. The photography approach to the work I create is very much simplistic but also cinematically inspired. I love what I do, and I adore the creative process; it is an addiction and can give never ending possibilities.

  Highlight Career Competencies

As you are highlighting, your strengths, you should consider the types of things that employers are looking for and add those if they apply.  The National Association of Colleges and Employers suggest that there are eight things that employers are looking for in college graduates that indicate career readiness. These are called career competencies. Showing evidence of these competencies throughout your portfolio can increase the chances that an employer will consider you. These are the types of skills that employers report that they are looking for in candidates. Career and Self Development Communication Critical Thinking Equity and Inclusion Leadership Professionalism Teamwork Technology There is an chapter dedicated to help you write about your career competencies.

Example of Using Career Competencies in the About Me Statement

So far, we have talked about audience, purpose, buzzwords, and career competencies. Let’s take a look at an example so you can see what it looks like when it all comes together.  Fawn Kurtzo was a student at the University of Arkansas and her About Me is an excellent example of highlighting career competencies and writing to a specific audience.

 I am currently a junior at the University of Arkansas, “Home of the Razorbacks” located in Fayetteville. My hometown of Parthenon is located in the most rural, yet renowned, county in Arkansas. Newton County is home of America’s first national river, which visitors often refer to as “The Buffalo”. In 2003 equine enthusiasts along the Buffalo National River began calling upon me for farrier services as well as my ability to start a young colt. By 2006 my journey to learning communication skills was well underway, because training the horse is far from the hardest part in satisfying clientele. Having a specialized skill of horsemanship was the kick-start of my path to understanding communication skills. I became a teacher for owners seeking to understand my practices, which eventually led to conducting private lessons to young children, peers and even adults. Along with dedication in schoolwork, my demeanor and equine skills earned a full-ride scholarship to Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri to study Equine Science the year of 2008. Though the burning desire to pursue a well-rounded agricultural degree brought me back to my home state for the following sophomore year; within the next few months I had given volunteer seminars across the state of Arkansas, was commonly featured in the Horseman’s Round Up magazine and filmed once for RFD-TV’s Southern Tales and Trails series. Fast forwarding to the present, my past decade as a professional in the equine realm taught me how imperative communication skills are, not only in horsemanship – but every facet of success. In conjunction with my collegiate studies, I feel prepared for any job task. Professors have shown me the ropes of: up-to-date software and technology, campaign marketing along with approaches and evaluation, leadership skills, conducting presentations, and created awareness of available resources throughout to maintain adaptability. By adding these skills to my pre-existent “hang till the hair slips” outlook, I am geared up and ready for the next occupational chapter in the book of life- wherever that may lead.

Audience: As you read her statement, you will notice that her target audience is people who specialize in horses.  She uses insider words like “farrier services, ” “shown me the ropes” and  “hang til the hair slips” which would appeal to that audience.  If her audience included non-horse enthusiasts, she would have needed to exclude or define those terms.

Career Competencies: Fawn does an excellent job of highlighting her career competencies.

Career and Self Development Along with dedication in schoolwork, my demeanor and equine skills earned a full-ride scholarship to Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri to study Equine Science the year of 2008. In conjunction with my collegiate studies, I feel prepared for any job task. Communication By 2006 my journey to learning communication skills was well underway, because training the horse is far from the hardest part in satisfying clientele. Having a specialized skill of horsemanship was the kick-start of my path to understanding communication skills.  Fast forwarding to the present, my past decade as a professional in the equine realm taught me how imperative communication skills are, not only in horsemanship – but every facet of success. Critical Thinking I became a teacher for owners seeking to understand my practices, which eventually led to conducting private lessons to young children, peers and even adults. Equity and Inclusion I became a teacher for owners seeking to understand my practices, which eventually led to conducting private lessons to young children, peers and even adults. Leadership I became a teacher for owners seeking to understand my practices, which eventually led to conducting private lessons to young children, peers and even adults. Professors have shown me the ropes of: up-to-date software and technology, campaign marketing along with approaches and evaluation, leadership skills, conducting presentations, and created awareness of available resources throughout to maintain adaptability. Professionalism     Fast forwarding to the present, my past decade as a professional in the equine  realm taught me how imperative communication skills are, not only in horsemanship – but every facet of success. Technology Professors have shown me the ropes of: up-to-date software and technology , campaign marketing along with approaches and evaluation, leadership skills, conducting presentations, and created awareness of available resources throughout to maintain adaptability.  

