Resumes used to be the only tool you had to showcase your academic and professional achievements when you were looking for a new job. Today you have so many more options, one of which is to create a Digital Portfolio. This visual representation of your history and greatest achievements provides employers with proof of what you can do and helps them see why they should consider hiring you. It also sets you apart from all the other candidates who simply send in a resume and cover letter.
What is a Digital Portfolio?
A Digital Portfolio is an online collection of your very best work that visually proves what you can do.
Who needs a Digital Portfolio for a Job Interview?
Years ago, portfolios were used mainly by artists, designers and photographers to showcase their best work to a potential customer. Today, portfolios are created by people in almost every industry from teaching to writing, marketing and more as a way of bringing a resume to life using visuals. The digital age and the power of social media mean that no matter what industry you work in, you can create a digital portfolio that showcases your best work and use it to set you apart from other candidates at your next job interview.
See also:
- How to Create a Killer Marketing Portfolio – what you must include
- How to Create a College Portfolio – what you must include
What Software Should I use to Create a Digital Portfolio?
The good news is that there are lots of great websites and software programs you can use to make creating a digital portfolio for a job interview quite easy. We have put together a list of of great options for you to explore and they are all FREE.
Digital Portfolio Resumes:
Vizualize.me is a program that allows you to create an online resume using hundreds of free infographic assets. There are so many themes to choose from, timeline templates and shape options to help you bring your skills and experience to life in a visually powerful infographic.
This online program allows you to create a beautiful and professional resume very quickly either by uploading a document, your LinkedIn information or entering it from scratch. Choose from one of the templates, create your CV and either publish it online or download it as a PDF. You also get some basic tracking of your online resume free.
Digital Portfolio Snapshots:
About.me allows you to create a visually powerful web page that is all about you. Think of it as a one page summary of you and your achievements online. You can link your page to your social assets and they provide reporting on who has visited your About.me page and how often. If you don’t need a huge portfolio of work then this site may be the way to create the snapshot you need.
We know that LinkedIn is a fantastic networking and professional resource. Since it introduced an online portfolio function which allows for images, PDF’s, websites etc…it has become an even greater friend of the job seeker. You can bring all your academic and professional achievements together in your LinkedIn portfolio. Just go to the professional page on the LinkedIn site for all the instructions.
Digital Portfolio Websites and Blogs:
WordPress is a really easy platform that steps you through the process of setting up your own website or blog. It’s a very popular platform, in fact they quote on their website that they power 23% of the internet. They are mobile and SEO friendly, have hundreds of designs to choose from and the publishing process is very simple to manage yourself. It is very easy to add widgets and plug ins for additional functionality.
Tumbler is similar to WordPress. Both platforms are great for setting up your own blog, but Tumblr is more focussed on images and social media. The Tumblr community likes, shares, follows and re blogs a lot which is great if that is what you are after.
If you just need a basic portfolio website then think about Yola.com. You can create a free website within about half an hour with Yola site builder. There are lots of templates to choose from, no advertising on the site and the drag and drop functionality makes it easy to customise your pages.
Similar to Yola, Jimdo.com lets you easily build a basic website at no charge. With its focus on ecommerce for small business you can start selling within an hour or two.
Portfoliobox allows you to create and manage your own online portfolio website with galleries, commerce functionality and even blogging. This program creates a really visually beautiful result which is why it is used by a lot of photographers, artists and other creative people. That said, it can be used by any professional to create a visually impactful site. There are lots of themes and templates, it’s mobile friendly and no coding is required.
There are so many great options for you to create an amazing digital portfolio for your next job interview and they are all free. Think about your industry and most importantly your audience as you chose the right option for you.
a nice article, simple and easy to understand. great job