Tips for a good portfolio

A portfolio is an important part of your education, so you want to make it as good as possible. But what is in a good portfolio and how do you make one? We have listed a few tips to help you make a professional portfolio quickly and easily.

What is included in a portfolio?

-       CV: Personal information and information related to education and work experience.

-       A reflection on your own competence.

-       A file with proof related to your competences.

-       A personal development plan

1.    Think of an original design

Consider how many students are in your educational program. All of them have to hand in a portfolio, so it is important that yours stands out. Think of an original design for your portfolio that attracts attention and your teachers won't easily forget.

 

2.    Motivate your vision

For a good portfolio, it is important that you have self-awareness and you know how to set yourself apart. Tell who you are and what makes you different, but also what your vision is for what you are doing now and what you want to do in the future.

 

3.    Make a selection of your skills

You probably have many skills in which you have developed yourself and which you would like to mention. But it is important to make a selection of your best skills, as it is better to have a few strong skills than many less good ones.

 

4.    Provide an overview

Make sure your portfolio is uncluttered and clear, so the reader can immediately find what they are looking for. It might seem obvious but start with adding a table of contents, so the reader knows from the start what subjects to expect.

 

5.    Describe your personal learning goals

Don't only describe the skills you are already good at, but also mention areas in which you want to develop yourself. It is important to make your learning goals as specific as possible, so you can properly judge whether you have achieved them in the end.

 

6.    Show the process

Show how you made something. For example, you can think of showing a brainstorming session by adding notes or sketches. This will allow the reader to see how you came to the final results, and that you actually made it yourself.

 

7.    Have someone check your portfolio on language and spelling

If you are not great with languages, make sure someone checks your portfolio on spelling after you finish it. A lot of wrong sentences and spelling errors look very unprofessional. Even if you are confident about your writing skills, having someone check it is a smart choice. You might overlook a mistake that someone else is able to spot for you.

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