Personal details are arguably one of the most important elements in the resume. The basic information about you gives the recruiter a quick overview of you as a candidate and provides the essential contact details should the recruiter wants to invite you to further discuss your application. The necessary personal information to be put in a resume includes your name, job title, contact details and so on. It would help to create a dedicated personal information section in your resume at the very top of your resume so the recruiter can easily spot it. But what personal information should be on a resume? And, equally importantly what personal information should be put in your resume?In this article, we'll provide answers to those questions and walk you through on how to write the most informative personal info in a resume.Table of Contents:Should I Put Personal Details in a Resume/CV?What to Write in Personal Details in a ResumeWhat Not to Include in Personal Info in a ResumeHow to Format Personal Detail on a ResumePersonal Information in a Resume SamplesShould I Put Personal Details in a Resume/CV? The short answer is yes. Personal details are necessary in a resume or CV. Theyprovide the recruiter with essential information about you. Including your personal information in the resume/CV gives the recruiter an easy access to your contact details and makes their job easier. It shows that you are a thoughtful person and can think from their perspective.Another benefit of putting your personal details in the resume/CV is that it helps the hiring company to great a talent pool. With identifying information available on the resume, the recruiter can easily organize and maintain their qualified candidate database. This would in turn increases your chances to be considered for other opening at the company in the future.In short, having personal information in your resume makes the recruiter's job easier and highlights your professionalism and ability to think from others' perspectives. The real question you should be asking iswhat to include in personal information in a resume/CV. What to Write in Personal Details in a Resume Personal details that are suitable for a resume or CV can sometimes be hard to determine. On one hand, you want to include personal information in your resume that will help you stand out; on the other hand, sometimes too much detail can backfire.Your resume personal details must include the primary information about who you are. This part is crucial in your resume and plays a significant role in the job application process.Here we've provided lists of essentials and optional personal details for your resume/CV. 5 Essential Personal Details to be Included in a Resume:Full nameYour name is arguably the most important personal information to be included in the resume. This is how the recruiter identify you and know whose resume they are reviewing. Without the name in the personal information section, the recruiter wouldn't know who to contact even if the resume is perfect.Professional titleA professional job title on your resume indicates who you are at a professional level and how experienced you are. The recruiter can quickly decide if your experience matches the position with this personal detail on your resume.Email addressYour email address is the most crucial contact detail you will present in your resume. It is the most common contact method and the easiest way for your potential employer to reach you.Phone numberYou must include your phone number in your resume's personal information section as well. Sometimes employers prefer to make phone calls. Make sure you list your phone number in the personal info section in your resume.LocationWhether or not to put your address in the resume is open for debate but including your location is always a good idea. Include the city, the zip code and the country would suffice. These are the essential items you must include in personal details in a resume. They help the recruiter to identify you and provide them with means to contact you, which is the basic function of personal information in a resume/CV. Besides the essential resume personal information, there are also five optional personal details that you can include in a resume to make your resume a stronger one. 5 Optional Personal Details to be Included in a Resume:LinkedIn URLA LinkedIn profile in the personal information section in the resume can help elaborate your experience. It also shows that you're a professional and spends time developing your personal brand.Personal websiteSome people make a personal website to display their work achievements or portfolio. Including the link to your website or portfolio in your personal info section on the resume strengthens your application as they provide visual evidence of your achievements.Social mediaBy listing your social media accounts in your resume's personal details section, you showcase your personal traits, which is crucial for certain roles. Make sure the socials you put in the resume as part of personal information are semi-professional and don't hurt your professional image.Complete addressInclude your full address in the personal information section in your resume if it's specifically required. If not, you can decide whether you want put it there.Relevant personal infoRelevant personal information for the job you are applying for can be included in your resume's personal details section to tailor your resume for the role. Find out what is the core ability they are looking for and write it as part of your personal details, for instance, the language or certificate that is specifically required in the job posting. These optional details act in support of your personal introduction on the resume. Pick the ones that will help you highlight your skills and qualifications to your potential future employer. But do not overdo it and write irrelevant personal information in your resume. Make sure the items you pick speak to your advantage in your resume.What Not to Include in Personal Info on a Resume Personal information in a resume is important but you should be careful with it too. It's a common mistake to include personal details that would do your application a disservice. Learning what not to write in personal details is therefore of great importance. Do not forget that at the end of day, the resume is a professional document. You need to take that into consideration when you write personal information for your resume/CV.Below is a list of personal details that don't belong in your resume:Current salaryYour employer does not need this information. There will be time for this negotiation at your interview, and leaving this in your resume's personal details section may be seen as unprofessional and lower your chances of getting a satisfactory salary.National Insurance Number/Social Security NumberYou will need to supply