Everything now is going digital, and so is applying for jobs and submitting for requirements. Since applicants can now be assessed over the internet, you might as well make your own requirements online, this can be in the form of an online portfolio. Having an online portfolio may attract future clients and employers. 

You might wonder about what is an online portfolio? An online portfolio will be a collection of your best works accessed online. Some applicants just send a link of their online portfolio to their clients or employers once they apply instead of giving them a physical copy. In this way, their works are presented well for evaluation. Online portfolios are beneficial to a lot of ways. Once your works are published online, you have all the credits. Whenever someone tries to copy even a single phrase from you, you can proudly say that her work is plagiarized. When your expertise is on taking photos, sometimes when it is printed, the quality is not the same as how it is seen, so having an online portfolio will absolutely keep your work in its original high quality. And since we are talking about expertise, what other expertise is subjected and recommended in creating an online portfolio?

Who should create an online portfolio?

Visual workers, or those workers that the main way to appreciate their work is by seeing it, are the people that should create an online portfolio. Visual workers include but not limited to writers, advertisers, artists, photographers, and graphic designers. However, even non-visual workers can also keep an online portfolio. Non-visual workers include but are not limited to nurses, psychologists, and public speakers. Below are the reasons why an online portfolio is beneficial to them. 

Visual Workers

1. Graphic Designer 

For graphic designers, it is important to see their works in high quality so the person who's going to see it will appreciate their works. In order to see the real beauty of the design, it must be viewed properly. For many times, printed copies may not contain the original color and original design. Even if you upload it on some messaging applications, quality would not be the same. Whereas, when it is published in an online portfolio, you will have the control to retain the beauty of your designs. Truth be told, creating an online portfolio as a tactic to preserve the quality of the works is not new. There are many graphic designers out there who've been doing and practicing this. 

2. Photographers

There are platforms for building an online portfolio that allows the creator to arrange his works in a gallery style. If you are a photographer you will absolutely love to see your work in that way, and so are your clients. 

3. Artist

Arrange your works, such as your paintings, sketches, and drawings in an album-like manner. It will absolutely be loved by people who are going to see it. And who knows that one of those will be your clients. Sounds amazing? Of course! 

4. Advertisers 

Before companies choose an advertiser to promote them, of course they will ask you to present samples. In an online portfolio, you may put there your sample ads, sample publication materials, sample promotion strategies, and whatnot. Also, some companies do not go with the usual posting of hiring details, sometimes, they will just search for a person who can do it online, and if you are accessible online, they may review your works ahead. And if it satisfies them, then you would be hired by them. 

5. Writers

Writers are also the people who keep on creating an online portfolio. There is no client that will hire you without reading a single article that you have written in the past. Personally, the clients I have met read my past works. And having you submit it to them is an unsafe thing as well, especially when your works do not have some watermarks in it. They may steal it from you, without you knowing it. But when it is published online, you are safe that whenever they steal that, and publish it somewhere, you could trace them. 

Non-visual Workers

1. Nurses 

You may put in your online portfolio the things you are doing in the field, such as lab reports. Even while you are still studying, you can put in your works. This will help you find a job in the future. 

2. Psychologists 

Since you are doing lots of case studies, you might as well collect it and publish it in your online portfolio. In doing this, you are strengthening your credibility in your chosen field. Whenever people see how you are able to get the results and make solutions out of it, they may think that they need you to help them. 

3. Public Speakers

You may publish your past events in your online portfolio. In that way, whenever you need to show something to your client about how you work, then you may share it to them. It may be in the form of videos. In addition, if you are still a student that dreams to be a public speaker, keep and publish in an online portfolio your school-related public speaking experiences. It will help you in your future career. 

May it be a visual work, or a non-visual work, as long as you can present it online, you are free to make an online portfolio. Online portfolio is like building a name and a brand for yourself, that is very crucial nowadays. Building a name online is good and beneficial, especially during our time now. If you can build a name now, then do it. People who are known on the internet are likely to be trusted by companies and clients. If you will consider building an online portfolio, there is a chance that people might be interested in services you are offering. And if you are interested in making one, blogging platforms that i have shared in my past articles here can also help you to build an online portfolio. 

What about you? Have you created an online portfolio to showcase your services? Let me know!