In today’s digital economy, standing out among the crowd of professionals and other remote workers is paramount. In fact, as remote professionals are making up an increasingly significant percentage of the workforce, landing remote work—whether full-time, part-time, hybrid, or gig-based—is more competitive than ever.
According to many experts, building a digital portfolio is one of the best ways to distinguish yourself from other candidates for remote work. Read on to discover how to do this and get one step closer to landing a job you can do from home on S&T’s broadband network!
Digital Portfolios—What They Are and Why Remote Workers Need One
At its most basic, a digital portfolio is simply a well-organized online collection of essential information and selling points about you. It includes samples of your creative and professional work. Samples might consist of content you’ve written, graphic designs and art you’ve created, or any work product to which you’ve contributed.
Unlike a resume or CV, a digital portfolio lets you show off your finished product rather than just summarizing your work history or skill set with bullet points. When employers see a well-organized digital portfolio, they see first-hand what you can accomplish for them and their company.
What You Should Include in Your Digital Portfolio
Your digital portfolio should make it easy for potential employers to see your strengths and successes—and why you should be hired or contracted.
Many people begin with a summary paragraph, often labeled “About Me,” which concisely highlights their skill sets, ambitions, achievements, and anything else they want to “pop” off the screen. They should also include their contact information and any professional associations and links.
But when you go beyond the basics, the digital portfolio begins to show its actual value. This is where you need to review your past work product and decide which examples you’d like to use to demonstrate your talents and abilities.
Examples will naturally vary depending on your career and the kinds of positions you’re seeking. Typically, a digital portfolio will include writing samples, market evaluations, annual or quarterly reports, artistic works, graphic designs, presentations, source code or other computer programming work, academic papers, and photos.
You can also devote a section listing any accolades, awards, or other commendations you may have received. Certificates of achievement or completion, “employee of the month” recognitions, and other successes are prime examples of experiences worth highlighting.
Do-It-Yourself Sites for Building a Digital Portfolio
There are many ways to build a digital portfolio, but several websites exist that help you develop and format your portfolio quickly. Below, we highlight a few of our favorites.
Squarespace
Popular website design site Squarespace provides templates for digital portfolios. Remote workers can put their best selves forward using Squarespace’s many tools and features, creating simple but stand-out designs to market their talents to would-be employers.
Format
Format is a top-rated digital portfolio DIY site for artists, designers, and similar creative types. Photographers, graphic artists, and others who wish to let the aesthetic quality of their work shine through will appreciate Format’s sophisticated and elegant layout and features.
Wix
Another popular website design site is Wix. Like Squarespace, you can choose the digital portfolio template and follow the steps to format your site professionally.
Webflow
Our last suggestion is Webflow, a website design site that helps you customize your websites with user-friendly coding. We particularly like how Webflow lets you work with its coding features and tools to make your digital portfolio templates stand out from others.
Now that we’ve explained the importance of digital portfolios and how to build one, it’s time for you to do the most critical work—deciding what you should show off to employers and the world!
With a thoughtfully made digital portfolio and a fast, reliable internet connection from S&T, you’ll have everything you need to land the remote role of your dreams.
Happy job hunting!
