Creating an Online Portfolio

“They rejected me because I had no experience.” But how do you get experience without someone first giving you a chance? 🤔 This is the loop every student & fresher struggles with. I’ve been there too. And after 8+ years in tech + mentoring 1000s of students, here are some unique strategies that actually work to crack your first internship or job : ✨ 1. Build “Proof of Work” Don’t just say you know coding/finance/design, show it. Small projects, GitHub repos, case studies, or even writing your learnings on LinkedIn builds trust. Detailed explanation : https://lnkd.in/gqhmkfFb ✨ 2. Create a “Skill Portfolio” Instead of listing random certificates, make a 1-page portfolio with projects, visuals & outcomes. Recruiters notice impact, not paper. ✨ 3. Network the Smart Way Instead of cold “please refer me” DMs, write posts, share insights, and engage with industry people. When they see you show up, opportunities come naturally. ✨ 4. Use Reverse Applications Don’t just wait for job portals. Make a short pitch mail + attach portfolio → directly to startups, NGOs, or small firms. Hidden market > job boards. ✨ 5. Document Your Journey Online If you’re learning Python, post your Day 1 → Day 30 journey. This not only keeps you consistent but also attracts mentors + recruiters. ✨ 6. Hackathons & Open Source Even without prior job experience, hackathons and open-source projects prove your teamwork, problem-solving, and coding skills. That’s “real-world experience” most resumes miss. ✨ 7. Learn Skills Recruiters Value Today 2025 is skill-first, not degree-first. Breaking into your first role isn’t about luck - t’s about strategy + visibility + proof. Don’t wait for HR to give you permission to start. Start building your career assets today. I’ve guided thousands of students into their first role, and I’ll keep sharing what works. Follow for more. 👉 Tell me, what’s the BIGGEST challenge you’re facing in landing your first role? #career #guidance #freshers

Your portfolio might be missing these underrated elements. Most people focus on polished case studies and pretty visuals. But what actually makes a recruiter pause and think “I want to talk to this person” are the things you don’t usually see. Here are 4 to start adding. 1️⃣ Show your decision trade-offs Don’t just show the final design. Show the fork in the road. What options did you consider, and why did you choose the one you did? Side-by-side screenshots + a short explanation = proof of your critical thinking. 2️⃣ Highlight collaboration moments Portfolios often read like solo projects, but hiring managers want to see you as a teammate. Call out where a PM, dev, or researcher’s input shifted the outcome. Add a quick “before & after” to show the impact of collaboration. 3️⃣ Call out constraints Great design isn’t created in a vacuum. Were you working under a tight deadline? Legacy tech? Limited resources? Own it. Explain how you adapted your solution within the real-world boundaries. That’s what makes your work practical and credible. 4️⃣ Add a “What I’d do differently” section Reflection shows growth. Wrap up each case study with 2–3 quick bullets: what worked, what you’d approach differently, and what you learned. It signals self-awareness without undermining your work. These details don’t just show your work, they show how you work. Now, let’s turn this into a community resource 👇 If you’ve got a portfolio you’re proud of (or one in progress!), drop it in the comments so we can start building a list for visibility and inspiration!

Most analytics portfolios miss the mark. They focus on tools instead of thinking. They show charts instead of decisions. They walk through code instead of outcomes. If you’re building your first portfolio, don’t try to show everything. Show that you can solve business problems with data. Here’s an example of what that looks like: 1. Revenue Deep Dive - Use a public dataset. - Break down revenue by segment, product, or customer. - Show where the money is made or lost. - Explain your findings like you’re talking to a CEO. Simple and clear. 2. Customer Churn Analysis - Clean and explore a churn dataset. - Build a basic model if you want, but focus on the why. - Why are customers leaving? - What would you recommend to fix it? 3. Marketing Funnel Breakdown - Track how leads move from click to close. - Highlight where drop-offs happen. - Build a dashboard an exec would actually use. - Write a one-page summary like it’s going in a board deck. At the end of the day, every hiring manager wants to know one thing: Can you take messy data and turn it into something useful?

If you are applying for your first internship or entry level role in banking as a data analyst or data scientist, your portfolio will be one of your strongest differentiators. Most students build portfolios that look impressive in class but disconnected from what the industry actually needs. Here is how to build one that actually stands out. → Understand the business You do not need deep expertise, you just need to show that you know what banks care about: credit risk, fraud, liquidity, customer behavior and model governance. If your projects align with these themes, you immediately look more prepared. → Choose industry relevant problems Skip house price prediction and datasets everyone has seen Focus on problems that resemble real work Examples: - Credit scoring - Fraud detection - Transaction anomalies - Customer churn in a financial product - A simple model validation exercise These signal that you understand the environment you want to enter. → Communicate like a professional Banks value clarity more than complexity: Explain assumptions, show how you tested the model, document your decisions , highlight the limitations of your model and present your output in a clean, structured way. This is what will separate you from other applicants. → Make your work easy to review + Clean notebooks + Organized folders + Readable code + Clear results Hiring managers and model risk teams look for reliability and discipline, not chaos and experimentation for the sake of it. If your portfolio shows business understanding, structure, and clarity... you will look like someone who can contribute from day one. Even without experience #CareerAdvice #DataScience #BankingCareers #Internships #EarlyCareers #PortfolioTips