The First Sentence Should Hook the Audience

Starting your about me with “I’m a sophomore at the University of Arkansas” is not a very interesting way to start. Saying, “Welcome to my ePortfolio page! This is where I will display all college my work” is also not very interesting.

After you have written your about me statement, you should go back and just read the first sentence. Is it interesting? Does it make you want to read more? What is the emotional tone?

Look at these statements for examples of strong opening statements.

• “I am a chronic puzzle-seeker and a lifelong learner.”
• “I am an experienced Marketing and sales professional, working full time in the wine & spirits industry with a current focus on executing luxury spirits initiatives.”
• “As a child, I was interested in things that were rarely noticed; my goal was to be on the lookout for these magical, seemingly invisible things.” Sydney Maples
• “I’m Hunter, a driven and compassionate musician who has been studying, teaching, and performing the guitar for most of my life.” Hunter Anderson

Typically, you would have an engaging opening sentence (or two) followed by your thesis. Your thesis should make clear who you are and what you want.

The Thesis Should Be Clear

I’m John, a junior studying organizational psychology with minors in business and leadership studies . After graduation, I hope to attain a full-time job working in the field of human resources in a corporate setting. John Prescott

The Last Sentence Should Be Purposeful

• “Ultimately, I am inspired by what cannot be seen directly – it must be felt, realized, or understood. To me, that is where the beauty of science comes in, and as a lifelong science communicator, I hope to articulate that beauty to the best of my ability.”  Sydney Maples
• “Instilling respect for the music of the past, building good techniques, and fostering communication skills is what I believe should be the heart of an aspiring guitarist. Hunter Anderson
• “The teaching assignment at Tarleton State and Penn State University gave me opportunities to evaluate my ability as a teacher, and I believe that I have the qualities and desire needed to become a respected researcher and instructor. I would like to play a significant role in contributing in the areas of international adult and extension education by identifying important researchable problems and raising both local and global issues through active involvement.”  Roshan Nayak

The About Me as a Video

The About Me can also be done as a video. In a study of high school principals, 93% of principals said they would use the video in hiring practices.  They felt like they gained insight into the person from their video and you could tell from the way they spoke that the person in the video had a passion for teaching.  One principal said, “I think that the video really enhances the ePortfolio . . . I think that it is wonderful. It is a whole different way to connect with a person without that person being here.” This study was on teachers and the connection is an easy one to make. Depending on your audience and purpose, the video may be the right option for you.

Check out this video by Kendall McCallum for an example of an about-me video.

It is important to know your audience because not all businesses want photos or videos. With increasing pressure on businesses to provide equitable hiring practices, some companies will not consider you as a candidate if you include photos or videos. 

Let Doubt Drive You to Work Harder

If you are like me,  the thought of writing an “about me” statement makes you feel inadequate and self-conscious. I want you to know that you are not alone. In fact, most people have trouble with this.

Maybe you have heard of the imposter syndrome. It is the idea that most of us go around feeling like others are more equipped than we are and that if people would just see into our minds then they would know how inadequate we feel.  It might surprise you to know that,  70% of professionals report feeling like an imposter.

Just because you feel like an imposter doesn’t mean you are going to fail, quite the contrary. Tewkik, an Assistant Professor at MIT says, “Interestingly, to date, there’s no empirical quantitative evidence that impostor thoughts degrade performance.” In fact, the Yerkes-Dodson stress performance curve, “shows that a few nerves—up to a point—improve performance. It may be that having the right amount of impostor thoughts can provide just enough motivation to bring out your best work.”

