What to look for in a digital portfolio

In this day and age, potential new hires often send in their portfolios, resumes and cover letters through electronic mail services rather than the U.S. Postal Service. In part, emailing a portfolio is much easier, but digital portfolios also allow candidates the opportunity to further display their creative skills to an employer.

In a job market that demands innovative and talented new individuals, creative departments are heavily analyzing what makes a digital portfolio successful and how to determine if the creator is a worthy candidate for an open position.

When evaluating a digital portfolio, there can be a lot to digest and take in at first glance. The first thing to pay attention to is the cohesiveness of the package. It is not favorable if a candidate has tried to mix too many varied forms of design into one digital portfolio. A well-established theme or campaign is much more appealing, as it shows that an individual has the ability to create a piece and build upon it in multiple ways.

As an employer, one of the most important things to take away from a digital portfolio is whether or not it is a complete graphic display that pertains to the job opening. If a candidate has highlighted only a certain aspect of what an open position requires, they are likely not best for the job. Candidates should not have a mixed bag of displayed work. Having the ability to highlight strengths with certain mediums while still providing relevant examples is a sign of a solid prospect.

If your company resides in the music industry and a candidate submits a digital portfolio full of sports apparel designs, it can be hard to analyze even if the pieces are well-conceived. A successful individual brings relevant concepts to the table. If it is obvious the designer has not created specific pieces for the open position they are applying for, there is little opportunity to figure out if that candidate would do well designing in the music industry.

A designer can often look like an attractive new hire on paper, but when it comes to their designs, they may fall flat. Employers need to weigh past experience with natural design talent in order to find a successful candidate. Although design is the main task they will be spending their time on, having an innovative, thoughtful employee can help in other ways too. Finding a creative individual who can grow within an organization and improve his skills in the process can result in enduring loyalty and good work ethic.