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How to Build a Portfolio That Gets You Hired

How to Build a Portfolio That Gets You Hired
Published September 9, 2024 by the Behance Team

A portfolio is more than just a catalog of your work. It’s a reflection and extension of you, and oftentimes the first impression you’ll make on potential clients and employers. To be a successful creative, it’s essential to make a strong and lasting impression with our portfolio. 

“A good portfolio also represents your opinion on design, what you think is and is not important. It is the story about the relationship between you and design,” says Mitch Goldstein, Assistant Professor at Rochester Institute of Technology’s School of Design.

We’ve gathered tips from Mitch and seasoned freelancers on Behance to help you craft a portfolio that showcases your skills and experience, and communicates your unique creative vision.

1. Show your best work

When it comes to portfolios, less is sometimes more. Focus on quality over quantity and select a few standout projects that showcase your skills and attention to detail. Resist the temptation to add sub-par work just to fill up space; it’s better to have five knockout projects than ten mediocre ones. Remember that your portfolio will only ever be as strong as your weakest project. 

“A strong portfolio is crucial as it demonstrates an artist’s ability to potential clients and employers.” says Enrico Siket, owner and creative director of BRAND ᴺᵂ, a multi-disciplinary design studio based in Germany. “We look for portfolios that include a variety of projects, clear descriptions of the artist’s role, and evidence of strategic thinking.”

Brandnw

SEVA SKINCARE by BRAND ᴺᵂ and Daniela Martínez

2. Consider what you want to be hired for

Think about the kind of work you want to do more of, and showcase projects that best represent that desired niche. If there’s work you’d like to do less of, omit those to set yourself up for the right opportunities that aligns with your goals. “It’s important to display relevant work and skills for the role. Including too many projects can overwhelm a portfolio; instead, focus on a curated selection of your best work,” advises Enrico. 

List a Creative Service on Behance to let clients know up front what kind of work you want to be hired for. Set your own price, timeline, and revisions to get qualified leads, and get paid safely and securely directly on Behance. 

Alexandre

Browse Creative Services by Alexandre Pietra

3. Demonstrate versatility 

Versatility is critical in a creative portfolio because it demonstrates to potential clients that you’re able to adapt to a range of different styles, mediums, and projects. Even if you are specializing in a particular niche, you can still show variety by including a range of examples that have different styles, audiences, and applications. This approach highlights your ability to tailor your work to specific client needs while maintaining your unique creative identity.

4. Document your process and design thinking 

Showing your process demonstrates your problem-solving skills and thought process, helping potential clients understand how you develop solutions and bring ideas to life. Include a concise summary for each project that describes the scope of your work. Additionally, you can document your approach to offer a deeper understanding of your creative workflow.

“Practically every project I post attracts new clients,” says designer Leo Natsume. “That's why I always strive to create well-thought-out presentations that give potential clients a clear understanding of what I do. I detail the production stages, show how the work was done, and highlight the final deliverables.”

“The portfolio itself might be what gets you in the door, but the conversation about what you did and why you did it gets you the job. Make sure that you are able to justify your decisions and explain your choices,” says Mitch. Writing about your work and reflecting on your process also serves as good practice for future interviews. 

5. Represent you

“Companies and clients do not hire a portfolio; they hire a person, therefore it is important that you are represented in your portfolio,” says Mitch. Curating a balanced mix of client projects and personal pieces can highlight your unique point of view and skill set. While client work reflects your experience working with clients, self-initiated projects can showcase your interest beyond commercial endeavors. 

Investing and exploring your own creative interests can have a rewarding professional payoff. 3D artist Danny Ivan was fascinated by glass textures and even traveled to Murano, Italy to see how glass was made in person. He reinterpreted the age-old art form into digital and 3D art, and these projects helped him attract technology and hardware companies who were looking to create captivating campaigns with abstract visuals. 

Danny

Melted 3D glass by Danny Ivan

6. Focus on the work

Your work should always be the focal point of your portfolio. Use high quality, high resolution images in a clean, uncluttered layout. Avoid overwhelming your portfolio with unnecessary design elements or too much text—let the work speak for itself. Make sure your contact information is up to date and easily discoverable so prospective clients can contact you. 

As a Behance Pro member, you can personalize your Behance profile to include a custom button, turn on dark theme, and manage the visibility of public areas of your profile. If you work across multiple disciplines, creating sections in your profile can help clients navigate your portfolio. 

Danny

See Danny Ivan's personalized Behance profile

Your Pro membership also includes access to Adobe Portfolio so you can build your own custom website and have full control over the look and feel of your portfolio.  

Trial Button

7. Update projects regularly  

A portfolio is a living, breathing entity. As you evolve as a creative, so should your portfolio. In addition to keeping it up to date with new projects, remove any projects as they become less relevant to the type of work you aspire to get. 

Tatiana Vovchek

Lost fairy by Tatiana Vovchek

Freelance illustrator Tatiana Vovchek has been using Behance as her portfolio for over 12 years. In the early days of her career, her portfolio was largely UI/UX projects. Later, as she pivoted to illustration, she began showcasing her watercolor art. These days, her portfolio has been updated with vector art and book illustration projects. “Updating my portfolio is a habit for me and I recommend everyone unpublish outdated projects and find time to showcase new projects and tell their story of creation,” says Tatiana. 

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