Creating an Impressive Portfolio: Tips for Success
Advertising creative grad, Chloe Henshaw’s award-winning portfolio represents herself and her work
By: Chloe Hargreaves
When it comes to job searching, having an impressive portfolio can make all the difference. Whether applying for internships or freelance work, a student’s portfolio is a visual to showcase their creative skills and represent their personal brand to potential employers or clients.
Chloe Henshaw, a spring 2025 advertising creative graduate, knows the importance of a portfolio. Through her coursework, personal projects and internship projects, she has built a portfolio to serve as the foundation of her skills.
Henshaw says when it comes to a portfolio, quality over quantity is key. A portfolio should highlight a student’s best work.
“You do not want your portfolio to be too overwhelming by putting too many things, so it is important to update it with different projects,” said Henshaw.
Updating a portfolio regularly ensures it develops alongside your growing skills and remains aligned with future career goals. Rather than adding more work, it is important to filter the selection to highlight only the strongest, most relevant projects.
A portfolio should not only consist of projects but should reflect the student as a person. Thoughtful choices in colors, fonts, layouts and elements help make a portfolio unique and show personality.
“Look at yourself as a brand through your portfolio and how you want yourself to be viewed,” said Henshaw.
Every decision made should reflect the student as an individual, helping your portfolio stand out while aligning how they want to be perceived professionally.
Feedback is a crucial part of creating an impressive portfolio. Henshaw has recreated her portfolio many times after receiving feedback from her professors and people she admires in the advertising industry.
“Be open to asking professionals, professors or classmates to give you feedback,” said Henshaw.
Getting feedback and viewing other people’s portfolios can help with inspiration and to further develop a portfolio.
Projects from classes are beneficial to add to a portfolio, however, Henshaw says real-world projects offer credibility. Henshaw includes a mix of her projects from her courses and work she has created for small businesses.
“Having real-world projects makes an impact because they have actually been used,” said Henshaw.
These pieces carry more weight by demonstrating professional experience and the ability to deliver results in a work environment.
In today’s competitive job market, Henshaw says her professors and industry alumni emphasize how important it is to have a diverse portfolio that combines academic and professional work that stands out to employers or clients.
For students in the College of Communications Arts and Sciences, the MSU’s Career Services Network offers opportunities such as portfolio workshops. The university partners with AAF Lansing to host portfolio review workshops with potential employers. Learn more about upcoming events at https://careernetwork.msu.edu/.