Having an Online Portfolio is a Powerful Tool
Most people have a resume. In fact, many people hire professionals to help build them the perfect resume. While this can be helpful, it isn’t necessary. There is an even more powerful tool at your fingertips.
There are many ways that you can position your resume to stand apart from your competition. One of my favorite ways to do this is by building what I call a “living resume.” This is a resume that is filled with live links, linking back to your online portfolio.
Having an online portfolio is a very powerful tool in setting yourself apart from your competition. It also provides an excellent marketing and networking tool for you to have.
This online portfolio will grow with you through each stage of life. Many students first begin using their online portfolio during the college admissions process. It can be helpful when networking with admissions counselors for sure. However, it only gets better from there. The online portfolio is a great tool to help you earn scholarships and internships you are applying for as well as helping you in your career. It is an excellent way to impress future employers and gives them an up close look at who you are, something a standard resume can never do.
The components of an online portfolio are pretty simple. They usually include any work you have done, community service, emphasizing your skills and talents, resume, a contact page and any recommendations or testimonies you have from others who’ve worked with you. If you are just starting out and are a college student, this would include your course work and any studies or experiences you have in your field of interest. Remember, there are no hard and fast rules about your online portfolio, it is what you want it to be.
The duo of an online portfolio and a great resume is a winning combination for sure!
Your Online Portfolio is a Walking Business Card
Let’s explore the 5 main benefits of creating an online portfolio and how to do it.
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Sets you apart from your competition : Think about it, how many people do you know who have an online portfolio? Not too many is my guess. In my opinion, this is great news. You being proactive and presenting your online portfolio to future employers or to opportunities you are seeking such as admissions into programs and schools or trying to win scholarships or internships is an excellent idea! All the hours you’ve spent working on projects and research won’t go to waste. This is the perfect place to highlight what you’ve done and let others appreciate all your hard work. By doing this, you become much more that words on a resume page. You become a living personality, others can see the results and put your name with a face and a smile.
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First Impressions: I say it all the time…. “You never get a second chance to make a first impression…..” This is so true. What if the first impression you make is with an online portfolio, showing others that you are creative and willing to go the extra mile to help properly market, network and introduce yourself and your abilities.
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Increases your visibility online: Consider your online portfolio like a walking business card. This is a way to allow others to get to know you and it has the potential to reach millions of people that a business card or resume never will.
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Flexibility: Having an online portfolio allows you to change things easily to apply to different positions or showcase your most recent accomplishments. At the click of a button, you can update, replace and enhance your site. It is truly very simple and gives you the competitive edge in any situation.
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Advocate in Motion: Having an online portfolio gives you the opportunity to advocate for yourself in all situations. The way you showcase yourself through your online portfolio allows others to see your priorities, your interests, your individual skills and talents in motion. Be sure to present yourself in a professional manner but in a way that the potential employer, school or others will see your personality shining through. This gives you the opportunity to use more than written text to sell yourself. You can now use your personality and unique character to allow others to see the value that you will be to their company, school or community.
There are many options to build your online portfolio. Several sites have free options. I prefer to use squarespace, wix or weebly. Weebly has a free option that I often use with clients / students to help them with their online portfolio. I’ve included a demonstration video on how to get started. I recommend that you use the platform that is easiest for you to navigate. There really is nothing hard about it, you can do it. There are many youtube videos giving you tips and tricks on how to navigate these website building platforms. While it may sound intimidating, it really is very easy and the reward is well worth the time.
Please contact us with any questions and I’d love to see your online portfolios! Send me the link!
Sherri Graf