3 Creative Ways to Work on Your Portfolio
It's a no-brainer to never attend a job interview looking anything less than your sharpest. Suit rather than sweatpants anyone? That first impression is oh-so important after all and very difficult to recover from if it all goes downhill in that first opportunity to impress. If this is true then why do we often go the bland and boring route with our first impression on paper/on-screen? Isn't this what gets you the foot in the door to the interview in the first place? Shocking then how we just create a run-of-the-mill profile and then wonder why we haven't got a call back.
Statistics show that recruiters skim through piles of profiles with each getting barely 10-20 seconds to make it past that first cut. So without further ado here are five ideas to rework your portfolio so they can look at you with fresh eyes!
Fun with Formats - Still using a basic Word document CV? Switch things up. You don't have to be a designer or writer to opt for an interesting format. Infographic portfolios or even regular ones with some graphic/visual elements can be minimalist and used cleverly to showcase your skills no matter your field. Still want to be safe? Retain a basic but interesting version of your MS Word CV (since it has options for smart objects, charts etc.) but don't forget a pdf and plain text format of the same in case you need to upload it online.
Say it with Space and Colour - Don't be afraid of color. But don't go overboard printing your portfolio on neon pink paper either (well not unless you're applying to a hip fashion brand or kitschy product-centric brand looking for a fit for their bright culture). When done right colour can also create a visual break between sections. Keep the colour use professional though. As a rule of thumb muted shades of blue are always safe.
Nix the Unnecessary - Still including your snail mail address, home phone, personal information like hobbies and marital status? Most of these are irrelevant in current formats so why not give this section a paring down. Shorten to a crisp header under your name with the bare basics - mobile number, email and city for location. Still unsure? Have them detailed elsewhere online so you can just redirect there with a personalised url.
Maybe you're looking for a change right now with not much success or perhaps you've found your career bliss and are exactly where you want to be. Whatever the case, experts say we all need to relook at our résumés/career profiles every six months so that it's up-to-date and has all the latest accomplishments you want to proudly flaunt. So why not try one of these today.
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