As a creative in advertising, it is common for you to jump from job to job every few years. Different companies have different clients with different opportunities, so it is essential to get as much experience as you can. One of the best ways to boost your chance of jumping to a new agency or getting a new job is to create an easily accessible digital portfolio. Keep reading to find out why you need a digital portfolio and what you need to include in your portfolio to get the job.
See it to believe it
As a creative, you need to be able to show recruiters and hiring managers your abilities and skills. It is one thing to explain the work you did on your resume, but it is the next level to create an online portfolio with all of your work.
When you create a personal website with your work, this will entice the hiring manager to bring you in for an interview for multiple reasons. The first reason being you save the hiring manager time and energy when they want to see samples of your work. They will be appreciative of your ability to understand the hiring process and will be more likely to interview you.
The second reason they will be more likely to interview you is that it allows them to easily see your skillset and decide if you can perform on the job. It will layout your strongest skills, and the hiring manager will have an easier time assessing whether or not they want to interview you.
Explain your work
On your digital portfolio, one of the biggest mistakes people will make is that they only display the images or creations they have made. The point of a portfolio is to display your work, but you need to explain your work in detail.
You should find a process that works for you. Whether you display your work and explaining the project at the bottom or adding text beneath each image in your campaign, this part of the process is essential. It’s crucial to add text explaining your work because a hiring manager wants to be able to understand how you went about the creative process, what brought you from point a to point b, and what skills helped you get to the final product.
Explaining your work is one of the best ways to show off your work and sell yourself to the hiring manager. Tell them why you are good at what you do, and that is why you should get hired. Do not be afraid to talk-up your work; it will only work in your favor.
Attach your resume
Within your website, you should create a page that you dedicate to your resume. It is a possibility that a hiring manager or recruiter could stumble upon your portfolio before receiving your resume. You should do whatever you can to make their lives easier and attach a copy of your resume to your portfolio. It is an extra plus if you can make your resume downloadable from your website.
Provide your contact information
Along with attaching your resume to your portfolio, you should always include your contact information on your portfolio. In this section, you should include your name, the city you live in, your phone number, and your email address. When a hiring manager or a recruiter finds your digital portfolio, they will be able to contact you and get you set up for an interview ASAP.
Overall, you should always be perfecting your digital portfolio, even if you think it is complete. There are consistent ways to improve your portfolio, so keep your mind open because it is forever evolving.
Clutch is a creative staffing partner. We connect digital, creative, and marketing professionals with companies looking for freelance, temp-to-hire or direct hire resources.