your National Insurance Number or Social Security to your employer after you are hired. But putting this in your resume personal details can expose yourself to identity fraud. Never divulge your National Insurance Number or Social Security Number. This piece of information is usually needed after you're hired. However, note that some government jobs may insist on providing it for vetting purposes.Sexual orientationWhile workplace diversity is taken more seriously by many organizations, disclosing this particular information about yourself in the resume can result in hiring discrimination. You are also likely to come across unprofessional.Race/ethnicityLikewise, specifying your race or ethnicity may open yourself to discrimination.Marital status and dependencyThis is another piece of information that may also result in discrimination by your potential employer. Whether you are married and/or with children should not be a factor to your employment criteria.PhotographDo not give a prospective employer any excuse to disregard your skills and expertise just because of your appearance. Only provide a photo of yourself in the resume as part of personal info when it is specified in the job posting or when you are applying to companies in country it is customary to do so.Date of birthThe age of the applicant should not reflect on their professional skill. Some employers may be partial to older or younger applicants.NationalityThe job advertisement may specify that you must be living in a particular state for work purposes, or have a right to work in a specific country. Still, your nationality is in most cases irrelevant.GenderIn most countries, it is illegal for an employer to ask your gender, even if they may infer it by your name.ReligionYour religion or religious beliefs are not relevant to your employment and thus don't belong in the personal info part of your resume. There are laws in many countries that stipulate that an employer is not allowed to discriminate against individuals based on their beliefs and religion. You should avoid these 10 personal details when you write your resume; however, the job search culture is different in different countries. Make sure you do proper research and include the required and necessary personal details in the resume/CV when you are apply for roles in particular countries.Cultural differences in job hunting Job seekers should note that cultural differences also exist when it comes to resume writing and job hunting. For example, most countries in the EU require applicants to send their CVs using the Europass format. This generic formatting, however, requires you to include gender, nationality, and date of birth on your resume's personal information section. In Asian countries, photos are encouraged to be included in resume personal details. Personal information such as marital status, ethnicity, gender, and date of birth are more common but not a requirement in Europe and Asia. How to Format Personal Details on a ResumeTo make sure the recruiter sees your personal information in the resume, you have to format it properly. Depending on what you want to emphasize in the personal detail section on your resume, you might want to arrange each piece of personal information in different ways. For instance, an experienced front-end developer might want to highlight their professional title “Sr. Front-End Developer” by capitalizing the first letter of every word and putting the title next to their name. A fresher graphic designer writing their resume might, on the other hand, make space for the link to their portfolio in the personal detail section. To write your personal details in a resume format, you must know the key information about how to write it. However, to write personal information in a resume that catches the eye, you need to consider your strengths and carefully format your personal details. Below is a list of factors that you should take into consideration while putting personal information in your resume. 1. Name Of all the personal details for your resume, your name is the most important one. It’s the key identifying information. With an eye to the overall design of your resume, write your first name and surname in bold and large size the top of your resume.💡 Pro tip:It is not recommended to put "Resume", "CV", or "Curriculum Vitae" on the top of your personal details. When you place your name on the top of the CV, it becomes the focus. This will help catch the recruiter's attention. 2. Professional Title Your professional title should reflect these two different things: what you do and the level of experience you have in that role. 3. Phone Number The next important personal detail that belongs in your resume is your phone number. Make sure it is your personal mobile number that you can pick up anytime the recruiters call. If you are applying for jobs internationally, do not forget to include your country's dialing code and highlight that your number can be reached on Whatsapp, or include a Skype ID. 4. Email Address It is essential to include an email address in your personal details in your resume as it is the preferred mode of communication. Writing your email address as part of personal information for your resume sounds simply enough but there are some mistakes you should avoid: Don’t use your current work email address.Don’t use email addresses that look unprofessional.Ideally, a good personal email address is one made up of your full name or your first name and one letter of your last name. If both options are not available, you can add one or two numbers in your email address. 5. LinkedIn and social media accounts LinkedIn accounts are generally safe to include in the personal information section of your resume, but it is a good idea to log in and check the information is up to date and matching your resume. If there are significant differences, your potential employer may lose confidence in your trustworthiness. Social media accounts such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Pinterest, depending on the role you are applying for, can be included in the personal information section on your resume. For instance, if you are looking for a job as a social media marketer, they should be included to showcase your expertise.