How to Create the Perfect Virtual Portfolio
Every morning, I wake up to the same POP soundtrack, it’s titled “AHHHHHHH!” It’s a mix of fear, sadness, and insecurity, with a touch of madness, hope, and euphoria. I think, “today has possibilities,” while that soundtrack plays on loop in the back of my mind. I take a look at my life and think, I can do better! I know I’m talented, I can do this on my own, but I don’t know where to start. So you do some research, and BAM, here you are at Freshmeet U.

You want to make a good impression, but your resume doesn’t represent who you are. It’s a piece of paper that doesn’t capture “ME!” You jump at the chance to upload your virtual portfolio (VP). “Yes! This is my time to shine! But, I can only upload one video, and it can only be a minute, DAMN! So, I can take a video of all of the best pieces of my work and mash them together and TA DA, the perfect VP!” YES and NO!

The perfect VP definitely shows off your work, but it gives a lot more. When you think about someone who wants to work with you and see you and your talent, you begin to see it’s less about showing your work and more about showing YOU! But, how do you show “YOU” to a person that’s never met you, and you have to be professional?!

No sweat! Here’s what you can do to get the perfect VP. Answer these questions:
● Are you a better in-person interviewee, or do you let your resume and VP speak for itself?
● What are your greatest skills/strengths? (Ex., Good time management, work well with a team, detail-oriented, great communicator) Take some of the examples used in the Entrance Evaluation, under Personality, and add what you think are strong characteristics.
● Think about this being a mini-movie of you and your work - every story has a beginning, middle, and end:
          → Beginning - how you started doing what you do
          → Middle - what you’ve learned along the way; skills, talents, and added services you’ve gained (any certification, collaborations, work you’re proud of, etc., this is where you would answer, “What are your greatest skills/strengths” question)
          → End - this is where I am today and why I would be best suited for this job/contract

Now you know how to make a good VP.

I hope you feel that you are represented well, not only in your VP, but on the Freshmeet U. platform.

Being a part of our community means that you are no longer out here by yourself; you have a community of people who are starting where you’re starting. You also have a community that has walked this road before and doesn’t want to see you, or anyone with a dream, lose hope because they didn’t have what they needed. We are all here to help you on your journey.