How to make a portfolio

There are many things you can do to get started now.

• Use your strongest pieces
  • You don’t need to include everything you’ve ever worked on. Focus on adding the strongest projects and show off your best work.
• Showcase a variety of work
  • Include different types of work to show off your versatility and your wide range of abilities. For example, an artist could show a drawing, a painting, and maybe even digital design.
• Don't make it too long!
  • Stay between 10 to 20 pieces when creating your portfolio to make sure you capture your audience but don’t overwhelm them.
• On and offline
  • Create both a physical and online version of your portfolio so you can be versatile. It might be nice to have something physical you can bring to an in-person interview, but it’s also important to have something permanent and easily referenced online or linked to on your résumé.
• Get someone to review it
  • It’s never a bad idea to have someone to look at your portfolio. Asking your parents, a teacher, or even a friend to look at your portfolio can be a good way to fix any issues and add anything that might be important.

Keep school assignments

A lot of people don’t think twice before recycling all their assignments when they finish a class in high school. However, those assignments can actually be very useful when creating your portfolio. By keeping old assignments, you’re holding on to examples of your ability to excel on both an academic and personal level.

For example, the essays you write in high school can be valuable in demonstrating your ability to articulate your thoughts into words and form a cohesive argument. Other projects you may want to include are presentations, business cases and their financials, copywriting samples, short stories, etc.

Show your work online!

Create an online portfolio

Online portfolios are actually a really easy and helpful way to organize your work and experience. Websites like Wix.com are designed to help you layout your portfolio in a nice and appealing way. These websites allow you to add pictures, videos, projects, assignments, and anything else that you think would spice up your portfolio and give it that extra “oomph!”. Plus, many of these services are free!

Build a blog or vlog

Creating a blog is something else that can be really helpful, too. The best thing about using a blog is the ability to be as creative as you want – you can present yourself in a way that best suits who you are. You can even use video, which would make it a vlog, of course. But whether it’s a blog or a vlog, it’s your space to share something you’re passionate about.

Acting is my thing, so I could do a blog/vlog about movie reviews. Although I’d be doing it for fun, I could share it with an employer; and it would be a great opportunity to showcase my writing skills, my ability to think critically and show my thought processes, and it would demonstrate my dedication to the things that matter to me.

Overall, when building your portfolio, it’s important to remember what you want other people to know about you and what skills you want to highlight. Really any experience is valuable and the more you add to your portfolio, the more heads you’ll turn.  

By saving your best work, showcasing a variety of skills, and creating an online presence, you'll have a stronger record of your accomplishments and experiences when opportunities come your way.  

Whether you’re thinking of going into programs like Architectural Studies or looking to build up your résumé, making a portfolio is a great way to stay prepared. If you’re considering taking co-op at Waterloo, this can also be helpful for securing a job and getting you one step closer to your career goals.