So if you have self-doubt, let that motivate you to work longer, try harder, and use the many resources available to you.

Exercises: Evaluate These Welcome Pages

Pick three to five of these welcome pages and evaluate them using the following questions.

• Is the first sentence engaging? Does it hook the reader?
• Do they include their strengths?
• Do they highlight career competencies?
• Does it appear to fit their purpose?
• How are buzzwords used to include or exclude readers?
• Lea Jackson – Journalism and Public Communication
• Maggie Engler – Electrical Engineering
• Jacob Langsner Film and Law
• Christine Alibozek -Hospitality
• Brent Warr – Environmental Design
• Roshan Nayak – Agriculture and Extension Education
• Sydney Maples- Science Communication
• Robin Shattler – Marketing
• Jarelle Hooks – Social Work 
• Baylee Brown – Law
• Cam Cavaliere – English Rhetoric
• Kristin Ramsey – Sociology and Criminal Justice
• Sam Beskind – Management Science and Engineering
• Carrie Natasha – Pre Medical
• Kristin Morgan- Sociology and Social Work
• Megan Diem- Marketing
• Annabelle Farrow – Human Development
• Kyndal Driver- Marketing
• Mitch Carter – Geography and Geoscience
• Carrie White – Biology

We all have many different identities and different people know different versions of us.  Most of us never really take the time to think about the many different ways we live out those different identities and how we can shape our professional identity. Your portfolio is your chance to shape that identity.

Now that you have brainstormed ideas and thought about your audience and the purpose, it is time to get to writing. It won’t be perfect at first. Writing is a process. As you work through the rest of your portfolio, come back from time to time and revisit your About Me statement and see if you are telling a consistent story.

You really are unique and amazing. Let your portfolio give them a reason to want to get to know you more.

Key Takeaways

• Always write with your audience and purpose in mind.
• Let your purpose determine whether you want to include industry buzzwords.
• Highlight your strengths in your about me statement.
• Try to include career competencies in your about me.
• Make sure that your first sentence is interesting.

Exercises: Additional Activities and Resources for Teachers

In addition to the exercises in this chapter, teachers might want to do the following to help students prepare their About Me page.

• Have students write a self-eulogy of what they want to be remembered for as a warm-up to writing the About Me page.
• Have them pretend to be the person/employer/teacher who will read the portfolio and make a list of everything that the person thinks is important.
• Do the exercise in this chapter “evaluate these welcome pages.”
• Have students sit in groups and finish the sentence, “I feel like an imposter when…”
• Work in groups and write an about me of a fictitious student that includes examples of each of the career competencies.
• After students write their About Me, have them run it through a word cloud generator and see what dominant words emerge. Discuss if that is the intended impression.
• Give them a page of thesis statements and have them evaluate them.
• Have students take the strengths and/or values assessment and then discuss in groups these questions: What about your strength sets you apart? Can you give an example of how you have demonstrated your strength in a way that might interest a future employer?
• Watch Good Communication 101: Mirroring, Jargon, Hifalutin Words by Alan Alda and talk about specialized language and how it can help and hinder communication. Discuss times that someone talked in a way that you didn’t understand. Reflect on your own writing and how you might use words that will make it difficult for your reader to connect with what you know.
• Watch Sharing Science Through Story by Fergus McAuliffe and discuss the importance of using audience-appropriate language.

Exercises: Try a Six Word Story

Try writing your story in six words. This can be a brainstorming activity or it can be included in the portfolio.

Fourth-year medical students were asked to write three six-word stories exploring their reasons for pursuing a career in medicine.

Unknown world of the deepest connections. Feet grounded, mind sharp, heart fulfilled. Preserving dignity throughout life, into death. -Tori Ehrhardt

At the end, everyone is vulnerable. Listening to people. Learning new perspectives. Loud monitors. Your lullaby. Rest peacefully. – Larissa Andrade

University of Arkansas Students Talk About Their Portfolios

Alda, A. (2017).  If I understood you, would I have this look on my face?  Random House.

