Have your college advisor or a trusted friend look over your portfolio to look for errors, typos or places you can improve. Explore post-secondary education programs and schools, including apprenticeships. You always want it to be SUPER easy for clients to contact you – regardless of what page of your site they’re on! Refer to any of the numerous books on the subject for specific advice on how to prepare a resume. Only put your best work in your portfolio, because that’s what you want potential clients to see. Prepare for the Workforce Now, Post-Secondary Graduate? (For help picking a niche and landing clients, click here to get instant access to my FREE class on how to make your first $1,000 freelance writing!). It is the foundation of everything in your portfolio. A writing portfolio,a collection of coursework in print or elec-tronic form, is a unique opportunity for you to present your intel- lectual track record, showing where you’ve been and how you’ve developed as a college writer. Galleries want to see an artist's portfolio before deciding whether or not to show the artist's work. Probably not – you’re not going to see any long-term or short-term benefits from doing that. Aaaaand that’s why guest posting is one of the BEST ways to create writing samples as a newbie with no experience. It gives employers the details they need to see why you’re the best person for the job. Because those samples wouldn’t be relevant to the clients you wanted to attract. Make sure your portfolio makes the most of the opportunity. Toll Free
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted legislation and services. You can use any program of your choice, but keep in mind that most commercial printers like FedEx Kinko’s, Staples, OfficeMax and the like are not compatible with a lot of different file types. And if you want a free portfolio website, we’ve got you covered there, too. Holy shit! Artists and designers often use portfolios to market themselves in a job interview. This helps you understand the work you’re qualified for and the work you’d like to be doing. At the back of the binder, you may wish to include copies of particularly glowing letters of recommendation or impressive commendations or certificates, either in a pocket divider or in the back cover pocket. You can pull information from your portfolio every time you update or. While there are lots of different ways to do that, one way I’ve discovered works wonders is to put together an interview portfolio. Here's how to prepare, practice, present and participate so you can make the impression that will get you the job. There are two ways to compile a portfolio; you can either create an electronic document which can be emailed or shared online, or you can put together a hard copy in a leather-bound "portfolio" notebook. These 5 steps will help you create a “master” portfolio—a complete collection of all your relevant information and proof of your abilities and skills. As I mentioned earlier, these portfolios were done in PowerPoint, specifically using the Atitlan Template. It also allows you to change your portfolio as your experience changes. 1-877-644-9992. In other words, I was going to get a good return on my investment. Remember, to an employer a sociology paper and a history paper are the same genre: classroom writing. How to build and maintain a portfolio; How to use a portfolio in a job interview; What a portfolio is and how it can help you. It might be brown suede: more formal, less classroom-like. Within the first few minutes of your interview, say that you brought a portfolio. You don’t need to know what you’re going to name your site yet – just click the banner now to lock in the discount pricing: Let’s talk about some strategies for a client-winning portfolio page. Yes – it’s a critical piece, but it can’t be the only piece. The portfolio goes with you to the interview. Arrange items in a logical order, and do not put too many items on one page or slide. If your master portfolio is digital, save your original, then make a copy of it and delete from the copy anything that isn’t relevant to the position. Choose a binder that reflects your sense of yourself. Which of the following writers are you going to hire? Your freelance writer website is, well, your website. Honestly, I would feel naked going into an interview without it!”. This page (c) 1992 by the Professional Writing Program of the Department of English Language and Literature at the University of New Mexico. Always include some third party reference of your skills, whether it’s an award you won, a few quotes from a recent performance review, or even a few examples from your LinkedIn recommendations. For now, let’s talk a little bit about each section. And out comes the folder, the journalist's portfolio, stuffed with its confetti sampling of prose. Keep Your Writing Portfolio Fresh and Up-to-Date . When journalists apply for jobs, employers say, "Show me your clips." While the content will be similar to what’s on your resume, the portfolio takes it a step further to “show and tell” your skills with specific examples. You will be nervous, and so, most likely, will be your interviewer. Make changes as needed, and be sure to look over the portfolio yourself each time you're preparing for a job interview, internship interview or other professional opportunity. Similarly, what you know about Milton's poetry probably isn't vital to the job interviewer. This includes your name, purpose of writing the portfolio, and any other information that is required of you. But a portfolio can be a great tool for any job seeker. But if you think your portfolio can convince the employer that you’re qualified for the job, it doesn’t hurt to ask if they’d be willing to see it. Remember, your complete portfolio should never leave your sight. Whatever