Your portfolio case study can make or break your chances of landing your dream UX job. Here’s how to create a standout case study: 1/ Choose the Right Project Select a project that showcases your skills and impact. This is not the time to be modest. What project demonstrates your problem-solving abilities and creativity? 2/ Tell a Compelling Story Start with the problem and your approach to solving it. Structure your story to keep the reader engaged. What was the challenge? How did you tackle it? 3/ Show Your Process Detail your design process from research to final solution. Include sketches, wireframes, and iterations. What methods did you use? Why did you choose them? 4/ Highlight User and Business Outcomes Focus on the results your design achieved. Use metrics and testimonials if possible. What impact did your work have on users and the business? 5/ Keep It Concise and Visual Avoid lengthy text blocks. Use visuals to support your narrative. How can you make your case study easy to scan and understand? 6/ Reflect on Your Learnings Share what you learned from the project. Be honest about what went well and what didn’t. How did this project help you grow as a designer? 7/ Optimize for Your Audience Tailor your case study to your ideal role and company. Highlight skills and experiences that match their needs. What will resonate most with the hiring managers? 8/ Get Feedback Ask peers or mentors to review your case study. Incorporate their suggestions for improvement. What can you refine to make your case study even stronger? 9/ Keep It Updated Regularly update your case studies with new projects and insights. Stay current to reflect your latest skills and experiences. What new projects can you add to showcase your growth? ----- And that’s how to create a standout portfolio case study. I hope this helps!

Most UX portfolios are dead on arrival. Yes, I said it. Because they all look the same. Dribbble shots. Pixel-perfect mockups. Zero context. Zero story. Zero impact. And guess what? That’s why 90% of designers keep applying… but never get hired. Here’s the truth recruiters don’t tell you 👇 They don’t want pretty screens. They want: - Proof you can solve problems. - Clarity in your process. - To see results, not just designs. So… how do you stand out in this noisy market? You need a UX portfolio that screams value. Not another cookie-cutter PDF. I broke it down into the Anatomy of the Perfect UX Portfolio. 👉 Start with your target role. What position are you aiming for? Product Designer?  UX Researcher?  Interaction Designer? Be crystal clear. 👉 Define what problems you solve. Complex navigation? Poor onboarding? Broken flows? Show them you get it. 👉 Show what hiring managers want to see. Your process. Your problem-solving. Your measurable outcomes. No fluff.  Just substance. 👉 Build around the 5 Portfolio Formats that win jobs: Prove you can fix issues. Share your story & struggles. Show frameworks & decision-making. Real outcomes, real numbers, real feedback. Step-by-step breakdown of how you work. Because hiring managers don’t just hire skills. They hire you. So stop making portfolios that look like portfolios. Start making portfolios that look like proof you can deliver. That’s how you: Land interviews without begging. Turn recruiters into fans. Grow your career. If you’re serious about landing your next UX role… This infographic is your blueprint. PS. Which of these 5 formats do you already use in your portfolio?

Don't have a graduate degree or didn’t graduate with a 4.0? That doesn’t disqualify you. And most candidates still miss opportunities because: ↳ They downplay their strengths ↳ Obsess over academic perfection ↳ Or think their value is tied to a decimal Meet Ben Cichy. He went from a student with an average GPA to landing spacecraft on Mars with NASA. Now at Blue Origin, he’s shaping the future of lunar exploration. Proof that curiosity, grit, and growth mindset matter more than perfect grades. What really matters? Your effort. Your growth. Your story. 1/ Before the Job Search You need to build more than a resume, you need a narrative. ➡️ Highlight practical experience ↳ Internships, part-time jobs, volunteer work ↳ Class projects with measurable results ↳ Side hustles or personal projects ➡️ Build your portfolio ↳ Create a website or LinkedIn profile that reflects your skills ↳ Showcase outcomes, not just tasks ↳ Include metrics where possible ➡️ Learn the skills that matter ↳ Focus on tools used in your industry ↳ Take free or low-cost online courses ↳ Practice through real-world application 2/ During the Application Process You’re more than your academic record, make sure your application shows that. ➡️ Write a strong cover letter ↳ Tell your story, why you care, what you’ve done, what you bring ↳ Show alignment with the company’s mission and role ➡️ Build connections ↳ Reach out to people in your target companies ↳ Ask for advice, not a job ↳ Show curiosity and gratitude 3/ During the Interview This is where you shine. ➡️ Focus on value, not numbers ↳ Talk about challenges you’ve faced and how you handled them ↳ Emphasize adaptability, creativity, and grit ↳ Share what you’ve learned and how you apply it ➡️ Bring confidence ↳ Believe in what you’ve built ↳ Speak with clarity and purpose ↳ Own your journey. 📌 Drop a comment with one thing you’ve done outside of school that helped your career. 📌 Repost/Like/Share/Follow - Let’s rewrite the narrative together.

