Build Your Portfolio

A portfolio is a compilation of materials (photographs, designs, creative work) that exemplifies your skills and training. In the creative industry, a portfolio provides insight into your personality and work ethic. It can also help you in the process of synthesizing your own work and making connections between your experiences that you may not have noticed before!

What to showcase:

  • Feature only your best work.
  • Focus on quality over quantity.
  • Cover the complete spectrum of work, including personal projects, volunteer projects and work for hire.
  • Are organized in a way that will make sense to viewers.
  • Show only complete work, omitting in-progress or partially-completed work.

Examples:

Apparel & Graphics

Cassidy Russel

Fine Arts

Brooke Vertin

Printmaking

Emily Arthur

Designer

Heather Hnizdil

Writer

Martha Park

Dancer

Laura Sarah Dowdall

If you need more inspiration, check out these free websites

Examples of Web Content:

Thanks to my colleagues, Brooke Vertin, from Bowdoin and Mario Roman from Vassar for sharing their original work and expertise in creating these resources.

What Now?

  • Explore your interest and abilities through academic courses

    Attend Career Center career exploration events for first-years

    Read about the industry

    Fill out Handshake profile (your best resource to see upcoming events, jobs, internships, information sessions, alumni panels and more)

    Turn your high school resume into a college resume

    Join LinkedIn and update your profile with relevant experiences

    Do your networking research (Ephlink, Alumni Database, Williams LinkedIn)

    Reflect on what you want in Summer experience. Check out the Alumni Sponsored Internship Program

    Explore academic courses with project-based learning

    Find extracurriculars that focus on creativity, group engagement and public speaking that match your interests

    Keep an open mind and attend information sessions and alumni career panels

  • Continue to read about the industries

    Visit with a Career Advisor to discuss career options and explore various opportunities

    Choose a major that you will enjoy studying and develop a plan for graduation with your academic advisor

    Take on more responsibilities in your extracurricular activities

    Continue with your networking outreach

    Learn about and apply for Winter and Summer Internships

  • Conduct online/self-education

    Research potential organizations. Conduct informational interviews in the career fields you want to explore

    Provide leadership or plan events for your student or community organizations

    Attend to Network management, set up an excel sheet to track conversations

    Consider graduate school and learn the application/admission requirements and process

    Begin portfolio/website

    Find a summer internship(s)

  • Reflect on the skills you developed while at Williams through classes, internships, and experiences. How is your Liberal Arts education preparing you for your next steps? What transferable skills have you gained from your liberal arts degree and your major?  Record your observations to use in your job search.

    Continue networking outreach

    Complete your portfolio/website

    Visit with a Career Counselor regarding grad school applications or finalizing career goals

    Reach out to LinkedIn, personal, and alumni connections for job search advice and information

    Stay up-to-date with Career Center events and participate in job fairs and employer information sessions

    Keep your resume and cover letter updated and ready to send

    Select faculty and professionals that will provide references for jobs, graduate or professional school

    Research employer information and prepare for upcoming interviews. Set up a mock interview at the Career Center or use InterviewStream to conduct a practice interview.

    Think about post-graduation goals. Is there an MA or MFA, MS in your future?

  • While the interviewer starts to ask "How did you decide to go into this field?" start pulling out your tablet with a pdf version of your website. Always have an off-line version because you can't assume they will provide access to the internet. If you have your portfolio in hard copy, most creatives will start turning the pages. They want to see your work and want to see if you can develop a conversation. Dialogue in creative industries is essential since you are involved in critiques every day! So get ready to engage.

    "Tell me about yourself."

    • Give a brief explanation
    • Bring out the portfolio
    • Start talking about the projects while articulating...
    • Skills
    • Tools/programs
    • Role(s) - especially if it is a group project
    • Audience
    • Process
    • Purpose