Being a fresh graduate provides plenty of advantages in a competitive job market, especial in the world of engineering and design. In these industries, employers like fresh faces, youthful enthusiasm, and flexible team members who don’t have to be broken out of lifelong bad habits. But unfortunately, if you’re entering the market as a new grad, it means you probably have very little substantive experience and you have yet to tackle your first serious professional project. So how can you set yourself apart from thousands of others who have identical credentials?
The Benefits of a Work Portfolio
Consider including a professional work portfolio with your application package. Regardless of your limited paid experience, you’ve probably completed dozens of class projects, entered extracurricular competitions, and possibly completed an internship. This means you have plenty of complete stories to tell and evidence of finished products that you’ve seen through from beginning to end. These projects offer a great way to gain employer attention, and they may provide a ticket to your first serious position.
People have an easier time remembering information if it’s delivered in the form of a narrative. They also remember and enjoy a learning experience if it’s accompanied by visual images including graphs, photos, and drawings. Resumes can be limited in terms of space and rigid formatting rules, but there’s no law that prevents you from supplementing a standard resume with a sharp, pleasing, and memorable presentation of your individual projects.
How to Present Your Portfolio
Your initial application should not include additional files beyond those requested by the employer. If asked for nothing more than a cover letter and resume in the form of a Word document, don’t fill the employer’s inbox with a zip file full of photos and .gifs. Instead, include a link to your own website, and make sure the link is sound and the website is accessible and easy to navigate. Place all of your portfolio information on this site. Each project should tell a story, and the entire experience should be readable and engaging.
When called in for an interview, bring your portfolio with you in hardcopy form. Make sure the pages are sharp, clean, well laid out and nicely bound. If possible, bring two copies so you can leave one behind.
For more guidance on building a portfolio that highlights your skills and makes a memorable impression, reach out to the Texas staffing pros at Expert. We can offer the tips and tools you need to impress employers and get your career off to a brilliant start.