Alda, A. (2017) Good Communication 101: Mirroring, Jargon, Hifalutin Words. BigThink.

Bird, S. (2007). Sensemaking and Identity: The Interconnection of Storytelling and Networking in a Women’s Group of a Large Corporation.  The Journal of Business Communication (1973) ,  44 (4), 311-339.  https://doi.org/10.1177/0021943607306135

Casciaro, T., Gino, F., & Kouchaki, M. (2014). The Contaminating Effects of Building Instrumental Ties: How Networking Can Make Us Feel Dirty.  Administrative Science Quarterly ,  59 (4), 705–735.  https://doi.org/10.1177/0001839214554990

Creative Cloud. How to write an about me page that gets you hired.  https://creativecloud.adobe.com/discover/article/how-to-write-an-about-me-page-that-gets-you-hired

Curl, R. Suffering from Imposter Syndrome? The Cure May Be Growth Mindset. Neuroleadership Institute. https://neuroleadership.com/your-brain-at-work/imposter-syndrome-cure-growth-mindset/

Format Team (December 2022). 7 Steps for Writing Your Portfolio’s Biography ‘About Me’ Page. https://www.format.com/magazine/resources/photography/online-portfolio-about-page-step-by-step-guide

Gallagher, C., & Poklop, L. (2014). ePortfolios and Audience: Teaching a Critical Twenty-First Century Skill.  International Journal of EPortfolio ,  4 (1), 7–20.  http://www.theijep.com/pdf/IJEP126.pdf

How to write an “About Me” page that gets you hired. Adobe Creative Cloud.  https://creativecloud.adobe.com/discover/article/how-to-write-an-about-me-page-that-gets-you-hired

Harrell, E. (2022) Impostor Syndrome Has Its Advantages. Harvard Business Review . https://hbr.org/2022/05/impostor-syndrome-has-its-advantages

Hartwick, J. M.M. & Mason, R.W. (2014).   Using Introductory Videos to Enhance ePortfolios and to Make Them Useful in the Hiring Process International Journal of ePortfolio.  https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1107853.pdf

Khan, S.  Identity Development as Curriculum: A Metacognitive Approach in Yancy, K.B. (ed). (2019). ePortfolio as Curriculum: Models and Practices for Developing Students’ ePortfolio Literacy. Stylus Publishing.

Melles, B., Leger, A. B., & Covell, L. (2018). “Tell Me About Yourself” – Using ePortfolio as a Tool to Integrate Learning and Position Students for Employment, a Case from the Queen’s University Master of Public Health Program. The Canadian Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 9 (3). https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/cjsotl_rcacea/vol9/iss3/9

McAuliffe, F. (2013). Sharing Science Through Story. TedXDublin.

National Association of Colleges and Employers. What is Career Readiness? https://www.naceweb.org/career-readiness/competencies/career-readiness-defined/

Reynolds, N. & Davis, N. (2014). Portfolio keeping: A guide for students. Bedford St. Martin.

Stuart, H. (2019) Know your audience ePortfolio. Auburn Writing Center. https://auburn.app.box.com/s/4hylrfb25tp39mixtv49hwkqooz5e2k5

Stumbar SE, Phan M, Gomez DF, et al. Six-Word Stories Offer a New Opportunity for Medical Students’ Reflection. PRiMER. 2022;6:8. https://doi.org/10.22454/PRiMER.2022.644399

Singer-Freeman, Karen & Bastone, Linda. (2017). Changing Their Mindsets: ePortfolios Encourage Application of Concepts to the Self. International Journal of Finance & Economics. 7. 151-160.

