Creating a professional portfolio is a great way to stand out from the crowd. A strong portfolio tells your unique professional story in a visually appealing way showcasing your work, accolades received, and professional and educational accomplishments.
Creating a professional portfolio is a great way to stand out from the crowd. A strong portfolio tells your unique professional story in a visually appealing way showcasing your work, accolades received, and professional and educational accomplishments.
LinkedIn is the perfect platform from which to showcase your online portfolio. You can create a profile that goes beyond you resume providing your network and potential employers with a compelling picture of who you are as a professional. To turn your profile into a professional portfolio, consider the steps below.
1. Edit your profile.
Under Edit Profile, you will see that for each section and for each entry under experience and education, you can add media including documents, photos, links, videos, and presentations. You can select content living online or files stored on your device. For ideas on what to include, review this list of potential content.
2. Market your content.
Once you have added the content, you can edit the title and include a description. The title serves as a caption, visible on your profile, and the description will appear when the content is selected. You can include several types of content and media under each section, if applicable.
3. Be creative.
There are numerous ways to use content and media to tell your story. You can scan in thank you notes or accolades received, take screen shots, create infographics, link to blogs or websites, incorporate photos, showcase superior academic tasks, the list is endless. However, remember to keep all content professional and relevant to your career goals and aspirations.
For creative inspiration, check out the LinkedIn Official Blog Don’t Just Say It, Display It: Visually Enhance Your Professional Story on your LinkedIn Profile.
4. Share your portfolio.
Include a customized LinkedIn URL on your cover letter and resume. Consider referring to specific portfolio content in your cover letter, inviting employers to visit and review your work. Also, through LinkedIn, reach out to recruiters and hiring managers, inviting them to take a look at your new and improved profile that showcases your unique professional story and what you have to offer.
For individualized assistance with your professional portfolio and any additional career questions you may have, please contact WGU Career & Professional Development.
