Your portfolio is an evergreen resource that showcases your growth and experience through tangible results. As you develop new skills and complete new projects, updating your portfolio is essential to stand out and stay relevant in ways that your resume cannot. If your portfolio has been sitting untouched for months (or years), then you are missing an opportunity to show the world who you are now!
What to Add
- Recent Projects: This can be a class project or assignment, work from an internship, a campus event, or freelance work.
- Metrics: If you have them, show the results of your work! You can do this through engagement numbers, improved efficiency, or feedback you receive.
What to Remove
- Outdated Work: Remove projects that do not represent your current skill level. Instead, use projects that highlight current tools, trends, and styles that represent the work you complete now!
- Redundant Work: Try to show variety in your portfolio! Avoid including projects that show the same skills repeatedly and instead include different types of projects that show different ways you approach problems or create solutions.
- Unfinished Work: Your portfolio should feel like a highlight reel of your best, most recent work. Save rough drafts or unfinished work for when you can showcase the results!
Easy Steps to Maintain Your Portfolio
- Set reminders every 6 months (or every semester) to review and refresh your portfolio. This allows you to add recent work while they are still relevant and provide a visual for your updated skills.
- Keep a “Portfolio Folder” that you can add projects to as you complete them. Having everything in one place makes a big difference when you go to update your portfolio and saves time you would otherwise spend searching your drives.
Whether you are updating your portfolio for the first time, or you are a frequent updater, it is important to remember that your portfolio is a living, breathing reflection of your skills, growth, and creativity. Keep it fresh, keep it relevant, and let it tell the story of who you are today.