VALLEY has an important tip for you. Digital portfolios. It’s that time of year where students are applying for their summer internships and wondering what they can do to be the top applicant. Employers are constantly on the lookout for creativity, which is why we are going to help you expose yourself with your very own digital portfolio.
Why Digital Portfolios?
Digital portfolios will make you stand out. They will give employers more access to your work and a better idea of your abilities. It’s also a fun way to show your personality that regular resumes do not. This is a chance to visually display what you have accomplished so far and take employers on a creative journey.
By creating a digital portfolio, employers quickly have access to your capabilities and are provided an interactive way to see your actual work and skills in action. By even creating a digital portfolio shows you have unique skills and are driven to excel at whatever job you’re applying for. They can also give you personal branding and a professional image, which could well work into your career.
4 Elements
Choosing what to include in your digital portfolio can become overwhelming, which is why VALLEY is going to help.
Required Elements:
- Bio: An introduction, make sure the bio explains where you went to school, relevant experiences and skills, etc.
- Categorized work samples: Be sure to include your best work pieces but also ones that are relevant to the job you want.
- Contact details: You do want employers to contact you, right?
- Link to your resume: Yes, you still need to have a formal resume even when submitting a digital portfolio.
These 4 elements are required when creating a digital portfolio, but now the fun part: showing off your creative skills!
Personal Touch
One way to show off without going overboard is by designing the layout and visuals for your personal brand while making sure the other elements are consistent with the look and feel of your other job search materials.
Implementing interactive elements such as clickable images, captivating video presentations and engaging audio clips can enhance user engagement with your portfolio. You want to visually storytell your professional background to show your skills effectively. Maybe even show off your graphic skills using collages, animated transitions or a moodboard!
Stay true to yourself and remember to keep it professional. Keep in mind that your visitors might be in a rush, so include important elements first.
Best Platforms
Where do you even start creating a digital portfolio? Don’t worry, there are plenty of amazing sites that you can use; from beginner-friendly to advanced, there’s a portfolio platform for everyone.
VALLEY has picked our top 3 platforms for you to try:
- Adobe Portfolio. This is great for beginners, is fully customizable with easy-to-use templates and allows direct portfolio downloads.
- Behance. They are widely recognized for showcasing creative work; it’s free to use and provides excellent exposure for creativity.
- Wix. This platform gives you full creative freedom and multimedia support and is also free to use!
Are you going to expose yourself? Let @VALLEYmag know on X!
1 Comment