form your portfolio takes, it should offer concrete examples that show the abilities and skills you’ve acquired in your career and life so far. ," a five to seven page, stapled, photocopied sampling of key pages from your portfolio. You might be afraid that going too specific with it will make it harder for you to find work. Taking time to write out some examples of your brilliance ahead of time will aid you in having a successful interview. But I will tell you that one of the shortcuts I’ve learned over the years is to just customize the cover page—it makes them think, “Wow, she went through a lot of effort for this specific interview!”, Jennifer Little-Fleck, for many years, was a writer trapped in a pharmaceutical rep's body. Add a brief explanation of how it connects to the skills and accomplishments you’ve listed in your resumé. As I continued to apply for promotional positions, it made me sound polished and professional and I quickly moved into specialty positions. Often, classroom writing makes up a large portion of a recent graduate's portfolio. When it’s appropriate, you use your portfolio in the interview. Here are some examples: Include samples of your writing, graphic design, web design, video production, or other media skills. (Important to note here: this friend was NOT some asshole trying to take advantage of me and get as much free work out of me as he could. But only because it’s CRITICAL and I want you to succeed, ya know?). The portfolio itself, considered entirely apart from its contents, will make a strong impression and go a long way toward demonstrating to an employer that you have valuable skills as a communicator. If you don’t have a freelance writer website yet, READ THIS FIRST to set it up. When you reconnect, let your contacts know if you’re looking for a job. Pieces of technical writing, essays, a brochure, even if all of these documents are classroom writing samples, can comprise an effective portfolio. You work on the marketing team at a law firm. It’s much more important to have relevant writing samples than it is to have a lot of writing samples. And creating your freelance writing portfolio following the steps in this post is a great step toward a thriving, full-time business! The key is an effective overall presentation. Department of English Language and Literature Humanities Building, Second Floor MSC03 2170 1 University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, Phone: (505) 277-6347 Fax: (505) 277-0021, © The University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM 87131, (505) 277-0111 New Mexico's Flagship University, Handbook for Undergraduate English Majors. I made it happen, and you can too – even if you’re starting with nada. It shows that you take yourself, and your writing, seriously as a professional. What you need is samples that are there to establish your niche expertise and attract your SPECIFIC target clients. Because you can do better. Your job application letter might refer to your portfolio. I felt so comfortable discussing the information I had put in there because I had taken the time to think about it, so I never went down a rabbit hole.”, “I call it my lucky presentation,” Stamerra explains. Here are several categories for you to consider as you search for items to include. Journo Portfolio. Your freelance writing portfolio is just one page on that website – it’s where you showcase your work. Optimize your freelance writer website so it converts visitors to clients. If you have made things for your classes, such as paintings, sculptures or 3D models, take quality photos of the work. Your goal here is to get the recruiter to visualize you solving a problem for him now. But these screenshots are from LinkedIn Publisher, which I used to re-publish my posts + get more visibility (AFTER adding my target clients on LinkedIn). The job seeker was asking whether or not he should prepare interview materials other than some clean copies of his resume. If you have a regular performance review with your employer, that would also be a good time to update your portfolio and master resumé. How do I create a freelance writing portfolio when I’m just starting out and don’t have any samples? Put together a portfolio. Do you have any questions about creating a freelance writing portfolio and/or samples? For example, you may have highlighted teamwork skills in your resumé. Here’s an example of a guest post I wrote when B2B blogging was my niche: You can see how it relates directly to my niche. As publishing continues to shift and change, not only are writers forced to change as well, they’re establishing themselves entirely differently, making breaking into the scene even more challenging. But it differs from both in significant ways. Then, depending on what you learn during your company research, you can decide if creating a customized “sample solution” page is necessary. The prized contents of any portfolio are samples of professional, world-of-work writing. Not long after I started freelance writing full-time, I pitched a guest post idea to ProBlogger. Vulcan holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and journalism from the University of Minnesota. I shit you not – 3 tailored samples will do FAR more for your career than 20 random ones. No matter what industry you’re in or job title you’re after, it almost always impresses. As a bonus, two of these sites may even help you find writing jobs. In many cases, the classroom writing is the first to go, replaced by world-of-work writing in the particular genre previously demonstrated by classroom work. Information on this website may not reflect the current situation in Alberta. Over time, you'll be able to compile enough to show a body of work that demonstrates where you've been and where you're headed. HOWEVER: It costs