Portfolios Referenced

Alibozek, Christine

Anderson, Hunter

Beskind, Sam

Brown, Baylee

Cavaliere, Cam

Carter, Mitch

Christie, Abby

Diem, Megan

Driver, Kyndal

Engler, Maggie

Farrow, Annabelle

Harris, Emirra

Hooks, Jarelle

Jackson, Lea

Langsner, Jacob

 Maples, Sydney

Marsh, Patience

Morgan, Kristin

Natasha, Carrie

Nayak, Roshan

Prescott, John

Ramsey, Kristin

Seidner, Amanda

Shattler, Robin

Warr, Brent

Winfield Miller, August

White, Carrie

Zimmett, Jeremy

Crafting Your About Me Statement Copyright © 2023 by Lynn Meade is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Create a Winning Career Portfolio: Examples and Tips on What to Include

Table of Contents

H ow do you feel when you hear the words “career portfolio”?

Do you get anxious knowing you don’t have one but need one? Bored or intimidated by the concept of making one? Or confused because what is a career portfolio, and why would you need one? 

If you fall into any of those categories, this article is for you. I’ll explain why a career portfolio (aka a professional portfolio) is useful for anyone, especially those starting out in their career, and how to make one that will both reflect who you truly are and set you on the career path you want. 

I’ve also provided plenty of professional portfolio examples and more resources for developing your career and personal brand.

What is a career portfolio?

A career portfolio is a collection of background information and examples of your career history, experience, and ambitions. 

Your professional portfolio serves several important purposes. It can help you: 

• Stand out in a competitive job market
• Speed up how quickly you move up in your company
• Showcase your personal brand  
• Guide you along your ever-evolving career path 

A career portfolio is not a resume where you only list your skill set, work experience, and achievements. It’s not a cover letter either, where you write a few lines about yourself, your qualifications, and why an employer should hire you.

A career portfolio is unique to you and includes your skills, work experience, and qualifications. Your professional portfolio also goes beyond that to tell a fuller story about who you are, where you’ve been, and what you want to achieve. It highlights concrete examples and demonstrates the validity of the things you say about yourself.

What are the benefits of a professional portfolio?

As you read through the walkthrough below, you might start to think that creating a career portfolio sounds like a lot of work. And though it’s easier than ever, thanks to the online tools available (more on that later), it does indeed take time. 

But that being said, there are lots of benefits to a career portfolio that make the time investment worth it:

Enhances your credibility

With a traditional resume, employers must rely mostly on what you write down and what your references have to say. But with a career portfolio, the proof is right there in the concrete examples of your work. You come off looking like a trustworthy hire who is already more than prepared to hit the ground running.

Gives you a head start on your personal brand

If you ever have ambitions of owning your own business, working as a freelancer, or just having a non-traditional career, then a career portfolio is a vital step in developing a personal brand. If you want to learn more about that process, check out these resources: 

Lets you showcase your personality as a career asset

A resume can showcase your job experience and technical skills well, but who you are is much more than a list of your previous jobs and responsibilities. Often, aspects of our personality, like our sense of humor or our ability to hold conversations , are what help us land a job. 

Unfortunately, you won’t have a chance to showcase your personality much until the job interview… unless you have a career portfolio, where you can craft your own story how you like and apply personal touches to let your best personality traits shine through.

Helps you build your story and figure out what the future holds

If you’re reading this and thinking, “I can’t put together a career portfolio because I have no experience to showcase!”—think again. Starting a career portfolio at the dawn of your career is ideal because you’ll have the most complete story of your journey as it evolves and grows. 

The earliest iterations of your career portfolio may only be your career ambitions or experiences from school or volunteering. But listing out what you’ve done and what it says about who you are is a great first step toward answering the question: What should I do with my life ?

Portfolio Careers vs. Career Portfolios

Maybe you’ve heard the term “portfolio career” and wondered if it’s the same thing as a career portfolio. While they’re related concepts, they’re quite different—but both are worth understanding as you plan your career path.

A portfolio career is when you pursue multiple professional roles instead of staying at a single company. For example, you might work as a freelance content writer for tech startups while managing social media accounts for small businesses and running your own blog. Or maybe you split your time between UX design consulting, teaching design workshops, and creating templates for other designers. (Want to learn more about the pros and cons of this approach? Check out our article on job hopping vs. staying at a single company .)

