Matthew Warzel Featured in an Auburn University Article!

April 24, 2024 By warz65 Comments are Off

Please check out this fantastic article by Auburn University with our president, Matt Warzel, as a contributor – 𝖧𝗈𝗐 𝗍𝗈 𝖢𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍𝖾 𝖺𝗇 𝖮𝗇𝗅𝗂𝗇𝖾 𝖯𝗈𝗋𝗍𝖿𝗈𝗅𝗂𝗈 (𝖤𝗏𝖾𝗇 𝖶𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝖣𝗈𝗇’𝗍 𝖧𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖶𝗈𝗋𝗄 𝖤𝗑𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗇𝖼𝖾)

🎓I was fortunate enough to be featured in an Auburn University article about 𝖧𝗈𝗐 𝗍𝗈 𝖢𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍𝖾 𝖺𝗇 𝖮𝗇𝗅𝗂𝗇𝖾 𝖯𝗈𝗋𝗍𝖿𝗈𝗅𝗂𝗈 (𝖤𝗏𝖾𝗇 𝖶𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝖣𝗈𝗇’𝗍 𝖧𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖶𝗈𝗋𝗄 𝖤𝗑𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗇𝖼𝖾)

You don’t need professional work experience to have a great online portfolio. If you’ve written articles for the school newspaper, conducted research for a class, developed a video game in an extracurricular, or did some graphic design on your own time, these are all things you can — and should — include in an online portfolio.

This guide will show you how to create an online portfolio and why it matters in the job search process. We’ll cover:

𝘔𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦?

Why Do Online Portfolios Matter?

They Add Value to Your Application

An online portfolio is a great way to showcase your work, especially if you’re applying for a job in a visual field, like graphic design or website development, or in a creative industry, such as writing. Online portfolios offer you a way to show, not tell (like you might in a resume), your skills and projects you’ve worked on.

“An online portfolio can benefit your overall professional profile with a deeper dive into your key value offerings, achievements and skills that a resume cannot always offer,” Matthew Warzel, certified professional resume writer and former Fortune 500 recruiter, says.

Get noticed

The online portfolio is just one part of your application, and one you shouldn’t rely on solely to get you the job — especially because it’s not guaranteed that a hiring manager will look at it.

“Some do, and some do not,” Warzel says. “The nature of staffing in general is that there are tons of personalities involved in hiring, each with a method of discovering or vetting a candidate in his or her own way. Some will want to see as much as they can before diving further into the interview process. Some just want a resume or LinkedIn URL to view.”

Make Your Skills Visible

Like adding keywords to your LinkedIn profile, creating an online portfolio may help recruiters find and learn more about you.

“It can boost your online visibility during searches,” Warzel says. “Plus, you can include the portfolio’s URL on all of your job-hunting collateral as a quasi-business card or extended ‘digital’ resume.”

Who Should Make an Online Portfolio?

While there’s generally no harm in making an online portfolio (unless it doesn’t represent you well), that doesn’t mean it’s necessary for every job applicant.

“Graphic designers, writers, photographers, architects, construction managers? Heck yes! Production foreman at an automotive company? Maybe not so much,” Warzel says. “Think in terms of your audience (hiring managers and recruiters) and envision what you think they would like to see. If you fall in the somewhat ‘creative’ or ‘research-oriented’ space, it might be a nice idea to build an online portfolio.”

How to Make an Online Portfolio

3. Fill Out Your Portfolio

This is arguably the most challenging part of creating your portfolio. Start small and opt for your best pieces rather than breadth. Every piece should add value and showcase a different skill you’ve acquired.

“Take your time,” Warzel warns. “Be strategic and understand what message you are sending when creating the content. Do not just throw items in that do not sell your abilities for a certain role you are targeting.”

Online Portfolios: The Bottom Line

Online portfolios are a great way to add value to your job applications by showcasing your work — especially if you don’t have much (or any) real work experience.

“If it’s cost-friendly, use an online portfolio to your advantage,” Warzel says. “More likely than not, you will be the sole applicant using one as part of your application. It can’t hurt unless you build a sloppy portfolio. Make sure it’s sound and effective toward your brand marketability.”

Check out the article link below! 👇👇👇

https://opcd.harbert.auburn.edu/blog/2023/07/31/how-to-create-an-online-portfolio-even-when-you-dont-have-work-experience/

Join the conversation here as well, leave some thoughts!

💰PS – I want you to know that referrals from satisfied clients are the lifeblood of my business, so I greatly appreciate anyone you send my way. As a bonus, for any referrals you send that purchase services from me, I will send you $25 for each! Thanks again for your continued support!

📰 PPS – Also please subscribe to our monthly Jobstickers newsletter (https://mjwcareers.com/newsletter-signup), Spotify Podcast (https://open.spotify.com/show/4BdzyZsOtgbEtNRTRgbTLi) and Facebook Live group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/455474262138280) to stay up to date on job hunting industry trends, resume and social media profile and networking techniques, recruiter insights, promotions, discounts, and freebies.

✅ PPPS – follow the hashtags #Jobstickers, #ThePragmaticResume & #UnUnEmployed on LinkedIn for other daily insights that can help you in your career or job search!

💻 PPPPS – Thank you for reading! Please visit www.jobstickers.com to keep up with all of MJW Careers’ content, and visit www.mjwcareers.com or email warz65@gmail.com (or call 855-YES-EMPLOYEES) to learn more about our resume writing, interview training, career coaching, or outplacement services and solutions.

Comments are closed.