Do I Need a Portfolio for Internship Application?
The answer is YES, you need a portfolio for internship application!
In case you’re wondering why do you need one if you’re not pursuing career in creative field, you should get rid of that idea. These days, it’s not only creative professionals need portfolio. In fact, every professional need and can benefit from having one.
Image source: blog.prototypr.io
A portfolio doesn’t have to be about showing pretty pictures of your work. The real purpose of a portfolio is to provide tangible proof of your works and value in the workplace. A portfolio can document your professional accomplishments and show the quality of your experience to the employer.
What is portfolio?
Portfolios can range in from something as simple as an online version of your resume to a website full of materials. A portfolio can include word processing files of your resume and writing samples, digital images of your graphic and artwork, and video and audio files.
If you plan to apply an internship in creative fields—like writing, web design, graphic design, photography or videography, for example—a portfolio is absolutely required. If you aren't sure if you need a portfolio, reflect on your field and think about what tangible items you've produced related to the field. If there's anything you created that you think would benefit your case, you should include it. If you're still unsure, talk to other professionals in your field about whether or not they use a portfolio.
Why should I have a portfolio for internship application?
You can think of your professional portfolio as a marketing brochure for the services you’re selling. By showcasing your skills, abilities, and achievements, your portfolio helps your customers (your employers) and prospects (your potential future employers) understand what services you provide and why they are special.
A professional portfolio can help you make a strong impression, provide proof of your value, and differentiate yourself from the other candidates.
As an added bonus, your reviewer will be happy to see that you’ve been tracking these things on your own and that you’re prepared for the discussion. You may even be able to draw your reviewer’s attention to accomplishments he or she overlooked.
What should be included in my portfolio for internship application?
The first thing that you need to do is to save everything you create. You can decide later what you want to include in your portfolio.
The ideal portfolio should clearly show a description of projects and samples of work that an individual has handled. The following is typically included in a career portfolio:
- Professional bio
- Letters of recommendation
- Awards and recognitions
- Feedbacks
- List of trainings and courses completed
- Work samples
- A list of key accomplishments
Remember that your portfolio is a work in a process. Take it one step at a time and take the time to create a professional, polished portfolio. Finally, remember that your portfolio could be what makes you stand out in a crowd of candidates!