One of the most important parts of applying for jobs and schools is having a valid portfolio. For many students, this job is easier said than done. Portfolios can help you prepare for interviews, clearly communicate your ideas, and stay focused when showing others your work. In the words of junior Lauren Jackson, “They’re the best way to show others what you are capable of and how well you would adapt to your environment.” Not only that, but portfolios also help you to make a personal database of your own work and judge your progress and improvement.

 The first step to making a portfolio is planning the presentation. You can find a presentation binder online or in local stores. As long as you stay focused on the goal of finding a way to have your greatest work  in the same place, you are sure to make a portfolio that works for your individual needs. Presentation may seem like something simple, but remember that a first impression is the most important.

 Step two is to find your best work to put in a portfolio. Start by looking over the work you have done in the past, and choose what you consider to be the best. No matter what you are working with, having a personal evaluation of your work and an outside evaluation of your work is the best way to go. Work on choosing a variety of items that show many different skills shown in multiple places. Think about how much time the employer will spend on each piece (about 6 seconds usually). Try to lean toward visual examples. If you are working with written work, you can sent it in, or a portion of it, ahead to be read in advance. You should always have it with you ready to describe and summarize it. For all works, you should be ready to explain why it is important and have a reason for why it was made/written.

 The next step is to customize your portfolio to where you would like to apply. Applying at a variety of places is the best way to go, but you still need to make individual efforts with each application. Look over the job description and  select your work to showcase more based on that. Changing the order of your work is best to show different companies what you can do for their company and show them you can do whatever they need.

 The final thing you need to do is to take everything you have and make a digital copy online. Using free websites to make an online portfolio is a great way to get your work to potential employers. This is also a great way to make your portfolio available on the go, with you all the time. Using PDF documents and high resolution pictures, a website is an amazing way to showcase your work with no limitation.

 Following these steps and making sure to have confidence in yourself is a great way to prepare for interviews with potential employers, communicate your ideas, and keep progress of how you are improving over time.