If you’re considering this kind of career path, your career portfolio becomes even more important. It needs to tell a coherent story about how your various roles and skills fit together. Rather than trying to hide your multiple pursuits, your portfolio can showcase how each experience builds on the others, making you a more versatile professional.

Where should you host your career portfolio?

Gone are the days when your only options were a PDF or a basic website. Today, there are tons of platforms designed specifically for creating and sharing your career portfolio. So many that it can feel overwhelming. 

But don’t be intimidated. Your decision really comes down to three factors:

• What format feels most natural to you?
• What will be easiest to share with others?
• How much time and energy can you invest in maintaining it?

Keep these questions in mind as we review some of your options. 

Digital portfolio builders

Even if you’ve never made a website before, building a digital career portfiolio is super easy thanks to websites like Webflow or Squarespace . These platforms have templates designed for all sorts of career portfolios, and much of the adjusting is simply drag and drop. 

There are other, simpler platforms, like Notion or Card, that are great for creating professional and clean-looking portfolios (no coding knowledge required). You may also choose to showcase your career portfolio on a social platform. LinkedIn is the one that works best for most people, but if you’re a visual creator, you might prefer Instagram, Pinterest, or TikTok. All of these social platforms have features built in to make it easy for you to showcase your work for prospective clients or hiring managers. (Though many folks use something like LinkTree on social platforms to get more links in front of people.)

Making your portfolio work across platforms

You don’t have to choose just one place to showcase your work. The key is to have a primary portfolio (like your website) that links to your work on other platforms. For instance, your main portfolio might include your best writing samples, while linking to your Medium blog for more content. Or it could showcase your design work while connecting to your Behance profile for your full catalog.

Just remember to keep everything current. There’s nothing worse than clicking a portfolio link that leads to a dead end or outdated information. Pick platforms you’ll actually maintain, and don’t be afraid to start small—you can always expand later.

Items to include in a career portfolio

When you start preparing a professional portfolio, make sure to add the following items below. These career portfolio examples will guide you in the process. 

Personal information

Start compiling your career portfolio with personal information to introduce yourself to a prospective employer. This information includes your full name, email address, and contact number. If you’re creating an online portfolio, you can also link to any website or social media profile, i.e., your LinkedIn profile , to provide samples of your work.

For example, if you’re a motion graphics designer, link to the Facebook or Instagram account you use to exhibit your projects or your freelance gig’s website. To apply as a public relations specialist, insert a link to any social media account or website you use to publicize your work. 

Add a personal statement or an “About me” section to give the recruiter a glimpse of your personality and work philosophy. Keep it as concise as possible, with no more than 150 words. Think about your career goals and why the profession is important to you. Check out the example below:

Career Portfolio Example: Personal Information

“I am a recent marketing graduate with combined expertise in digital marketing and content strategy. I have been committed to building my career in digital marketing since I began managing my small and successful freelance gigs three years ago, following my four years of college. I enjoy watching my ideas and skills transform into innovative content marketing strategies that drive solutions and boost business performance. I am seeking a position in a leading digital marketing agency where I can use my skills to make a difference in my clients’ lives and further develop as a professional.”

Career summary

Once you’ve compiled your contact information and personal statement, include a concise career summary that will give prospective employers a quick view of your professional self. A career summary will provide a brief overview of your relevant professional experience and how you’ve applied skills in real-life scenarios.

It’s always helpful to use numbers or percentages to underscore the claims you’re making. Continuing the hypothetical scenario in the above example, you could mention the number of clients you have worked with on your freelance gigs and highlight your best work by including the percentage increase in client sales or any other performance criteria. 

These specific facts will support your qualifications and set you apart from other candidates.

Professional Portfolio Example: Career Summary

“During my marketing internship at the XYZ Company, I worked closely with my manager to implement new social media marketing strategies and campaigns. I also curated content for the company’s different social media channels and augmented the call-to-action through Facebook by 30% in 3 months. I am capable of bringing extensive knowledge of social media marketing programs to your organization, along with my exemplary idea-generation and communication skills.”

