Let Your Portfolio Do the Talking

Posted on 04/12/10 in Blog, 4 Comments

Your portfolio (the hard copy) and your online portfolio should tell future employers a story about who you are and the work you are most proud of completing.

Hard Copy: Always bring your portfolio to your interview and, when appropriate, when you meet with someone face-to-face. The first step is to take it out of your bag or briefcase and actually open it up to show off your work. When someone asks about your work experience, start to tell them about it and casually open up your portfolio and use it to demonstrate as you elaborate.

Talk about your portfolio pieces in the context of your position or company you for which created them. Share what the strategy was behind creating the piece and the results. Did the flyer you created attract 100 students to an event? Did your blog post get 100 Web site hits? It is recommended you place a small label in the corner of each piece that explains the context of the piece. For example, “I wrote all the copy for this monthly newsletter which was distributed to over 300 employees at XYZ Company.”

Online Copy: Your online portfolio can tell your story by having a description of each piece next to a link of your work. Include strategy and results in the description. My online portfolio links to a page that lists media coverage received because of my public relations efforts during one of my media relations internships.

Ask the employer conducting your interview if there are any questions they have about your portfolio and the pieces it contains. Your portfolio should be a conversation starter, not a stagnant body of work.

What story does your portfolio tell?

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About the Author

Gina Bericchia is a student of life and social media. She is a writer and Generation Y blogger. She graduates from Otterbein College in June 2010 with degrees in Public Relations and English.

Visit Gina Bericchia's Website
  • melissa_breau

    While I agree that your portfolio's content is important, I think that it's equally important that you remember these meetings aren't really about you. They are about the client. While you should be prepared to talk about your experience and show off your portfolio, you should also be prepared to ask questions and find out what the client really wants so that you can explain what you can do for them – using that portfolio and examples of past work, of course.

  • michaelbraunlin

    Melissa, you realize this post is about interviewing for a new job…with an employer, right? This has nothing to do with getting a client, so these meetings really are about “you.”

  • http://www.jargonwriter.com Melissa Breau

    While I agree that your portfolio's content is important, I think that it's equally important that you remember these meetings aren't really about you. They are about the client. While you should be prepared to talk about your experience and show off your portfolio, you should also be prepared to ask questions and find out what the client really wants so that you can explain what you can do for them – using that portfolio and examples of past work, of course.

  • michaelbraunlin

    Melissa, you realize this post is about interviewing for a new job…with an employer, right? This has nothing to do with getting a client, so these meetings really are about “you.”