How to Build an Online Portfolio That Will Get You Hired

1. about.me: While it may not be a portfolio per se, about.me does serve as an online snapshot of your professional identity. Through a sharp profile picture, a list of your skills and links to your social feeds, about.me is the hip way to network and get your name out there in the interwebz.

2. Moonfruit: Simply plug and chug your content into one of Moonfruit’s unique templates, or start from scratch if you so wish, for a dynamic portfolio that can be viewed across all platforms and interfaces. For portfolios, we recommend the “Minimalist” and “Graphic” themes, but they’re all worth a peek.

3. Bēhance: If you’re a graphic designer and somehow haven’t heard of Bēhance, then meet your match. Besides the fact that Bēhance is the leading online platform for exhibiting creative work (think: clickable high-res photos), it’s also an awesome way to discover and network with fellow designers within your field.

4. Flavors.me: Calling all social media and PR gurus: Flavors.me fulfills a niche in the spectrum of online portfolios. Say goodbye to the conundrum of figuring out how to display all of your work-related social media posts in one place. Flavors will seamlessly integrate everything social directly into your portfolio, so that visitors can peruse at their convenience.

5. Portfoliobox: Exceeding the standard portfolio, Portfoliobox is marketed toward all of the photographers, designers, artists, stylists, models and architects of the world. With sample portfolios resembling a streamlined Tumblr feed, Portfoliobox specializes in making your work stand out in a sea of cookie-cutter templates.

6. Sitey: With an entire category devoted to portfolios, Sitey is a great starting point if you want to browse a variety of templates in one place. It’s as easy as 1-2-3 and can have your site up and running simply by choosing a template, incorporating your content and hitting publish. For up to five pages, you can create a portfolio that is responsive and search engine optimized.

7. Dunked: Coding ninjas everywhere will appreciate Dunked’s customizable portfolios. Once you’ve selected a theme from Dunked’s collection of professionally designed templates, you can use a style sheet to further tweak your portfolio’s design. While the trial version only lasts for 10 days, an upgrade would serve you well, as Dunked specializes in delivering consistently stunning and vibrant imagery, no matter the screen size.

8. Squarespace: Home to some of the most beautiful websites and portfolios in existence, Squarespace is definitely worth all the hype. If you’re serious about building a professional portfolio, but don’t want to fully commit to a subscription without testing it out first, Squarespace offers a free 14-day trial. Trust us, though, you’re going to want to go premium once you see their streamlined templates.

9. Pressfolios: If you’re a freelance writer or journalist, then Pressfolios will be right up your alley. Not only is Pressfolios a cinch to use (no coding here!), but it allows you to easily clip (and back up) all of your articles from around the web. Personalize your page with a profile picture and bio, and then let your stream of articles do the rest. For a free account, you can upload 12 stories, which is perfectly adequate for showcasing your best clips.

10. ALLYOU: Here’s yet another solid freemium website that’s made for creative types looking for a unique and dynamic design. Boasting 1,000 free fonts, ALLYOU is a mobile-friendly (yay for responsive design!) portfolio that flaunts some pretty rad themes like “Helvetica.”

11. WordPress: In the midst of so many fancy-schmancy website builders, it’s easy to overlook tried-and-true sites like WordPress. If you’re already acquainted with the ins and outs of this blogging platform, then be sure to take a look at the “Sela” theme, which can easily be customized to fit your portfolio needs.

Tips

1. Decide What Type of Portfolio You Want: First things first; take some time to research which type of portfolio is going to best suit your professional needs. Depending on whether you plan on sharing writing clips, photography or graphic design work, it’s all a matter of choosing the correct platform. (via Levo League)

2. Include a Brief Bio and Headshot: Just because a portfolio is used to display your professional work doesn’t mean that you can’t throw in some personality. Believe it or not, future employers want to know a little about your personal goals, inspirations and passions too. (via Skillcrush)

3. Include a Tagline: In addition to a fleshed-out bio, a catchy one-liner highlighting your best traits is a welcome addition to any portfolio. Consider your tagline to be a shortened, more conversational version of the mission statement found on your resume. (via A Practical Wedding)

4. Branding is Key: Starting now, it’s time to hone your personal brand (yes, you have one!) and spend time creating an online portfolio that embodies your aesthetic. This includes everything from color palette selection to a preferred set of typefaces and even a logo — just make sure that it all screams you! (via AIGA)

5. Visualize.me: Nothing’s worse than having a stellar portfolio but a lackluster resume. For designers and visual storytellers, visualize.me is a phenomenal tool that will transform any resume into a colorful infographic. (via Fast Company)

6. Select Only Your Strongest Pieces: While it can be all too tempting to jam-pack your portfolio with work samples from way back when, it’s important to scale things back and only include the best of the best. As recommended by Canva Design School, you’ll want to “be thoughtful about what you include” so that your portfolio is the ultimate reflection of your work and aesthetic. (via Canva)

7. Less is More: With so many bells and whistles accompanying online portfolios these days, it’s far too easy to fall into the trap of wanting everything. Avoid templates that are overly busy and distracting in favor of clean + simple templates with a clear focus. (via themeforest)

8. Don’t Forget About Responsive Design: To ensure maximum visibility, consider choosing an interface that you know is responsive. By responsive, we simply mean an online portfolio that can be viewed on a desktop computer screen, an iPhone and iPad without being distorted. There’s nothing worse than sharing your cutting-edge portfolio with a potential employer only to realize that it’s only semi-functional. (via Graziadio Voice)

9. DO Keep Your Portfolio Updated: Once you get your online portfolio up and running, don’t forget to keep it updated with your latest work. Get in the habit of swapping out, uploading and deleting pieces so that your portfolio is always current. (via Haute Living)

Will you be utilizing any of these online portfolio sites? Tell us in the comments below!