A portfolio is a resource that enables international students to share their skills, experiences, and achievements with the world. Students share portfolios when they apply to university programs or jobs or when they want to showcase their creative work. Your portfolio is an opportunity to tell your own story and present the accomplishments and priorities that are important to you.
As an international student, a portfolio is also a chance to demonstrate your English language skills, communicate your global outlook, draw attention to your resume, and confirm your work availability. Let’s discuss how to make a portfolio, the different types of portfolios, and when it is important to use one.
How Do You Make a Portfolio?
There are several ways to present your portfolio, from a printed collection to a PDF file, but the most popular form (especially for students) is a website. Several apps, social media sites, and tools are available online that help students create portfolios.
For many options, you don’t need to know how to code or design; you can choose a template. Most are free to demo or create and then charge a subscription fee for added features. A few popular online platforms with free starter website options for portfolios include:
Squarespace: Easy to build, mobile responsive
Wix: Drag and drop, no-code interface makes it easy to set up
WordPress: Customizable but a little more technical than the other two
You can also create a portfolio as part of your LinkedIn page or within a different app or social media site.
Let your goals guide you to the right portfolio type. For instance, is Dribbble or a GitHub developer portfolio more appropriate for the positions to which you are applying? The former would be more appropriate for a graphic designer, while the latter would be a good match for a software developer.
Additionally, the hiring managers for each role have certain expectations. What does your target audience expect? Ask yourself:
Are you applying for a job or an internship?
Are you applying for a scholarship?
Are you reaching out to a university or college?
The answers to these questions help guide what to include and what to keep out of your portfolio. If you are a mature designer or already have a website, you probably already have an idea of which platform you prefer. If not, pick one that is easy for you to use and appropriate to your areas of study or career path. For instance, if you have a number of writing samples, a site like clippings.me is a great place to start.
How Do I Create a Portfolio?
Once you know the audience you are creating your portfolio for and which tools you will use, think about what you want to include.
If you are still in school or are early in your career, you may have a limited amount of content to add to your portfolio. It’s OK to add your academic transcript information and recommendations from previous instructors or employers. Some students include projects they work on for fun that also show skills that are important to the jobs for which they are applying.
Pick examples you are most passionate about and try to show why they are important to you. Don’t worry if there aren’t too many — it’s better to have a few meaningful examples than several that are less important.
Remember to include an “About Me”-type section. (You can see an example on the online portfolio of Brandon, a student at the University of Washington.) As an international student, you already have a story to tell. Share it with your target audience. Try to convey a sense of who you are, what your personality is, and why you are passionate about your given field or hobby. This is also a great place to show your English writing skills!
How to Create a Portfolio for Students
Remember, one of the benefits of being a student is that you have resources available to help you. Career services advisors, professionally minded student organizations, instructors, and professors — there are several ways to get someone with experience to critique your portfolio.
Some additional opportunities for student portfolio feedback on and around campus include:
Hiring managers at a career fair or networking event
Professional Slack or social media groups in your area of study
Alumni from your program with roles similar to the role you want next
Finally, remember to update your portfolio frequently. You won’t be a student forever, and you won’t always want to list your student achievements as your primary professional accomplishments. As you mature and your career objectives change, so should your portfolio.
Learn more about Shorelight Career Services >