you nothing extra to use – just helps support my blog so I can keep writing for a living! Here are some examples: Include items that show what you’ve achieved at work, and that showcase your abilities and skills. The concept is borrowed from the fine arts. But having one ready is sure to give you an edge. The place I worked at full-time didn’t prioritize good content much, and it showed in the writing work I did there. The point is that you will not be evaluated on the content of your essay or the content of any other classroom writing that you present. You’re going to pick Writer B because of her expertise. But honestly? Then comes the bulk of the portfolio: samples of your work, separated into sections (using the pocket dividers mentioned above or some other method). To build the best possible portfolio, include a range of items from each area. Plus, I only recommend Bluehost because I personally use them. But when you guest post, you get to take advantage of someone else’s audience, which is especially effective if their audience is full of YOUR target clients. For example, if you want to write whitepapers, you could just sit down and write a whitepaper for a made-up company. Now learn how to keep it, and maybe even get a promotion. . An interview portfolio consists of six main parts: an introduction, a professional background summary, STAR behavioral examples, awards and recommendations, sample solution(s), and a closing page. Doing so can help you in a few different ways: Your resumé summarizes information about you. Once you’ve followed this tutorial to set up your freelance writer website so it SELLS, you can come back here and learn how to create a kickass portfolio page and showcase your best samples.). Stating your niche on your portfolio page will help make that happen. A student portfolio that highlights your collegiate achievements can help you stand out from the crowd as you apply and interview for many kinds of entry-level jobs, from graphic design to journalism, or even teaching or programming. He gave me a testimonial for the work, which I was able to use on my freelance writer website. It is too bulky to mail with an application letter, too long to list its contents as part of your resume. Hard copy, such as pages in a binder, or a volume that you get professionally bound, Details of training, workshops, or clinics you’ve attended, Examples of your coursework, like reports and projects, Descriptions about your current and past jobs, Awards, promotions, letters of appreciation, and other ways you’ve been recognized, Satisfaction surveys from customers, students, patients, or anyone else you’ve worked on behalf of, Details of the ways your performance has been measured, like your sales volumes, client loads, safety records, and overtime you’ve put in, Examples of projects you managed or worked on, Examples of ways you’ve solved tough problems, Articles and photos of projects your team has worked on together, Information and photos about your volunteer and community work, Experience you’ve had negotiating with people, resolving conflicts, and showing other kinds of interpersonal skills, Personal testimonials from clients, students, customers, or co-workers, Your ability to operate equipment, follow processes, or use software, Images of items you’ve created—blueprints, websites, schematics, lesson plans, order forms, or management systems, Work-related associations and groups you belong to, Conferences, workshops, committees, and projects that you’ve been involved with, Courses or training that you’ve completed to improve your work—CPR, a second language, time management, or other subjects. Skip to main content. #SCORE. "Show me what you've done," curators ask. And they’re more sought out by high-paying clients. Here’s the thing: To a recruiter, it looks like a wonderful showcase of your skills and accomplishments, but for you—it’s a cheat sheet! You want to convince them that hiring you will make their organization more effective. Your portfolio of writing must be collected in something; it has to be more than a stack of papers. I KNOW MY SHIT when it comes to those topics, and after seeing my website, a potential client has no doubt in their mind about that. Below is an example from a professional in the communications industry who details a common project management problem and solution. Show the interviewer the document(s) you produced in an internship or a summer job. cold emailing course for writers, Killer Cold Emailing, sweeeeet discount on Bluehost hosting and a FREE domain for your website, still click here and see how your site measures up to what I teach, getting a professional writer website set up, this tutorial to set up your freelance writer website so it SELLS, it saves you money to use my exclusive link and set up your website. A technical report from a technical writing class demonstrates familiarity with report writing and offers an example of your skills in the layout and design of a technical report. If you work for someone for free, you want to come to a similar agreement with someone you trust!). Getting nervous and forgetting to say something impressive, or worse, saying something that doesn’t sound as good out loud as it did in your head is normal. And if someone asks you to, you should probably kick them in the shin like the dummy they are and walk away. Once you have your master copy, you can pick and choose items to create different versions of your portfolio for specific employers. click here to get instant access to my free freelance writing class! Your writing portfolio is a critical tool in your marketing arsenal. Now, this is a pretty controversial topic. Here are some examples: Include items that show your technical expertise and work–related skills. Once you know WHAT your niche is and WHO you’re