Employers have used AI for some time to screen large numbers of applications and create lists of candidates. Jobseekers have adapted by using AI tools to help tailor resumés to the requirements of each job.
This has left recruiters reviewing many applications that sound very similar. In some cases, employers report that candidates who looked strong on paper were not able to demonstrate all the skills listed on their resumés.
That’s one reason some recruiters place less emphasis on resumés during early screening. They don’t want applicants to tell them what they can do. They want applicants to show them what they can do.
Why employers rely less on resumés now
Sorting through hundreds of resumés to identify candidates for closer review can be time‑consuming. The quantity of applicants means most recruiters spend just 60 seconds on each resumé. That brief review helps determine whether an applicant moves on to the next stage of screening.
At first, AI-based applicant tracking systems (ATS) seemed like the perfect way to automate this, leaving recruiters with more time to spend on the best candidates. But jobseekers began using programs to help them outsmart these systems. Kickresume, Rezi, Jobscan, and other apps help jobseekers quickly generate polished, keyword-rich resumés tailored to perfectly match the skills list in each job posting.
While these tools can save time, they have also created new challenges for employers. Instead of simplifying hiring, these tools created more work for recruiters. With hundreds of applicants using similar programs to generate resumés, hirers found that one resumé sounded much like the next, and they all sounded robotic.
When every applicant seems equally qualified, which one do you hire? Some employers felt this made applicants seem lazy for not taking the time to craft a resumé and cover letter that reflected their unique character, abilities, and reasons for wanting the job.
Employer concerns about accuracy and authenticity
Even worse, when new hires started work, employers quickly learned they didn’t have the skills they claimed to have. The resumés they submitted had mirrored the wording in job postings too closely. They also overstated their range of skills and their level of proficiency.
In a job on an oil or gas rig or as a flight attendant, where others depend on you for their safety, that’s a big problem.
AI programs can also hallucinate. They may take 2 facts about a person and assume that if they can do those 2 things, they must be able to do a third. But in such cases these programs often jump to unwarranted and illogical conclusions.
How employers assess skills today
As a result, employers spend less time reading resumés and more time checking whether applicants can do what they claim. This has led employers to use a mix of hiring methods.
For example, recruiters might still use AI to identify red flags like repetitive phrasing and overly broad descriptions of skills. They look for buzz words like “team player” and wording that’s identical to the job posting or to other applicants’ resumés.
But once recruiters have narrowed the initial list to a manageable number for further screening, they’re reverting to older hiring strategies. One of these strategies is reviewing portfolios.
How employers see proof of skills
A portfolio is a collection of your best work. It showcases your skills and talents to potential employers.
There are two types of portfolios: physical and digital.
People in creative fields, such as interior designers and textile designers, often prefer physical portfolios because they show tactile work best. Digital portfolios are now the most common way to present skills and experience.
What’s in a digital portfolio?
A digital portfolio should show a wide range of work that showcases the breadth (range of skills) and depth (complexity of knowledge) of your abilities and experience. It might include:
Links to online samples of your work that showcase skills and experience
Descriptions of completed projects, including challenges, how you addressed them, and outcomes
Testimonials from satisfied clients reflecting your skills and experience
Relevant metrics, such as whether a project was completed on time and on budget
A basic digital portfolio
Say you are a writer who works on a variety of projects. You want an online portfolio that showcases the range of your experience. You might use a program like Wix to build a basic but elegant and functional website from a template.
You might create a page for each of your skill areas (website text, e-newsletters, print brochures, media releases, and creative writing). On each page, you might list projects with links to where they appear online.
You might include a graphic highlighting your best project, including metrics such as visits to or interaction with the website, subscription numbers for e-newsletters, number of brochures printed and distributed, and number of news articles stemming from media releases.
The creative writing page would show you as a well-rounded person with interests beyond the purely professional.
Building a portfolio for a specific job
If you’re building a portfolio for a specific job or type of job, like managing editor for a company that publishes a bimonthly professional magazine, an annual report, and proceedings for an annual conference, focus on the kinds of projects that match that role.
You might build a focused portfolio that showcases the publications you’re most proud of. You might post it on a platform like Fiverr. This type of website acts almost like a digital shopping mall where different types of professionals set up storefronts to attract business.
Formats for different industries
What if you lack experience?
If you’re just starting out and don’t have much of a portfolio, you might imagine a project you’d like to do and how you would take it from concept to completion. For example, you might code a small app, create a content series, build a mock brand identity, or create your own brand identity.
If you can, seek feedback on your mock project from someone with experience in your field. Ask them to identify issues you haven’t considered, allowing you to show potential clients how you would predict and overcome obstacles.
Don’t overlook the importance of a resumé. Instead, build yourself a functional resumé—one that highlights what you can do and have done, rather than where or when you did it.
Different types of portfolios work for different industries.
In creative fields, such as writing and graphic design, platforms like Behance and Dribbble provide space for creators to build online portfolios. Consider including draft sketches or close-ups of details to show your process.
Github repositories provide the same sort of “shopping mall” service in technical fields like coding. Since technical services tend to be less visual, portfolios might share case studies or project reports.
In business, your portfolio might be a slide deck summarizing several projects. Your story might include a description of a business problem, an outline of your plan to solve it, a list of obstacles you encountered, how you resolved them, and pertinent metrics.
In trades or other hands-on jobs, you might build a website or slide deck with photos or videos documenting projects before, during, and after you worked on them. Summaries might include client comments on how satisfied they are with the finished project.
Use your online presence to build credibility
LinkedIn can be a great way to support your portfolio through your online presence. On your home page, click the Me > View Profile > Add Profile > Recommended > Add Featured option.
LinkedIn refers to this “Featured” area as the “prime real estate” on your profile. From here, you can link to your website or online portfolio. You can pin top-performing posts, post mini case studies, or share progress on a current project. You can add videos, images, and slide presentations to provide examples of your work and boost engagement with your profile.
You can also use this space to showcase volunteer activities and passion projects. It helps prospective employers or clients to see you as part of a community. This helps them assess some of your soft skills—like your ability to fit well in their company culture.
Make your resumé work with your portfolio
Focusing on your portfolio doesn’t mean you’re throwing your resumé out the window. Employers who ignore resumés in the early stages of hiring may still consider them later on, such as immediately before an interview.
Turn your resumé into a “menu” that proves your skills. Use bullet points that link to work samples in your portfolio. Structure it to drive employers toward your portfolio, where they can find proof that you can do what you say you can do.
Additional portfolio pointers
Think of your portfolio as a story you’re telling prospective employers to show your competence, drive, and creativity.
Include an “about me” section to help employers see you as a person, testimonials to connect them with your previous clients, and education or training certificates to show you take self-improvement seriously.
Include case studies and project summaries to describe a situation or challenge, what you did about it, how you did it, how it turned out, and what you learned. This shows initiative and innovation.
Include metrics to show your diligence, attention to detail, and accountability. Did you complete the project on time and on budget? How much revenue did it generate? How much interaction did you have with the target group?