5 tips to make your portfolio stand out

Your portfolio is often your first impression. Whether you're applying for jobs, freelance gigs, or school programs, these tips will help you stand out.

1. Lead with your best work

Not all projects are created equal. Put your strongest 3-5 projects front and center. It's better to show fewer excellent pieces than many mediocre ones.

Ask yourself:

Which project am I most proud of?
Which demonstrates the skills I want to be hired for?
Which has the best visual presentation?

2. Show the process, not just the result

Employers want to see how you think. For each project, include:

The problem – What were you trying to solve?
Your approach – How did you tackle it?
The outcome – What was the result? Any metrics?

Even a simple side project becomes compelling when you explain your thinking.

3. Make it fast

Nothing kills a portfolio like slow loading times. Your visitors are busy—they'll leave if your site takes more than 3 seconds to load.

Quick wins:

Compress images (use WebP format)
Minimize custom fonts
Use a fast host (like bopbee)
Remove unnecessary animations

Add lazy loading to images:

<img src="project.jpg" alt="My project" loading="lazy">

And optimize your CSS:

/* Use modern CSS for better performance */
.hero {
  background-image: image-set(
    url("hero.webp") type("image/webp"),
    url("hero.jpg") type("image/jpeg")
  );
}

4. Design for skimmers

Most people won't read every word. Make your portfolio easy to scan:

Use clear headings and subheadings
Break text into short paragraphs
Use bullet points and lists
Include plenty of visuals

5. Keep it updated

An outdated portfolio is worse than no portfolio. Set a reminder to update it quarterly:

Add new projects
Remove old or weak work
Update your bio and contact info
Check that all links still work

Bonus: Make it personal

The best portfolios have personality. Don't be afraid to show who you are:

Write in your own voice
Include a real photo
Share your interests or values
Tell your story

Your technical skills might get you an interview, but your personality gets you hired.

Ready to build?

Now that you know what makes a great portfolio, it's time to create one. With bopbee, you can have your portfolio online in under a minute.

Start with a template, customize it, and share it with the world.