Blog

Imagine: you’re a marketing professional. You’re starting out your job search and have a lot of nice things (probably too many) to say about yourself. You’ve filled your cover letter with keyword-packed copy, synonyms for “high-achieving,” and have emphasized your ability to organize, achieve results, and communicate properly. You hit the end of the page and feel like your message is still incomplete.

Enter: your website. 

The Key to Job Search Success

Busting through the spacial constraints of a cover letter, a URL is a one-line, information-packed resource that exemplifies what you do best: marketing. But, in this case, the subject is *yourself*.  

Look beyond the outdated concept of a portfolio as a vehicle limited to the traditional, cookie-cutter profession of “artist,” and open your eyes to the value an online portfolio can bring to a marketing position. We have some tips for getting started.

Skip the PDF.

Besides the fact that (we’ll say it) “You can do better!”, many of our employers aren’t accepting PDF attachments or links to more community-based sites like Behance, Dribbble, or Google Sites. Do your work a favor and present the full package. Consider the importance of digital presence in all areas of marketing these days, and stake your claim on a little corner of the world wide web to pitch yourself. Sites like Squarespace, Cargo, or Wix make it easy to set up a site within minutes. 

Be intentional about the work you show.

When considering if you should include a project in your portfolio, think about what it is saying about you. Is this an example of your ability to collaborate? Your excellence in digital marketing? Your flawless copywriting skills? Include samples of all types of work (social media experience, blog posts, etc.) and if you're well-versed in different industries, make sure that's represented. A well-rounded portfolio should convey all facets of your expertise, but don't feel compelled to include everything you've ever done. Displaying three solid examples that speak to your professional qualities will go much farther than an abundance of smaller, less focused examples. 

Develop a personal brand.

It doesn’t have to be eye-roll-y or complicated. If you’re in the business of marketing, you understand the weight placed on a first impression (sometimes the only impression, right?!), and your own site is no the place to skimp on branding. What kind of company are you looking to join? Borrow pieces of their branding. A familiar aesthetic will easily translate to a perfect fit when you have the opportunity to meet with them. Be intentional about your desired industry and align with that style (e.g. skip a hokey cartoon avatar if you're looking to land a position in the finance/insurance industry). Cohesive and intentional use of colors, fonts, and layouts across your portfolio will communicate an attitude of confidence towards your career, a valuable way to make a lasting impression. 

Include context with all of your work.

When planning your portfolio, invest in writing explanations for each project, touching on your role, input, and analysis. Potential employers seek evidence of an informed and well-developed thought process, so describe the evolution of the project as well as your method for measuring success. As for team-based projects, don’t limit yourself to displaying only solo work. Rarely does a marketing professional work alone - there are always colleagues and teams supporting your work.

Keep your work updated, and your images clear.

These feel more like housekeeping suggestions, but they need to be said. There is nothing – we repeat, nothing – more indicative of someone's lack of attention to detail than pixelated images. If your portfolio hosting website has updated its template, do a quick audit to ensure your images still appear properly on desktop and mobile. Make sure your images are crystal clear, easy to understand, and explained in captions or text. Maintaining an updated portfolio is critical for quick movement when an opportunity arises, and puts your best foot forward. 

An online portfolio for a marketing professional is an incredibly valuable tool for self-promoting, establishing credibility and building confidence for a potential hire. It’s still novel enough to help you stand out from a crowd, and in many cases can be a foundation for negotiating higher pay. 

Our last post discussed the best ways for employers to incorporate feedback, working to include an analysis/reflection step in their project cycles so employees can stay informed of their performance level and thrive in a communicative environment. Preparing comments upon project completion is a great opportunity for identifying problem areas and spotlighting employees' needs for improvement.

What if your workplace doesn’t value open communication and healthy, constructive feedback? Asking for it can feel needy or unnecessary. The truth is, however, that feedback is critical to your vocational growth and an important component of your professional relationship to management. Most importantly, you present yourself as a committed and passionate member of the team.

We've gathered some tips for getting the comments you need and implementing changes efficiently.

Ask. Ask again.
Request a meeting to evaluate your work upon project completion. Next time, request again. Keep asking until it becomes the norm. Your boss should consider these discussions to be an investment in the success of the company, and even if they don’t have time for a meeting, suggest a quick one or two sentences on an area that could be bettered.

Don’t get defensive
Teams are supposed to be collaborative and supportive of all members, so comments that come your way should be taken seriously and not personally. Pointing fingers at others while deflecting useful feedback yourself just perpetuates inefficiency. Take each piece of advice and assume it’s coming from a genuine place.

Make a point to be better
Feedback and suggestions are useless if they aren’t implemented, so with each new project, set a small goal based on past calls for improvement. Targeting your focus will better indicate the success of your efforts, streamline the process, and organize your goal into actionable steps.

Be ready with questions
If you get the sense that management can't devote the time for proper evaluation, keep it simple. Ask a very specific question to direct their comments - something like "How did my timing feel on this project?" or "Would it help if I _____ next time?" This way, you're not demanding much of their time but still demonstrating your dedication and making moves to better yourself.
Try these suggestions to begin making progress towards improvement your performance at work. Your employer will thank you in the long run. 

You are a self-starter.
Employers aren't looking for a team member with a constant need to be directed in their daily tasks. Bring a sense of urgency to your daily workload and be the one to initiate your own progress. Try to think several steps ahead, and keep things moving along the pipeline without demanding any time or too much direction from your superior.

You can collaborate.
You know how the sayings go: "Teamwork makes the dream work." and "There's no 'I' in 'Team.'" Professionals might easily forget that their job does not stand alone. A close network of collaborators requires freedom of discussion, an openness to all ideas, and a hefty dose of humility. Egos need to be left at the door, and hiring managers will be on high alert for any hint of self-centeredness. 

You can manage your time.
With an increasing number of companies entertaining the possibility of a remote team (80% plan to allow employees to work remotely at least part of the time after the pandemic), trust to manage your workload will be of the utmost importance. While hours in an office are automatically considered working hours, time spent working from home often lacks boundaries. Knowing how to separate personal life and professional life will be the key to success, and juggling projects without any in-person prompting from a manager will require strong work ethic.

You can adapt.
The speed at which technology moves these days, you have to start learning an updated program as soon as you've finished learned the previous version. It's changing nonstop, and the only way to keep up is to change with it. In addition to programs, change can also be expected within your role, based on your company's strategy moving forward. You acquire skills as your job evolves, and it's best to be open to new job titles that reflect your expanding skill set. 

You're organized.
This one seems like a no-brainer, but organizational skills apply to all areas of a career - if you're organized, you can multitask, you can be trusted with management responsibilities, and you're likely to be a reliable, punctual colleague. You also probably have a perfectly executed digital file organization system (cue the cry-laughing emoji face).

You're enjoyable to work with.
Bring a great attitude (or at the very least, leave all negative vibes at the door), and not only will you be a valued member of the team, but you might even inject some motivation into your workplace. Positivity breeds more positivity. Avoid getting defensive or remaining unengaged with your coworkers, and instead try to be friendly and curious. And let's be clear: we aren't suggesting you accommodate every request with a "yes," or that you hold your tongue when it comes to difficult feedback, but understanding the power of a pleasant response or constructive criticism can go a long way.

You are a clear communicator.
Straightforward communication is essential to a smoothly running workflow. Is something taking longer than anticipated? Say so. Unclear on the status of a project? Just ask. No need to hide your thoughts or hesitate to inquire about something for the sake of politeness or lack of responsibility. Plus, staying in close contact with your colleagues and management keeps you all on the same page.