I love looking at a resume that’s easy to read and tells you a compelling narrative of the candidate’s story—a big picture outline of who they are—followed by a list of accomplishments that weaves in with the key points mentioned in the summary. The ability to put years of experience in a one-page document that invokes interest says a lot about the person’s communication and presentation skills. — Jyoti Khadgawat , Smule Inc.

As the quote above indicates, a resume that can showcase the art of storytelling goes a long way in impressing a recruiter. However, this does NOT mean that your resume has to be a one-pager. As long as you can tell an impactful story about yourself on more than one page effectively, you’re good to go.

Too much information on one page can potentially ruin its visual appeal. At the same time, make sure that your resume is not too long .  Update the resume with work experiences that match the job description. It’s unwise to let any unnecessary information take up space. Follow this resume outline to guide you.

Skills and accomplishments

Although your skills and accomplishments are part of your resume, a career portfolio demands a separate list for each to make them stand out. This is where you get to make them specific.

Your skills and accomplishments could be related to any professional experience as a volunteer, student, or part-time employee. You get the opportunity to write about yourself and your experience in detail.

A list of marketable skills

Your job history details what you do, but you’ll also want to zoom out the lens and create a list of your marketable skills in your professional portfolio. 

Much of your list will include the technical skills and experience you need for your job. For example, you might list your certification as a copywriter or experience writing AI prompts. 

But don’t forget that your soft skills—like communication or time management capabilities—are also a big part of your career story. Here’s a soft skills list to inspire you about what to include.

As a multi-skilled job seeker, you might decide to apply to jobs for which the required skills are similar but not the same, i.e., business consultant and business analyst. Here, you have the liberty to make your skill set unique to each job description. 

Furthermore, describe the work setting in which you applied those skills.

Career Portfolio Examples: Skills and abilities

“My leadership skills equipped me to lead and coordinate the activities of the content creation team of X (insert number here) employees. I used my communication skills to clearly articulate problems and progress to top management through my eye for aesthetic and engaging presentations.”

A list of accomplishments

These career portfolio examples will explain how to prove your value-adding capabilities to a prospective employer. It’s advisable to separate your accomplishments into different segments according to different jobs. Accomplishments also go hand-in-hand with numbers or percentages. Let’s look at the examples below:

Junior Marketer:

Business Competitions:

Personal Achievement: 

Samples of your work

Work samples are the best means of showcasing your professional experience and adding greater credibility to whatever you mentioned in your career summary, resume, and lists of skills and accomplishments.

Unlike a link to your website or social media platform, which will likely contain all of your work samples, this should include only your best work—typically projects or examples that exhibit a wide range of skills. 

For samples of your work, aim for quality over quantity. Examples might include copies of your newsletters, marketing plans, sales figures, graphic design work, presentations, reports, etc.

You can also mention your best volunteering or community service work, especially if you don’t have enough work experience. Feel free to add any significant work experience you gained by participating in college clubs or extracurricular activities.

You should also briefly mention any positive feedback you received on your example, i.e., a  comment on a blog post or performance appraisal on a project.

A list of professional development activities

Listing your professional development activities is a great way of showing potential employers that you’re a lifetime learner eager to keep growing. It demonstrates your dedication to your career and enthusiasm for learning new things.

Give your potential employer the confidence that you will continue to work on your professional development . Show off all the relevant offline or online courses you have completed, the internships you’ve done, the certifications you’ve earned, and the workshops, seminars, or conferences you have attended ( relevant being the keyword here).

References and testimonials/letters of recommendation

Make sure to insert a list of 3-5 people, including at least one past employer, as professional references. The remaining 2-4 people could be your professors, clients, colleagues, or customers.

They must all be willing to talk about your skills, experiences, strengths, and accomplishments. Write down their full names, designations, and contact information. 

