An IT portfolio showcases your skills and experience in the tech field. It can help you stand out from the competition and land a job or promotion! A strong portfolio demonstrates your knowledge, abilities, and creativity, which can be very appealing to potential employers. The good news is that creating a winning IT portfolio is not as difficult as it may seem! Check out these awesome tips to get you started.
Set a goal.
Like everything else, without a goal, your IT portfolio will be a scattered mess! Before you begin creating content or adding details to your portfolio, sit down and ask yourself what you want to achieve with it. Do you want to land a job in a specific IT field? Get more clients? Be able to freelance full-time? Once you have a goal, everything else will follow.
When goal-setting, make sure to set realistic goals but don’t be afraid to dream either! Chances are, you will get to land your dream job with a winning IT portfolio.
Build a well-curated portfolio.
IT professionals aren’t often seen as creatives. Writing code, using STEM skills, fixing bugs, building websites… Everything seems so technical, right? Well, it doesn’t have to be! Think of your portfolio as a museum showcasing your best projects and most valuable skills. Some of the best professional portfolios draw the viewer in and leave them wanting to see more.
An easy way to curate your portfolio is to tell a story. What is your background? Where did you begin your IT career? How did it begin? What kind of projects have you completed? And so on!
Be sure to showcase not only your best work but also your most unique and innovative projects. The person viewing your portfolio should be able to understand your journey and appreciate the work you put in to get to where you are now.
Flaunt your skills.
An IT portfolio is not just about your journey. Keep in mind that it is just like an expanded resume! Having the ability to tell your story is just the first step to creating a winning portfolio. The next step is to show what you can do!
One of the best ways to include skills in your portfolio is to choose the most relevant. Potential clients and employers will look for your relevant skills that will add value to their business. For instance, financial institutions may look for cybersecurity skills, while food bloggers may appreciate web design skills.
You must showcase what you can bring to the table once you are hired, so include all your relevant skills for the job that you are applying for. But don’t overdo it! If you put all your skills, your portfolio may end up being too long and difficult to navigate. Also, be sure to add brief descriptions of the projects you have worked on and include visuals as well. You may also describe what role you carried out and the results of each project.
Gain valuable feedback.
Once you have built your winning portfolio, you are ready to show it to the world. But before that, a good way to check if you have everything in order is to ask for feedback. Show your portfolio to a trusted friend, colleague, or even your family members! This way, you can gain immediate feedback. Be sure to ask for their unfiltered opinion so you know which parts you can tweak.
Gaining feedback from people close to you will help you improve your portfolio. It is also a great way to practice accepting criticism to apply the necessary changes! Even the most seasoned IT professionals can accept that their work won’t always be perfect. Accepting feedback at this stage can only help you on your professional journey.
Keep your portfolio updated.
An IT portfolio is not a one-time job. An often overlooked aspect of building a winning portfolio is updating it. You must keep your portfolio updated with your latest projects and skills. Thus, whenever you complete a new project or learn a new skill, be sure to add it to your portfolio right away. This will show that you are keeping up with the latest trends and technologies.
When updating your portfolio, always keep in mind to follow the same tips mentioned earlier. You want your portfolio to be well-curated, relevant, and flaunting your best skills! Updating your portfolio regularly can be time-consuming, but it is worth it when you finally land your dream job. Plus, it’s a great way to keep track of your progress and reflect on your accomplishments.
Final Word
Creating a professional portfolio doesn’t have to be too complex. Just remember to keep it simple, relevant, and updated! Following these tips will help you stand out from the competition and give you a better chance of landing your dream job. So what are you waiting for? Start building your winning IT portfolio today!