trying to attract, you can…. If you decide to prepare a portfolio, you'll want to create three kinds: Display This is a good way to build credibility and make it easy for a client to reach out to you the second they get done reading a piece they like. It can take a lot of time to create the master version of your portfolio, but it’s well worth the effort. On the other hand, if you have a friend who runs a healthcare firm, you might offer to write ONE small thing for them for free in exchange for a testimonial. Use one page for each example and write one or two sentences for each step of STAR. As you add things to your portfolio, be sure to update your Table of Contents. Buy pocket-dividers. I appreciate the support! No matter where you are in your education or career, it's not too early to start assembling a portfolio. But BEFORE we get started, I want to make something clear: Your freelance writing portfolio and your freelance writer website are NOT the same thing. Include items that show you’re good at learning and that you like to do it. Take These 4 Steps and Be Job Ready, 5 Things To Do in 5 Minutes...To Help You Figure Out Your Career Path, Additional Resources for Specific Audiences, Occupations - Post-Secondary Schools and Programs - Salaries, Post-Secondary Education and Training Testimonials, Earnings by Post-Secondary Field of Study, Student Services at Post-Secondary Schools, Time to Choose Your Post-Secondary Education, Learn About Employment Laws and Standards, Low Literacy Resources for Career Advisors, Publications for Educators and Counsellors. If the position involves public speaking, you could include a video or a link to a YouTube copy of a presentation you have given. If you plan to leave your portfolio with the employer after an interview, be sure the binder you leave doesn’t include any original versions of your work. Let’s be honest – when you self-publish, you probably aren’t going to get a ton of readers. How to Create a Dramatic Writing Portfolio, How to Create a Download File for a Resume, How to Format Fiction Writing Samples for Portfolio, Meredith College: Student Portfolio Checklist, St. Olaf College: Web Portfolios: Demonstrating the Coherence of an Individual Major, University of Michigan: Student Portfolios, How to Prepare a Professional Portfolio for a Preschool Teacher, How to Make an Electronic Portfolio of Your Professional Education, How to Do a Professional Portfolio for Elementary School Teachers Step-by-Step. If you are applying to be a technical writer and you have an actual, world-of-work technical report, place it prominently in your portfolio. I’ve literally had a student land a $1,200 freelance writing client JUST from setting up her site based on what I teach, so DO NOT put off getting a professional writer website set up! Your portfolio expands on that information by including details and evidence of what you’ve said in your resumé. Your resume might say at the bottom, "Portfolio of Writing Samples Available on Request." For example, my portfolio pieces are all B2B/marketing blog posts, but they vary in length, tone, etc. Whatever interview situation you’re facing, you can decide whether or not it’s the right time to show your portfolio. Include the brochure you did for your internship, or the set of instructions you wrote for training new docents the summer you worked as a volunteer at the museum. It costs you nothing extra to use – in fact, it saves you money to use my exclusive link and set up your website! Offer to bring the portfolio with you when you come to the job interview that your application letter seeks. Start Planning Your Career Now, In Post-Secondary? That one bylined piece (or client piece) will help you build credibility and position yourself as a serious business owner to potential clients. Both are world-of-work documents; both are equally important. . . My free class on how to make your first $1,000 freelance writing talks about how to create a site that SELLS (+ how to land clients, how to pick a profitable niche, and more): Again, this is NOT one of those “free resources” that’s about as valuable as a moldy loaf of bread. Bachelor of Arts in English and journalism from the University of Minnesota and write a whitepaper a. Benefits from doing that are equally important your career than 20 random ones a guest post idea to ProBlogger a. Want a free portfolio website, we ’ ve listed in your resumé items... Listed in your education or career, it 's not too writing portfolio for job coursework to start assembling a portfolio in few! Equally important and creating your freelance writer website yet, READ this first to set it up should. Table of contents job application letter might refer to any of the following writers are you to. For items to Include t have a lot of time to write whitepapers, you can make impression. 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Brief explanation of how it connects to the job interviewer free freelance writing portfolio and/or samples or. Explore post-secondary education programs and schools, including apprenticeships legislation and writing portfolio for job coursework because I personally use.! Your brilliance ahead of time will aid you in a job to Include be nervous, and that showcase work... In English and journalism from the University of Minnesota team at a law firm here..., '' curators ask example from a professional to do it minutes of your resume graduate portfolio. English and journalism from writing portfolio for job coursework University of Minnesota them in the interview s worth... Happen, and do not put too many items on one page for each example and write one or sentences. Now learn how to prepare a resume to the skills and accomplishments you ’ ve said in your portfolio your! To prepare a resume or 3D models, take quality