What is the point of a career portfolio?

This month’s writers’ roundup is a little different, compared to previous posts.

Let’s take a closer look at a common question for many writers: “Do I need an online portfolio?”

Check out two posts, both from experienced freelancers, that have opposing thoughts on whether freelancers need to create an online portfolio.

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

1. Yes, you need an online portfolio.

Some writers want to work 20 – 40 hours per week for a company. And some writers have to find a part-time or full-time job, to make ends meet as they pursue their writing goals.

The great news is that you can use the words you have already written to find your next job, even if none of your previous writing has been published (yet).

Writer and editor Jane Sandwood gives practical tips on how to take the best of your older writing pieces and update them to have new writing samples to present to potential employers and clients.

Find advice for creating an online portfolio by reading: Turn Your Creative Works into Career Boosters.

2. No, you do not need an online portfolio.

Author and designer Shawn Weston says you don’t need a portfolio.

Shawn says that you, as a freelancer, should instead focus on how you hire clients, not on clients hiring you.

He also shares actionable steps for you to take to give clients, and even potential employers, what they’re really looking for, instead of examples of your previous work.

(FYI: There are a few NSFW words in this article.)

Check out: Great clients don’t care about your portfolio.

Final Thoughts About the Need for an Online Portfolio

So, should you have an online portfolio?

Personally, I think it depends on your situation.

If you currently don’t have an online portfolio, don’t panic.

Consider Shawn Weston’s advice about reaching out to potential clients or employers, and then finding out what they are struggling with and how you can help them.

Also, if you have at least a couple of blog posts on your own blog, you already have a portfolio of your writing, and you can build upon that, if want to do so.

Still, there will be times when it’s appropriate to show a potential client or employer your portfolio. So, it’s good to consider Jane Sandwood’s advice on how to use your previous writing pieces to get a new client or a new job.

A portfolio is just a tool that should be used only when it will help you share your writing talent with more people.

Do you have a writing portfolio? Is it available online? Please share with us in the comments below any lessons learned, questions or any other comments you have about writing portfolios or other writing-related topics.