Ghost Jobs

Creating an Online Portfolio: Your Complete Guide to Building a Standout Personal Website

Sep 16, 2024By Ghost Jobs
Ghost Jobs

In today’s job market, having an online portfolio is a powerful way to showcase your work, highlight your achievements, and present your personal brand to potential employers. Whether you're in a technical or non-technical field, a well-organized portfolio allows you to go beyond your resume by offering deeper insights into your skills and experiences.

This guide will walk you through the essential elements of creating a professional portfolio website, providing tips, best practices, and tools to help you build one without breaking the bank.

 
1. Overview of Portfolios: Technical vs. Non-Technical


Before diving into the specifics, it’s important to note that portfolios can serve different purposes based on your role. Here are some examples:

  • Technical Portfolios: For developers, engineers, designers, or data scientists, a technical portfolio may showcase projects, code repositories (like GitHub), interactive demos, case studies, or product designs. You want to show practical applications of your skills.
  • Non-Technical Portfolios: For roles like marketing, sales, content creation, or business operations, your portfolio could include case studies, work samples, articles, presentations, or marketing campaigns. Focus on demonstrating measurable outcomes and problem-solving abilities.


Pro Tip: Tailor the content and design of your portfolio based on the type of job you’re targeting. Keep it clean, professional, and relevant to your industry.

 
2. Free and Low-Cost Website Builders


There are several user-friendly platforms to create your portfolio, many of which offer free or low-cost plans with customizable templates. These allow you to showcase your work professionally, even without a technical background.

Here are some great options:

  • Wix: Offers a range of templates and an easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface. Great for non-tech users.
  • Durable.co: Create a simple AI generated website in only a few minutes. Customize to your liking with an easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface. Also great for non-tech users.
  • WordPress: Flexible with many themes and plugins available for all types of portfolios.
  • Carrd: Designed for simple, one-page sites. Perfect for those who want something quick and clean.
  • Webflow: More advanced with the ability to create highly customized websites. Ideal for designers or those with some coding experience.
  • GitHub Pages: For developers who want to host their portfolio for free using GitHub.


Pro Tip: Choose a website builder that matches your comfort level with design and coding. For a non-technical role, you might go with Wix, Durable.co, or WordPress. If you're more technically inclined, Webflow or GitHub Pages could offer more customization.

 
3. Using STAR or PAR Format to Highlight Achievements


When showcasing the details of your projects or work experience, use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) or PAR (Problem, Action, Result) format to provide clear and concise explanations. These formats help you tell compelling stories about your professional achievements.

STAR Format:

  • Situation: Provide context for the project or task.
  • Task: Outline the challenge or problem you faced.
  • Action: Describe the steps you took to address the challenge.
  • Result: Highlight the outcome, ideally with quantifiable data.


PAR Format:

  • Problem: Define the problem or goal.
  • Action: Detail the specific actions you took to solve it.
  • Result: Showcase the outcome, emphasizing measurable success.


Pro Tip: Always include specific metrics or KPIs in your descriptions to show tangible outcomes (e.g., “Increased sales by 25%” or “Reduced processing time by 30%”). This adds credibility and impact to your portfolio.

 
4. Creating a Strong "About" Section


Your “About” section is the introduction to your personal and professional story. This should be concise, engaging, and focused on your unique value proposition.

What to Include:

  • A brief summary of who you are.
  • Your professional background and key achievements.
  • What drives you and the values that guide your work.
  • A short note on what you're looking for in your next role.


Pro Tip: Make your “About” section personal yet professional. Include a little about your personality or interests, but keep the focus on your professional strengths and aspirations.

 
5. Highlighting Your Values and Virtues


In addition to technical skills or professional experience, employers are increasingly looking for candidates who align with their company’s values. Use your portfolio to share your core values and virtues, and how these play a role in your work.

Examples:

  • Commitment to continuous learning.
  • Dedication to collaboration and teamwork.
  • Passion for creativity and innovation.
  • Honesty and integrity in business dealings.


Pro Tip: Reflect on the company culture you're targeting and subtly align your personal values with those of the companies you aspire to work for. This can set you apart from other candidates.

 
6. Adding Your Resume or CV


Make sure to upload an updated copy of your Resume or CV to your portfolio for easy access. Provide both a downloadable PDF and an online viewable version if possible. This allows recruiters to quickly get a sense of your career trajectory in a format they’re familiar with.

Pro Tip: Update your resume regularly with your latest accomplishments and ensure that it mirrors the key points highlighted in your portfolio. Consistency between your portfolio and resume is essential.

 
7. Tracking & Analytics


To understand how well your portfolio is performing, it’s essential to track visitor activity. Most website builders offer built-in analytics or allow you to integrate Google Analytics for deeper insights. 

Metrics to Track:

  • Number of visitors.
  • Time spent on the site.
  • Most visited sections (e.g., Projects, About).
  • Where traffic is coming from (e.g., LinkedIn, direct searches).


Pro Tip: Use these analytics to fine-tune your portfolio. If visitors are spending more time on certain projects, consider highlighting similar work or adding more detail to that section.

 
8. Social Media and Contact Links


Make it easy for potential employers and collaborators to connect with you by adding links to your social media profiles, especially LinkedIn, GitHub, or Twitter/X, if relevant to your role.

  • LinkedIn: Ensure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date and reflects the same professional story as your portfolio.
  • Contact Information: Have a clear and accessible way for recruiters to contact you, either through email or a contact form embedded in your website.


Pro Tip: Make sure your social media profiles are professional. While it’s great to show personality, avoid content that could be seen as unprofessional by potential employers.

 
9. Setting Up Meeting Availability


Allow potential employers or collaborators to easily schedule time with you. Use free scheduling tools like Calendly and virtual meeting tools such as Google Meet or Zoom to integrate meeting availability into your portfolio.

How to Use: Link your Calendly account directly to a “Schedule a Meeting” button, allowing visitors to choose from available time slots. You can also include options for virtual meetings via Zoom or Google Meet.


Pro Tip: Keep your meeting options limited to specific time frames to ensure you control your availability. Automating this process shows you’re organized and efficient.

 
Final Thoughts: Bringing It All Together


An optimized portfolio and/or personal website is more than a showcase of your work—it’s a strategic tool that highlights your strengths, tells your professional story, displays your personal brand, and gives potential employers a direct way to contact or schedule a meeting with you.

Here’s a quick recap of what to include in your portfolio:

  • Professional Work Samples tailored to your industry and role.
  • STAR or PAR formatted descriptions for achievements and projects.
  • A personalized About section that emphasizes your values and professional journey.
  • An up-to-date resume/CV and downloadable version for recruiters.
  • Integrated tracking and analytics to monitor traffic and performance.
  • Links to social profiles and a way for visitors to connect with you.
  • Meeting availability tools like Calendly to streamline networking and
  • interview processes.


Pro Tip: Start simple, then expand. Focus first on creating a clean, professional layout with your key content. You can always (and should continually) refine your portfolio later based on feedback, analytics, or new projects.

By following these best practices, you’ll not only create a portfolio that helps you stand out but also equip yourself with a digital asset that can evolve as you grow professionally.