Portfolio
A portfolio is a curated collection of work samples, projects, or case studies that demonstrates a candidate's skills and professional capabilities.
Read the plain-English explanation
TERM MAP
resume
The term
Portfolio
3
definition sections
5
connected terms
1
deeper resources
PLAIN ENGLISH
What it means
A portfolio is a collection of your best professional work assembled to showcase your skills, creativity, and expertise to potential employers. Portfolios are essential in fields like design, writing, photography, web development, and marketing, and are increasingly common in data science, engineering, and consulting.
Modern portfolios are typically hosted online — as a personal website, a GitHub profile, a Behance or Dribbble page, or an industry-specific platform. Include your portfolio URL in your resume header and LinkedIn profile. Curate 5-10 of your strongest, most relevant pieces rather than including everything you have ever created. For each piece, provide context: the problem you were solving, your role, the tools or methods used, and the outcome.
When applying for a specific role, consider tailoring which portfolio pieces you highlight to match the job requirements. A data scientist applying for a healthcare analytics role should lead with healthcare-related projects. Include both professional and personal projects — side projects and open-source contributions demonstrate initiative and passion for your field.
KEEP EXPLORING
Related terms
5 connections
01
Resume Header
A resume header is the top section of a resume containing the candidate's name, contact information, and optionally a professional title or LinkedIn URL.
02
LinkedIn Optimization
LinkedIn optimization is the process of strategically improving your LinkedIn profile to increase visibility to recruiters, build credibility, and attract job opportunities.
03
Personal Brand
A personal brand is the unique professional identity and reputation you cultivate through your expertise, values, online presence, and how you present yourself to the market.
04
Skills Section
A skills section is a dedicated area on a resume that lists the candidate's technical competencies, tools, languages, and other relevant abilities.
05
Work Experience Section
The work experience section is the core part of a resume that details your employment history, responsibilities, and accomplishments for each role.