Additionally, request them to write testimonials or letters of recommendation for you.  These will help a recruiter easily see you through their eyes while reading the portfolio. You can also take the opportunity to include copies of positive employer reviews in this segment.

Letting your personality shine through your portfolio

Your portfolio should show off more than just your work—it needs to show off you . It might feel risky, trying to inject your own personality into something that is meant to be so professional. However, this is the best way to make your portfolio stand out from the crowd, and the authenticity will make it easier for people to understand who you are and what to expect when hiring you. Plus, it’s fun! Here’s how to do it: 

Find your visual vibe 

Colors, fonts, and images say a lot about who you are. Maybe you’re drawn to bold, energetic colors that show your creative spirit. Or perhaps you prefer clean, minimalist design that reflects your organized approach to work. Whatever you choose, keep it consistent across your portfolio. Just remember: your choices should enhance your work, not distract from it.

Write like yourself 

Forget what you learned about formal business writing. Your portfolio should sound like you on your most professional day—not like a robot or a stuffy corporate memo. If you’re naturally funny, let some humor shine through (keeping it work-appropriate, of course). If you’re passionate about your industry, let that enthusiasm come through in your writing. 

Tell the story behind your work 

Don’t just show what you did—tell people why it mattered to you. Maybe that marketing campaign taught you something unexpected. Or perhaps that design project pushed you out of your comfort zone. These little insights give people a sense of who you are and how you think. Plus, they make your portfolio way more interesting to read.

Things to avoid when building a career portfolio

Even the best career portfolios can be ruined by some common mistakes. Here are the big ones to watch out for:

Overwhelming design kills your message. Yes, you want to show off your creativity, but if your portfolio gives people a headache with flashing animations or hard-to-read fonts, they’ll click away fast. Keep it clean and let your work speak for itself.

Too much content makes people tune out. Your portfolio isn’t meant to show everything you’ve ever done—it should showcase your best work. Be ruthless about what you include. If something’s more than a few years old or doesn’t reflect your current career goals, cut it.

Broken links or outdated info make you look sloppy. Nothing says “I don’t pay attention to details” like dead links or projects from three jobs ago. Set a reminder to review your portfolio every few months and keep it current.

Typos and grammar mistakes make people question your professionalism. Get someone else to proofread your portfolio—we all miss our own mistakes.

Social media feeds that aren’t curated. If you’re embedding your Instagram or Twitter feed, make sure it’s a professional account. Your future boss doesn’t need to see your weekend party pics or the political argument you got into last week. If need be, create a new professional social profile, and keep your personal one separate and private.

CTA: What to do next?

Promote your career portfolio.

Try to market your portfolio as much as you can on your LinkedIn profile and other social networking accounts, such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. You may also register on a particular job site to post your online portfolio. Your portfolio will then be sent to prospective employers. Several job sectors, such as psychology, have professional associations and websites for job seekers to promote their portfolios.

Regularly update the portfolio  

Your portfolio is always going to be a work in progress throughout your career. As you gain more work experience, acquire more skills, accomplish more, and undergo further professional development, be sure to regularly update your portfolio and remove outdated items.

It will also enable you to monitor your career progress and identify areas of improvement. Match the portfolio information to the job description before each job application and interview. Even if you use a printed portfolio, keep an online copy for making updates from time to time.

Spend wisely

Don’t get too swayed by the idea of getting a high-paid job soon. Careers take time to build, so start spending wisely in college to save enough money for a rainy day.

P repare for your job interview

Talk to fellow students or colleagues, talk with a career counselor or coach, and read/watch any reliable material on interview preparation .

Don’t give your portfolio to interviewers at the beginning because they would likely read the whole thing right then. Don’t share it at the end either because interviewers will usually not have the time to read it. It’s best to use the portfolio during a job interview. Answer questions along the way and let the portfolio back you up.

Curate your portfolio the right way

It can make a world of difference in your career—so take the time and care to show employers the value you would bring. 

Great article on the importance of having a career portfolio! It’s definitely something that can help you stand out in today’s competitive job market.

Absolutely! Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂

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