How to Assemble a Business Writing Portfolio

When assembling your portfolio, put your best pieces in front.

College degrees play a minor role in the world of writing and publishing. While a company or client may not consider you for hire if you haven't earned a degree, it won't hire you simply because you've earned one. The business writing portfolio is a tool to help you secure a new position or writing project. It contains your best writing samples, job experience and other recognitions.

Instructions

1. List your best pieces of writing. Find the published versions of those pieces. Cut out the newspaper or magazine clips, print from the Web or pull out a copy of the book. Paste the newspaper clip onto printer paper. Slide the newspaper clips, magazine page with your article or printed Web article into a clear protector sheet. Type up a summary of and excerpt from your book. Print and slide into a clear protector sheet.

2. Include any awards you've received specific to your writing. Slide the award certificate into a clear protector sheet along with a description of the award and why you were chosen for it. Group the award with the piece of work that won the prize.

3. Start the portfolio with your cover letter and master resume at the front of the three-ring binder. The master resume includes all writing jobs your projects you've ever been part of and any of your relevant training or skills.

4. Organize your best pieces of writing and awards after the resume. Show your award-winning pieces first.

5. List any accomplishments not in the form of an award. For example, if you write a niche blog that garners thousands of readers, list this in the “Accomplishments” section. Keep all accomplishments to one page.

Tips & Warnings

• Only take your most applicable writing pieces to an interview if you have more than 10 in your portfolio.

• Edit your master resume when you submit the portfolio to a possible client or employer. Only include the applicable projects.

• Keep a PDF or HTML version of your portfolio on your writing website, if you own one. Potential clients and employers can then access it at any time.

• If you are including work that includes the name of a particular company, or any sensitive material, make sure to block these out (or change them to something like "company X" before you display this work).

• If you are concerned about copyright issues, you can also include a disclaimer at the top of any samples you send out that states that the work is the property of the writer/client and that it cannot be copied without permission.

References

• Bedford St. Martins: Assembling a Writing Portfolio
• MLV Writes; "Resumes and Portfolios for Writers: Part Two"; Monica Valentinelli; June 10, 2007
• Manifest Your Potential: How to Create an Awesome Work Portfolio