Guide
What to Include in a Student Portfolio
A good student portfolio is short and specific. Here is what belongs on it, in the order most readers want to see it, and what you can safely leave out.
Your name and one clear line
Say what you do, or what you want to do, in plain words. A reader should know within seconds what kind of person this page is about. A professional photo is optional.
A short summary
Two or three sentences on where you are now and what you are looking for. Skip phrases like "hard working team player" and say something only you could say, such as what you have been building or studying lately.
Your best projects
This is the heart of the page, so put it high up. Choose two to four projects. Give each a clear title, a sentence on the problem, a sentence or two on what you personally did, and the result. Add a link or a picture wherever you can.
Experience
Internships, part time jobs and freelance work, with the organisation, your role and the dates. Write what you did, not only your job title. If you have none yet, leave this section out and let your projects stand in for it.
Education
Your degree, college and years. Add coursework only if it relates directly to the role. For a fresher this section matters, but it should not come before the proof of what you can do.
Skills and certificates
List the tools and skills that your projects really used, grouped so they are quick to scan. Add certificates that a recruiter in your field would recognise, and skip ones that only prove you watched a video.
How to reach you
An email address at the very least, plus LinkedIn and GitHub or a similar profile where relevant. Make this easy to find, since it is the whole point of the page.
What to leave out
Skip your date of birth, full home address, father's name and marital status, because a portfolio is public and these are not needed. Skip skill ratings like "Python 80%", which mean nothing to a reader. Skip anything confidential from an internship, and always check before showing an employer's work.
Common questions
Should my phone number be on my portfolio?
It is your choice, but a public page can be seen by anyone. Many people share an email address and LinkedIn publicly, and keep their phone number on the resume they send.
How long should a student portfolio be?
One page that can be scanned in a minute is plenty, as long as each project has enough detail to be believed.