Are you a digital media graduate ready to find a job in the industry? Then you’re going to have to create a digital media portfolio in order to showcase your technical skills and knowledge. It can act as your online resume. You can use it to showcase your related work and projects to potential employers and clients online. This is an effective way to impress them quickly, with a long-lasting impact. Learn how to create a digital portfolio that stands out among other applicants.
Step-by-Step Instructions to Create a Digital Media Portfolio
Because related jobs require that you work digitally, it only makes sense that your professional resume and/or portfolio be created in a digital format. Use the “how-to” steps below to create your portfolio online to showcase your knowledge and skills within the digital media job force:
1. Create Your Objective
The type of digital portfolio you create should be based upon your target audience, or who you plan to submit it to in order to be considered for the job. It should answer this fundamental question: “Why should you hire me?”
Come up with the career goals and aspirations, as well as the skills you possess that align you with jobs in the digital media industry. Structure your portfolio’s career objective to include this information.
2. Choose a Resource to Build Your Digital Portfolio
One of the simplest ways to create a digital media portfolio is to build it using an online digital portfolio creator. There are numerous resources around, so be sure to choose one that offers the best format for your industry. Here are some reliable resources to help you get started:
- Creative Careers Like Art & Design
- Carbonmake
- Behance
- Crevado
- Media & Journalism
- Clippings.me
- Pressfolios
- Sites to Showcase Digital Portfolios – The websites below allow you to build personal websites in order to feature your digital portfolio online:
- VisualCV
- Seelio
- Wix
- WordPress
3. Purchase a Domain Name and Webhost Space
If you really want your digital media portfolio to stand out, think about featuring it on a website with a custom domain name or URL. Potential employers and clients may be impressed to find your digital portfolio featured on yourname.com or some other interestingly-named URL. It suggests that you’re dedicated to the long-term success in your career.
4. Create Webpage Content
Now, you need to create webpages for your site, and generate content for each individual page. These are some of the webpages generally found on digital portfolio websites:
- Home – Includes your name, email address, digital media school information, and major. Here you’ll include a pitch to potential clients and employers. It should be a short paragraph describing your major, skills, passions, and experience that makes you valuable. This is also where you’ll include the objective you created in Step 1.
- About Me – Here you’ll provide a more detailed, personal version of the info provided on your home page. It should include:
- Professional photo of you
- Where you live
- Your digital media school
- Major and/or minor
- Relevant internships and work experience (describe what you did briefly)
- On and off-campus involvement related to digital media jobs
- Your contact information, including email address
- Featured Works – Include about 10-20 of your best works on this webpage when you create a digital media portfolio. Organize your works by theme, as opposed to chronologically, placing your very best FIRST. Be sure to include subheadings to break up the text and make it more pleasing to the eyes. Some ideas for works to include are written papers and articles, presentations, websites, videos, projects, etc…
- Online Resumes – You want to include various versions of your resume when you create a digital media portfolio. If you create a CV, be sure to format it properly. Also, make sure a PDF version is also included. (See our blog for tips for creating a digital media resume.)
- Extras – Since this is your own custom portfolio, you need to make sure it includes any extras you want to showcase. This may include testimonials, feedback, reviews, quotes and/or recommendations from school professors, internship managers, employers, etc… You may also list write-ups and articles you’ve been featured in, programs you’re skilled with, and foreign languages you speak/write fluently.
Make Your Digital Media Portfolio Stand Out
Be sure to include enough visual media to capture the attention of your audience, but keep it crisp and clean looking. The theme you choose should not only complement your industry, but your own personal style. Click here for digital portfolio samples.
F.I.R.S.T. Institute provides its digital media students with valuable career development resources to help you launch your new career. From resume reviews to interviewing and networking, we help our students succeed after graduation. Check out our career development tools for more information.
