Standing out from the crowd when you’re a newcomer looking for your first job in Canada isn’t always easy. As a result, you should seize every opportunity to shine and ensure that you are doing everything in your power to impress potential employers. In addition to a strong resume, you can do this by showcasing your accomplishments in a work portfolio.
We explain what a professional work portfolio is and which jobs require a portfolio when applying for jobs in this article.
What is a portfolio of work?
A work portfolio expands on this and provides tangible evidence of your expertise, whereas a resume in the Canadian style typically consists of a one- or two-page summary of your experience, skills, and accomplishments.
Employers and hiring managers can better understand the value you can bring to the table as a newcomer by seeing examples of your best work, whether they come from previous jobs (with the employers’ permission, of course) or something you did in your spare time. It’s a chance to show off your accomplishments, including any awards or certifications you’ve received, as well as concrete examples of your work.
Professional work portfolios can be digital or physical, but remember that a digital portfolio is easier to share with a wider audience (especially if you’re applying for jobs in Canada from your home country) and can even be linked to on your LinkedIn profile or resume.
What kinds of jobs in Canada require a portfolio?
Typically, a work portfolio can help your application if you want to work in the creative industry. You might need a professional portfolio for the following occupations:
- Marketing
- Web design
- Engineering
- Graphic design
- Writer
- Teaching
- Photography
- Advertising
- Interior decorating
- Architecture
In Canada, why is having a work portfolio important?
HR professionals frequently receive hundreds of applications for a single position. That is a large number of resumes to examine. A work portfolio gives you an advantage in your job search for the following reasons:
- demonstrates to Canadian employers your abilities: Let’s face it: for newcomers looking for work in Canada, lacking Canadian experience can be a barrier. A portfolio is a great way to demonstrate to potential employers that your skills and international experience are well-suited for the Canadian job market.
- demonstrates your accomplishments in pictures: A recruiter’s visualization of a candidate’s skills and contributions to the team can be challenging at times. It’s one thing to say in your resume summary that you’re a creative designer who can incorporate interactive media into a website, but it’s quite another to actually show the hiring manager an amazing website you created. A professional portfolio of your best work will help you stand out in an interview by showing a preview of how you will perform on the job.
- Give more details about the projects you’ve completed: On your resume, you might only mention a project with a few data points, but in your portfolio, you can elaborate on that project with images, additional information, and other details that interviewers might be interested in.
- demonstrates your individual brand: A portfolio is also much more effective than a few bullet points on a resume at telling the story of who you are and your brand.
- Invents opportunities where none previously existed: If you post a link to your LinkedIn portfolio, it’s also possible that your work samples will pique the interest of an employer you hadn’t previously considered or for whom there were no open positions. Special job openings for skilled professionals are not uncommon in such circumstances.
In Canada, why is having a work portfolio important?
HR professionals frequently receive hundreds of applications for a single position. That is a large number of resumes to examine. A work portfolio gives you an advantage in your job search for the following reasons:
1. Choose the work examples you want to include.
Think about the story you want to tell, including details about yourself, your skills, and examples of your work. Consider whether it applies to my sector or the kind of position you’re seeking. Does it back up the experience and skills on my resume? Is this my best piece? And if necessary, can I walk the hiring manager through each sample’s ideation and production process?
To make an impression, highlight your best examples and begin with the most impressive if you have a substantial body of work from previous jobs in your home country. Don’t worry if you don’t have any work samples on hand. You can use your free time to create new portfolio samples (you can even tailor samples to your target employers or industries).
2. Visualize things
While some careers are better suited to visual media, others may require you to think outside the box. A person who works in user experience design, for instance, can show how a product changes from a prototype to a finished product. A professional in public relations might add the number of media impressions and the coverage they secured for previous clients. Your portfolio can be a collection of some of your viral campaigns or posts if you work in social media.
Your portfolio could be a personal blog with content you’ve written outside of your professional roles or the best pieces you’ve written for careers like content management or journalism.
3. Simpler is better
Even though a portfolio lets you improve your resume, you shouldn’t put everything in it. To make it easier for a hiring manager to navigate, keep your portfolio’s format and contents organized, clean, and straightforward.