Plenty of portfolios are good. A few really stand out. Most just don’t leave a lasting impression. They blur together. Not because the work isn’t good, but because it doesn’t tell a story. Same structure. Same tone. Same safe ideas. No clear point of view. No story. Just a list of projects trying to tick boxes. Your portfolio shouldn’t just show what you’ve done. It should show what you believe, how you think and where you’re going. Building a standout portfolio is hard work. You’ve already started. Now shape it with intent. Start with a strong structure for each project. Set the scene, the challenge and how did your idea solve it? Make it clear, fast. Nail the idea in a single, strong image or slide. Draw people in. What makes it original? Lead with that. Show it holds up. Prove the idea works in gnarly situations, not just the best-case one. Show it flex. Demonstrate how the idea works in new or unexpected contexts. Make it matter. Why does this connect with the people it’s for? Show what’s next. Could it grow? Evolve? Where could it go? Keep it tight. Cut anything that doesn’t help. Less, but better. Name it well. A strong name for ideas gives character and makes it sticky. Be honest. Lead with work you believe in. End with something clear. Finish each project with a simple insight. Why it mattered. What changed. What you learned. Each project tells its own story. Now connect them. Your portfolio should guide people through your work clearly and intentionally. Use everyday language. Not design terms. Would someone outside your industry understand it? Don’t just show final results. Show how you got there. Let people see your process, your thinking and your contribution. If the work made an impact, show that too. Be clear about collaboration. What was your role? What did you bring? Get the basics right. Make sure your site is fast, easy to navigate and works well on mobile. No broken links. No confusing formats. No distractions from the work. If time’s been tight, prioritise what matters most. Create the kind of work you want to be hired for. Work that shows your intent, not just your output. If you haven’t made the kind of work you love yet, start now. Don’t wait for permission. Make it yourself. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be yours. Remember, your portfolio is a work in progress. Keep refining it as you grow. Look at what others are doing. Spot what works and what fades into the background. Learn from both. Then find your own approach. What would make someone choose you? Be honest about what you’re showing and proud of what you choose to share. That’s your real brief. 🤝

Here's a transparent look into my recent hiring process for an industrial design intern: 📊 𝗕𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 ~75 applications received ~30 passed email screening 8 interviews 3 final candidates 📆 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 1 week application period 2 weeks of interviews 1 week negotiations/final offer ⚙️ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝟭. 𝗘𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 • I glanced at email applications as they came in • I skimmed but didn't really read in depth • The content didn't really matter but anything jarring could rule out a candidate • E.g. Unusually terse emails, ChatGPT nonsense (with the prompt left in!), addressed to the wrong design firm/person were immediately moved to a "No" folder 𝟮. 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗼 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 • I reviewed portfolios (website or PDF) in batches, usually 8-10 at a time • I spent about 30s on each • I didn't go past the front page of the website or the first few pages of the PDF • I looked for things to catch my eye • Any interesting ones were moved to a "Maybe" folder • All others were moved to the "No" folder and notified that they were not being moved forward 𝟯. 𝗜𝗻-𝗱𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 • I looked at the remaining portfolios in more depth • Still only 3-5m on each one • I looked for clearly demonstrated skills, a logical process, and relevance to my own work • I barely read any text, mostly looking at how the process was shown visually • I filtered down to the final set of 7-8 candidates to schedule interviews 𝟰. 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲 • I sent out an interview scheduling link • Faster responses and earlier timeslots did have an advantage (interview fatigue can set in after a few) • At this point I was mostly looking for a "spark" to show that they would be a smart and engaged intern • I had 3 final candidates, and made an offer to the top one • Luckily they accepted and we hashed out the details from there 👉 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 I'm only one example, but I think this process is fairly typical for smaller studios. If you're looking for an entry-level ID job or internship, here are a few ways you can stand out: 1. Make your intro email short and sweet, and don't stand out in a bad way 2. Your portfolio first read should hit hard. It's often all you get. 3. Show your process visually and don't overwhelm with too much text 4. Stay on top of interview scheduling. Respond quickly. 5. Be engaging in your interviews. Ask smart questions. Hope this was helpful! Let me know if you have questions in the comments below 👇 Does your hiring process differ? How so? - I’m Anson Cheung, an industrial designer with over a decade of experience designing technology products in Silicon Valley. Follow me for daily insights into a career in industrial design. #industrialdesign #designer