Typically, the term portfolio is associated with artistic professions, whether digital or analog. However, it is becoming increasingly important for engineers to build their own portfolio to assist them in their job search.
Having a professionally done portfolio can help you gain the edge in this incredibly competitive field and let your future employers know just how talented you are. It’s one thing to read about your achievements on paper, it’s quite another to see it in visual form. So far, creating a portfolio seems to be one of the best kept secrets in the engineering field, but the tide is turning. If you want to land that dream job and stay in the top of your field, there has never been a better time to put together your own portfolio.
Since it’s difficult to create a physical portfolio of your accomplishments, doing it online is the best solution for an engineer. You can create your own website that showcases your abilities and what you have accomplished and then share the URL during the application process. For interviews, consider bringing a tablet with your portfolio loaded right on it so you can instantly share it with your interviewers.
It is also useful to create a brief narrative to describe each page of your portfolio. You don’t need to go into too much detail, but include your part in the creative process, how you solved difficult issues and what it took to get from point A to point Z in the project. This will illustrate your problem solving and creative abilities.
Focus on a few of your most stellar designs or ideas to avoid overloading your interviewer. This will give them an idea of your fitness as a candidate and will show them that while you aren’t afraid to talk about your successes, you’re not going for overkill either.
Make sure to edit your portfolio just as you would your resume. It needs to be pitch perfect and stunning to catch an interviewer’s eye.