Putting together a creative portfolio

For many creative jobs, to be considered a suitable candidate you'll need to present examples of your best work in a carefully put together portfolio that showcases your talent and potential

What is a portfolio?

A portfolio is a collection of your most impressive work. When you're applying for a job, you'll often be asked to provide your portfolio along with your CV or at the interview stage. It helps employers to decide whether you have the right skills for the role and whether your style matches that of the organisation.

Portfolios can come in many shapes and sizes, whether that's a video, a website, a music playlist, a physical folder containing your best work, or even a mix of different formats - it all depends on the type of job you're looking for.

While it's good to be creative with the format, always remember that the portfolio is there to draw attention to the quality of the work included, not to distract from it by being over-complicated.

Whichever way you choose to present it, ultimately your portfolio should 'lead the viewer through your creative journey by exhibiting pieces that showcase a variety of skills, processes and influences,' says Sarah Simms, head of UK admissions at the University for the Creative Arts (UCA).

The role of a portfolio in the creative sector

When it comes to careers in the creative industries, your portfolio is often just as important as your CV and performance at interview. First impressions are vital and an eye-catching portfolio that shows off your most impressive work is more likely to have a positive impact.

Portfolios are most commonly used in creative fields where audio or visual impact is important, such as:

With competition for graduate roles in the creative industries set to increase over the coming years, this serves to highlight the value of a portfolio in showcasing your ability, explains Sarah.

'Portfolios are a great opportunity to make a statement about your work. Don't be afraid to be bold - you want to keep the attention of the viewer and leave them feeling excited about your creative potential.'

How to make a portfolio

When you start putting together your portfolio, always keep in mind that you need it to have an instant impact. Margaret Burgin, head of careers at ScreenSkills, says, 'An employer will often have a quick look through several portfolios and divide them into two - those they'll look at again, and those they won't. You want to be in the first group, so first impressions are crucial.'

Select pieces of work that show the full spectrum of your skills in your field, including your competence with relevant digital tools or industry-standard software. The examples you choose can usually come from a variety of experiences. For instance, your portfolio may contain work you've done at university, in a relevant placement or internship, in a part-time job, or even projects you undertook in your free time.

All of these are valid as long as they show you at your best - although you should always check job adverts or interview invites to see whether the employer has any particular requests. Sometimes you might be asked to show everything you contributed to a single project from start to finish, while in other cases you'll need a range of examples.

This means that, just like a CV, you should be willing to adjust your portfolio to match each job you apply for. You might want to make particular pieces of work more or less prominent depending on what the employer is looking for. This doesn't stop you from keeping a 'standard' version of your portfolio online, linked from your social media accounts, so that employers can find you at any time.

Learn more about creative online student portfolios at Createxplore.

You can also get advice from ScreenSkills on building your portfolio for the screen industries (covering roles across TV, film, animation, visual effects and video gaming).

Tips for your professional portfolio

Don't be afraid to show aspects of your work that aren't polished. 'Nobody is born with perfectly refined skills - using your portfolio to share your progress is just as important as the art itself,' says Sarah. Feel free to include pieces that are experimental or may not have worked as you expected. She reveals, 'You should show what inspires you, how you approach your work, your thought processes, what you create and what makes you unique - so as much as finished articles, include preparatory work, sketches, mood boards, and storyboards.'
Prioritise quality over quantity. 'Your audience wants to see your passion and commitment to the discipline you work in, so keep in mind the skills and techniques that will be required,' explains Sarah. 'Showcase how you're already applying them to your work.' Margaret adds, 'Think about your portfolio design - don't make it too long. Most recruiters have limited time to look through portfolios. You're presenting the very best of what you can do, not everything that you've done.'
Get a second opinion before the interview. 'Ask someone you don't know very well to look at your portfolio and get their first impressions,' Margaret advises. 'It's good to know how the work you've put together makes you appear to a total stranger.' If your work contains digital elements, you should also check that these work prior to submitting or presenting your portfolio. As Margaret says, 'Host sites such as YouTube can be unpredictable. If you're using one to display your work, check what the site looks like when it's first opened as a link. Your work might appear on a page with unrelated content, which could change the impression you give.'
Keep your portfolio up to date. Your portfolio should reflect who you are as an artist in the present day. Submitting an art portfolio that doesn't reflect the role you're applying for, or hasn't been updated in a long time, looks unprofessional. Regularly updating your portfolio will show you're constantly developing your skills, take pride in your work and are committed to working in the industry.
Don't rely solely on a web-based portfolio. If your portfolio exists on a website - whether it's a gallery of photographs or a YouTube channel - always have physical or digital back-up copies, just in case there are any technical issues with internet connections or broken links when you show your work to an employer.

Find out more

Discover how to get a creative job.
Read our 5 tips for getting media work experience.
Explore the courses on offer at UCA.