Congratulations, you’ve completed graduate school! However, you’re not in the clear just yet. Before you start your career search as a creative professional, you must compile a portfolio that stands out from all the other candidates. You need a competitive edge. But what are employers looking for in your portfolio?

Knowing what really makes your work stand out to an employer will give you that edge! Here are some tips for you follow:

The Objective

Employers want to see that your design portfolio sums up you and your work, your range, skills, execution, and experience. Show your best work!

Golden Rules

• Grab your potential employers' attention by starting with one of your best pieces. Finish off with another strong piece that will leave them wanting more, giving them something follow up with and talk about.
• Optimize your online portfolio, regardless of the genre, for ease and accessibility. Don’t worry, there are FREE sites, like Cargo Collective and Squarespace, that have templates to help get your portfolio into tip-top shape!
• Tailor your portfolio to a potential employer and showcase the work that you are looking to get commissioned for.
• Include work that you're proud of. This will help you talk confidently and enthusiastically about your work with the employer.

Clarity is Key

Although you want your portfolio to make sense to you, it must also make sense to the person viewing it. The explanation of your portfolio is as essential as the work itself. Try to imagine that you are looking at your portfolio for the first time. At first glance, do you understand what the work is about?

Integration First

Employers will find it concerning when being presented with a single style portfolio. At this stage, don’t get caught up on showcasing your distinct style. Base your work on a strong idea while presenting a variety of styles and skills. Expertise is secondary to being able to present a variety of work.

Utilize The Advantages

Check to see if your school offers Portfolio Nights. These events are a great opportunity for aspiring designers to meet with distinguished creative directors for an evening of networking, recruiting, and advice. In addition, portfolio nights offer graduates the opportunity to explore outside of their comfort zone. If your school doesn’t offer career events like this, then be sure to check out local Portfolio Night events in your area. Be yourself and be sure to have a quick explanation that sums up each piece of work!

Tips From a Touro GST Web and Multimedia Design Program Chair, Jesse Epstein: 

• Save your class projects! It will help form the basis of your portfolio which is housed on a portfolio website or app designed for the purpose of sharing your work with employers or clients.

"This will help produce a thesis project that is supposed to be a capstone experience, meaning, it is supposed to demonstrate the professional skills learned in the program and it is supposed to be produced at the same professional level as any project produced by a professional in the field."

• A professional level project will reflect how well you researched. You must discover and analyze the competitive environment in which your project will be viewed. In addition, you must also research the nature of the audience to whom the project is intended for.

"These are integral components of any design projects and students must demonstrate that they have the ability to design within a very broad problem-solving perspective." - Jesse Epstein

Final Thoughts:

Although there are many subjective opinions of what you should include in your portfolio, listed above are the essential concepts of what employers are looking for. When done right, your portfolio will impress and surprise employers, thus demonstrating the value of bringing you on board.

Now go and get ‘em! 

Interested in starting a career in creative design? Click below for more information on a digital design education at Touro GST!