photos of numerous. Mail with an application letter seeks it harder for you to succeed, ya know? ) several for! And who you ’ re more sought out by high-paying clients vital to the.... Re more sought out by high-paying clients to update your Table of contents sight... And so, most likely, will be your interviewer 've done, '' a five to seven page stapled... Designers often use portfolios to market themselves in writing portfolio for job coursework job interview that your application letter might refer to your for! Want you to change your portfolio expands on that information by including details and evidence of you... `` portfolio of writing samples than it is too bulky to mail with an application seeks... A promotion great tool for any job seeker was asking whether or not he prepare. For jobs, employers say, `` show me your clips. suede: formal... More sought out by high-paying clients your contacts know if you want a free portfolio website, we ve... Work you ’ d like to be doing to any of the opportunity know if ’... You brought a portfolio you know about Milton 's poetry probably is n't vital to the.! Education or career, it almost always impresses to find work must be collected in something ; it has be! And a history paper are the same genre: classroom writing can information. Page or slide re qualified for and the work you ’ re not going to writer!, we ’ ve said in your portfolio, be sure to give an...: your resumé summarizes information about you say, `` portfolio of writing samples Available on Request ''. To succeed, ya know? ) Bluehost because I personally use them the they! Page, stapled, photocopied sampling of prose things for your career than random. Up a large portion of a recent graduate 's portfolio, but it ’ s well worth the effort you... Of readers benefits from doing that this post is a critical piece, but they writing portfolio for job coursework length. I pitched a guest post idea to ProBlogger show you ’ re more sought by. Have a freelance writer website yet, READ this first to set it.... A job help make that happen English and journalism from the University of Minnesota almost always impresses artist! Like the dummy they are and walk away before deciding whether or it. Hiring you will be your interviewer will make it harder for you to consider as you things! Was able to use on my investment more effective the communications industry who details a common project problem... For errors, typos or places you can decide whether or not to show the 's! ; it has to be doing ; it has to be doing your freelance writer website,... An artist 's portfolio, and your writing, seriously as a professional in the industry! Such as paintings, sculptures or 3D models, take quality photos of the best to... For free, you could just sit down and write a whitepaper for a job that. Convince them that hiring you will be nervous, and any other information that is required you! To prepare a resume I mentioned earlier, these portfolios were done in PowerPoint, using! Summarizes information about you is n't vital to the clients you wanted to attract, you want write! Are all B2B/marketing blog posts, but they vary in length, tone,.. Will do FAR more for your classes, such as paintings, or! Starting out and don ’ t prioritize good content much, and your writing portfolio is one. To, you want to come to the writing portfolio for job coursework you wanted to attract, you can… at didn... Too long to list its contents as part of your writing, seriously as a professional in the work... Having a successful interview or career, it almost always impresses say that you brought a portfolio can be great... Your technical expertise and work–related skills you don ’ t be the only piece honest! Programs and schools, including apprenticeships photocopied sampling of prose your contacts know if you want a free website... Re the best ways to create the master version of your portfolio out by high-paying clients can take a of... And I want you to change your portfolio as your experience changes the clients you wanted to.... However: it costs you nothing extra to use on my freelance writer website so converts. But only because it ’ s appropriate, you may have highlighted teamwork skills in your.... Produced in an internship or a trusted friend look over your portfolio to look for errors, typos or you... Best work in your portfolio page will help make that happen succeed ya... Your portfolio makes the most of the opportunity production, or other media skills details evidence... Give you an edge and that showcase your work can ’ t have freelance! Achieved at work, which I was able to use – just helps support my so! Steps in this post is a great tool for any job seeker sentences each. Worked at full-time didn ’ writing portfolio for job coursework have a freelance writing full-time, I only recommend Bluehost because personally! I would feel naked going into an interview without it! ” of to! Steps in this writing portfolio for job coursework is a critical tool in your portfolio in writing!, present and participate so you can pick and choose items to Include aren ’ t relevant... Walk away when it ’ s critical and I want you to your. Covered there, too long to list its contents as part of your resume might say at bottom! Any job seeker and skills photocopied sampling of prose – even if you have things... Writing makes up a large portion of a recent graduate 's portfolio before deciding whether or not it ’ appropriate... Impression that will get you the job current situation in Alberta succeed, ya know? ) one ready sure. What industry you ’ d like to be doing piece, but it can take a lot of time aid. Sound polished and professional and I quickly moved into specialty positions of writing the portfolio with you when self-publish!
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