Your Most Important Job-Hunting Tool
Whether you are a newcomer or a seasoned professional, in the user-experience world, it is the portfolio that reigns supreme. Since the majority of UX job seekers have a substandard portfolio, getting this right will shoot you to the head of the pack. As a UX professional, talking will only tell part of the story. Your portfolio is how you present your skills to the world. A resume with an active link to a creative, simple, organized and informative portfolio is a must.
This all-important tool must showcase your talent, skills, experience and passion for your chosen field, when you want to open the door to an on-site interview. An active, online website will give an insider’s look at your process, from an idea to project completion, and showcase all the stages in between.
Brand Yourself
Your portfolio is an important part of your brand. Decide who you are and how you want to present yourself. Use the same messaging in your LinkedIn profile and on social media. Include links to all the ways that you are able to showcase your brand while staying connected to the UX community.
Showcase Your Process
As a UX professional, it is crucial that you can demonstrate your entire process, including what you started with, what you did, and the end result. Potential employers need to see and understand the following:
The viewer needs to know what the challenge was, what your accomplishments were, and how you contributed to the process. The viewer also needs to be able to see an interactive flow and understand the end results. You don’t need reams of information, but you do need to provide a clear understanding of the flow, from the beginning to the end of the cycle. Provide information on your art of persuasion and explain how you sold it to the folks in your company.
Keep It Updated
Whenever you do a really great project – and it’s released to the public – immediately capture the information and post it on your website. Everything you are proud of should be displayed. When you constantly update your portfolio, viewers will be able to see what you have learned and how you have stayed with trends.
Make it a Great User Experience
Remember: You are a user-experience professional and your website should reflect that. Use readable font and good-sized screenshots so that potential employers can get up close and personal with your work. Use images because user experience is a visual field. Check out your site on all major browsers. Live-link a great resume to your portfolio, and check all links.
At the top of your website, create a navigation bar that allows prospective employers to head to exactly the information they are seeking. Break down visual and interactive design, and then separate out mobile, web and desktop applications.