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Course 27 · Work course 07

Build a Portfolio That Gets You Hired

Select convincing work, turn it into clear case studies, publish it accessibly, and use it in a focused job search.

Before you start

Choose one target role or client type and collect ten representative job descriptions.

See everything you’ll need
What you’ll leave with

A live role-specific portfolio with three strong case studies, a clear contact path, and a tested sharing plan.

Start course Start without an account. Sign in to save lesson progress across devices.

Your project

Start with the practice files. Build your project one lesson at a time.

Practice files are free without an account. Sign in to save your project record in My Proof: a description, checklist, and optional work link. Keep the original files in your own app or notebook; saving a project record does not upload them.

  1. Get your materialsDownload the practice worksheetUse the downloadable worksheet or toolkit alongside the lesson instructions.
  2. Make your projectView the project checklist Work in your own notebook, document, or software. Use the supplied practice examples when you prefer.
  3. Keep a private recordSave a project record Sign in to save a description and checklist, then return to update them.
Optional course overview

Watch an introduction.

This overview from Colorado State University Alumni Association introduces ideas you’ll practice in the lessons.

Watch directly on YouTube
Colorado State University Alumni AssociationBuilding Your Online PortfolioYouTube
Course handbook

Know the route before you begin.

Here’s what you’ll need and what you’ll make. You can return to this guide during any lesson.

Who this is for

Designers, developers, analysts, marketers, writers, project professionals, and career changers whose work can be demonstrated through decisions and artifacts.

Prepare before lesson one
  • Choose one target role or client type and collect ten representative job descriptions.
  • Gather projects, drafts, metrics, screenshots, feedback, links, responsibilities, and permission status.
  • Create anonymized substitutes for confidential work rather than publishing restricted material.
Your final project

Finish with proof you can use.

Publish and test a responsive portfolio with a targeted introduction, three evidence-rich case studies, accessible media, clear contact route, analytics or feedback plan, and role-specific sharing script.

Save a project record in My Proof
See project checklist and review criteria
  • A reviewer brief with target role, recurring evidence needs, decision questions, and primary next action.
  • A scored project inventory, selected portfolio set, exclusion list, and one gap-closing project brief.
  • Three scannable case-study drafts with role attribution, annotated artifacts, evidence, results, and reflection.
  • A responsive wireframe and content hierarchy with an accessibility and performance checklist.
  • A live portfolio, completed release checklist, reviewer notes, and dated issue log.
  • A table showing which case studies to share with each job application, notes for talking through each case, and a schedule for keeping your portfolio current.
Three ideas to help you along the way
Three useful ideas

The rules behind the steps.

01

Curate for the decision

The portfolio is not an archive; every included item should help a specific reviewer evaluate fit.

02

Explain your decisions

Artifacts show what happened, while context, constraints, contribution, and reasoning show what you can repeat.

03

Fast comprehension wins

Reviewers should understand relevance and find the strongest proof before attention runs out.

What do these words mean?
Key words

Key terms worth knowing.

Case study
A structured account of a project’s situation, contribution, decisions, outputs, results, and lessons.
Role attribution
A precise explanation of what you personally owned within collaborative work.
Artifact
A concrete piece of evidence such as a design, analysis, repository, plan, video, document, or outcome record.
Accessibility
Design and content practices that allow people with diverse abilities and technologies to use the portfolio.
Your route

6 lessons.
One useful project.

Work in order the first time. Each lesson makes something the next lesson can use.

  1. 1
    Up next

    Target one reviewer and decision

    Define what a real reviewer must believe after examining the portfolio.

  2. 2
    30 min

    Inventory and select the proof

    Choose a small set of projects that collectively covers the target role’s most important evidence.

  3. 3
    38 min

    Write evidence-rich case studies

    Explain context, personal contribution, reasoning, work, result, and lessons without burying the proof.

  4. 4
    34 min

    Design the portfolio experience

    Create a clear information path that works quickly on mobile, desktop, keyboard, and assistive technology.

  5. 5
    31 min

    Publish and quality-check

    Launch on a stable address and remove broken links, device problems, unclear claims, and contact failures.

  6. 6
    26 min

    Use and maintain the portfolio

    Integrate the portfolio into applications, conversations, and a lightweight evidence-maintenance routine.

Use the tools

Tools to help you practice.

See all tools
Text worksheet

Your course practice worksheet

A text worksheet with this course’s lesson tasks, space for your answers, and a project checklist.

Source transparency

Sources and further study.

Explore the references behind the lessons and take your learning further. Source notes explain access and reuse.

Open University — Create a professional profile or portfolio
Wix — How to make a professional portfolio
Ready when you are

Start with the first useful move.

You’ll always know what to do, what to make, and where to go next.

Start lesson one