Things that (should) exist only in the past: skinny jeans, the word “adulting” and portfolios only being used by artists. If you want to get ahead in your marketing career, having a portfolio as a usable showcase of your best work is the intuitive solution—regardless of your industry.
Why should you have a Marketing Portfolio?
In the current climate, having a portfolio is a necessity for marketers. The job market is overwhelmed with fierce competition, and it is difficult for hiring managers to grasp a candidate’s experience and projects delivered from their CV alone. For entry-level marketing roles, the competition is especially high.
Portfolios are everything, promises are nothing. Do the work.” – Chase Jarvis, Photographer & CEO
A portfolio is an easy way to showcase your skills and past projects. It helps you stand out from other candidates and allows employers to understand whether you have the necessary skills they’re hiring for. It’s a lot easier to grasp something if you’re shown it, rather than told it. The saying isn’t “Tell me about the money” is it?
On average, a marketing team will get 500 applications for the Digital Marketing Executive role they are hiring for. How will you stand out in a crowd of 500 CVs?
ACTA School advocates creating a comprehensive Marketing Portfolio—in particular, a portfolio website. Our practitioner instructors have hired marketers based on the skills they showcased with their portfolios, and for graduates or career starters, portfolios can have an even greater impact.
What are the benefits of a portfolio?
- Showcases your experience to potential clients or employers
- Helps them envision the projects that you can deliver on
- Makes you stand out from the crowd and increases your chances of being shortlisted for the job
- Builds your personal brand and establishes credibility
- Gives you confidence in your digital marketing skills, particularly for fresh professionals
- Allows you to negotiate higher pay
"Innovation distinguishes a leader from a follower.” – Steve Jobs, Co-Founder, Apple
FAQs
What is a Marketing Portfolio?
A portfolio is a compilation of your best work—showcasing your skills, projects, accomplished tasks, created assets, campaigns and personal brand.
What types of portfolios are there?
Portfolios can be printed or digital, with the latter consisting of 2 options: a digital presentation or a website. ACTA School advocates using a website.
Why do you need a portfolio?
For marketing professionals, having a showcase of your best work highlights your experience and professionalism. It helps you stand out in a crowded market, open up new career opportunities and build credibility in your industry.
“I have a CV. Isn’t that enough?”
A CV tells employers about your experience. A portfolio shows them. Coupled with a strong CV, a Marketing Portfolio can really boost your career.
What can you use a portfolio for?
There are so many uses for a Marketing Portfolio:
- Client outreach
- Job applications
- Personal brand building
- Personal development
- Learning a new skill
What goes in a Marketing Portfolio?
A curation of your best work, projects and campaigns—whether that’s from employment or your education if you’re just starting out. It’s also an opportunity to convey your personal brand and identity through both the design and a strong “About Me” page. You’ll want to include any relevant testimonials if you have those too.
What if I am a student?
Don’t panic if you feel like you don’t have tangible work samples, you have options:
1. Include university and education projects.
2. Invent a sample project. Imagine you are working for a brand that you admire, say Patagonia or Glossier, and come up with a campaign for them—plan a week of social media posts or a landing page. Just make sure it’s clear that this is a sample project.
Want to learn more? Get our free guide on How to Create a Marketing Portfolio.
Download our full guide on “How to create a Marketing Portfolio”, including step-by-step instructions for creating a best-in-class portfolio website, as well as advice on how to curate your projects for it.
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