If you have worked on multiple project categories, make sure your online portfolio has a menu and a separate page for each one. Keep the amount of text to a minimum and let the pictures speak for themselves. Each image should have a description that includes the client or business you worked for, your role in the project, and any successes. If you have an online portfolio, organize your work by client logo or into categories to make it easier to find what you’re looking for. Visually, it is easier to present a snapshot of your work, such as a marketing campaign or feature article, and then link to the original.
4. Reflect your personal brand
Even though a portfolio lets you improve your resume, you shouldn’t put everything in it. To make it easier for a hiring manager to navigate, keep your portfolio’s format and contents organized, clean, and straightforward.
If you have worked on multiple project categories, make sure your online portfolio has a menu and a separate page for each one. Keep the amount of text to a minimum and let the pictures speak for themselves. Each image should have a description that includes the client or business you worked for, your role in the project, and any successes. If you have an online portfolio, organize your work by client logo or into categories to make it easier to find what you’re looking for. Visually, it is easier to present a snapshot of your work, such as a marketing campaign or feature article, and then link to the original.
The benefits of a physical vs. digital portfolio
Newcomers often wonder whether it’s best to have a physical or digital portfolio, but there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. It’s best to have at least a digital portfolio, which you can combine with a physical version (of simply print it out) when you need to share it during in-person interviews. Here are some pros and cons for both options:
Portfolios in person
Traditionally, a physical copy of your work and accomplishments was included in a portfolio. However, the majority of people nowadays create digital portfolios. A paper portfolio has the advantage of being immediately accessible during an in-person interview, making it simple to demonstrate your abilities and experience with tangible evidence. It’s not up to you to guess whether a hiring manager looked through your online portfolio before or after your interview.
However, sharing a physical portfolio may be impossible if you are conducting a virtual interview. It might be preferable to start with a digital portfolio if you need to scan and digitize your portfolio.
Having a physical portfolio has the disadvantage of necessitating investment in high-quality paper, color copying, and presentation covers if you want it to appear professional. Additionally, you should anticipate giving your interviewer a physical portfolio; therefore, you should account for the costs of replicating your original.
Portfolios online
The creation of a digital portfolio is inexpensive, if not free. All you need is some design and storytelling work. Online versions of your work can showcase your creativity and technical abilities while also saving trees and making virtual or panel interviews easier. If you’re a newcomer and starting your job search from home, a digital portfolio lets you show off your work samples virtually.
Naturally, the disadvantage is that you cannot depend on being able to present your online portfolio during your interview. Make sure to include the URL on both your LinkedIn profile and resume so that a hiring manager can view it. Additionally, you should ensure that your portfolio is mobile-friendly.
Resources for creating a professional portfolio of work.
There are a number of low-cost or free resources that can assist you in creating a physical portfolio or an online one.
1. Canva
You can create a sleek online or physical portfolio with the free online design tool Canva. Additionally, the design platform offers advice on how to present your work and what to include in your professional portfolio.
2. Muck Rack and contently
To set up a free online platform for their work, authors and creators of digital content can join Contently or Muck Rack. You can easily upload content and organize all of your work on both sites.
3. Behance.
Millions of photographers, artists, and UX designers work on Behance. A project with related images, videos, or other digital content can be made by users. Each project has a unique URL that can be shared, and the site is free to use.
4. Format.
Format is a platform for making videos for your portfolio. This platform lets you make impressive portfolios if you work in art, fashion, photography, design, film, illustration, or other related fields. Website templates organized by profession are also included. Plans start at just $5 per month, despite the fact that the service is not free.
5. A website for yourself.
The process of creating an impressive digital portfolio need not be intimidating. You can easily display your work and demonstrate your skills on a number of other free websites. Sites like WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix are good places to start if you want to create a straightforward and visually appealing website to showcase your work.
While work portfolios may not be required for all professions, they can be an excellent addition to your resume and cover letter during your job search. Samples of your best work can be found in a well-curated portfolio, which shows potential employers a clear picture of your abilities and accomplishments and demonstrates your value to the company.