💡 Pro tip:Make sure you do not have a series of posts that give the wrong impression about your values and personality, if you've decided to include social media accounts in resume. Remember to include your account as a link – see the examples at the end of this article as reference. Personal details in resumes for freshersAs a fresher, you may have little work experience. The personal information section for your resume can include your personal website or portfolio so that you can showcase your skills and experience.Personal details in resumes for experienced job seekersFor experienced workers, personal information in a resume may differ slightly from that of a fresher. As the space for personal information in the resume is limited, you can only pick one or two most impressive aspects of your career to write in it. For instance, you can write the number of years of experience you have along with your professional title. Personal Information in a Resume Samples Writing a resume or CV might be slightly hard for fresh graduates. Even experienced people sometimes find it hard to adjust their resume to suit the recruiter's needs. It is only natural if you want to check out some personal details in resume samples. Having good personal information in resume examples will help you to write a better resume, so here are a few personal details examples for various positions, from personal details in resume for freshers to the most experienced job seekers.Graphic DesignerCreated via CakeResumeMarketingCreated via CakeResumeCEOCreated via CakeResumeVideo EditorCreated via CakeResumeGeneral ManagerCreated via CakeResumeSoftware EngineerCreated via CakeResumeAdministrative AssistantCreated via CakeResumeFashion DesignerCreated via CakeResume Your process of looking for a job starts with creating a resume, and personal information is at the top of it. See how important it is? These are the basic necessities you need to include in your personal information in a resume. Space on your resume is precious. Pen your very own personal details and impress the recruiters.Wondering if your resume is working against you? Our AI-powered tool identifies weak spots and shows you exactly how to fix them.Fix Now--- Originally written by Jonathan ---

Upwork Cover LetterIn this article, you’ll learn about: How to Write an Upwork Cover LetterCover Letter Samples for UpworkTips on How to Write a Cover Letter for Upwork ProposalsUpwork Cover Letter TemplateToday's job market is undeniably tough, especially with remote work developing into the “new norm" all over the world. Both freelancers and recruiters/clients now have a lot of platforms to achieve their own purpose. However, Upwork seems to be among the largest and most reliable websites with a reasonable fee and plenty of job opportunities. Basically, if you're a freelancer, you will either actively reach out to a client or be invited to take a look at a job offer. Whatever the case, submitting a cover letter for an Upwork proposal is a must. By doing so, you can express your interest in the project/job and present your candidacy. To help you craft a top-notch Upwork cover letter, we've put together essential steps and tips, together with the best Upwork cover letter samples from successful hires. Let’s dive in.How to Write an Upwork Cover LetterTo start off, we will walk you through a step-by-step guide on writing a cover/proposal letter for Upwork. Step 1: Read the job description thoroughly. In general, freelance jobs don't provide you with standard employee benefits like full-time remote or regular office jobs. The requirements also vary depending on the project and business. Hence, it's important to go over the job post carefully For example, you might be asked to deliver the article within 2 days. In this case, your proposal letter for Upwork should confirm the client's request and further demonstrate your quick turnaround. Step 2: Adjust each Upwork cover letter to each proposal. Similar to a resume or CV, a generic cover letter won't be able to create a favorable impression on the hiring manager. They might see that you don't read the job post carefully and put a lot of effort into your application. Step 3: Address the client’s name. Instead of using “Dear Hiring Manager" like in regular letters of job application, you should address the client directly to add a personal touch to your Upwork cover letter. To see their name, simply scroll to the bottom of the project page and look for reviews from the freelancers hired previously. Step 4: Demonstrate qualifications experiences related to the job post. When crafting the content for your cover letter on Upwork, be sure that you keep it concise and highlight relevant information only. Clients don't have plenty of time to go over a memoir that includes all of your details. Step 5: Insert a link to your portfolio (even if not required). Though you can showcase all projects in the portfolio section on Upwork, you can still include a link to your online portfolio, personal website, or shared Google Drive in your cover letter. This can act as a CTA that reminds the client to check out your work samples. Cover Letter Samples for UpworkRefer to the best Upwork cover letter samples below that will help your proposal stand out from other applicants and successfully land a job.Quick Navigation:Upwork cover letter sample for beginnersCover letter for Upwork data entry jobsUpwork cover letter sample for web developersUpwork cover letter sample for graphic designersSample Upwork cover letter for virtual assistantsSample cover letter for Upwork customer service jobs Upwork cover letter sample for beginners Hello! I'm Maya Nguyen - a Vietnamese born and raised in the States. I've just graduated from Texas AM with a Bachelor's Degree in International Business. While looking for freelance jobs, I was elated to see the Personal Assistant job advertised on Upwork. In spite of being a fresher with limited experience in the field, I have a strong passion for content creation, personal branding, and social media marketing. During my studies at Texas AM, I organized 5 welcome parties and 3 career orientation workshops for first-year students. I was also in charge of managing the Facebook page of my department (International Business F12 - Texas AM). These valuable experiences have honed my task management skills, self motivation and discipline as well as the thorough attention to detail. In addition to English, I can also speak Vietnamese fluently, which I believe could add much value to your project since you aim to attract Vietnamese young audiences. Please let me know if you need any additional information or questions. Thank you for your time and consideration. Respectfully,Maya Nguyen Cover letter for Upwork data entry jobs Dear Hiring Manager, I hope this proposal finds you well. First off, I would like to express my interest in your job post. Having read all requirements for the Data Entry job at your company, I am confident that I would be the perfect fit and am ready to take an oath to deliver my work. For the last 5 years, I have been working remotely in the field of Data entry, Data importing, Data exporting, and Data mining. Please let me further specify my experience as below: Transferring data written on paper into computer files and database systemsImporting and exporting data as requested by clientsCreating spreadsheets with large numbers of figures error-freePerforming strategic data analysis and conducting relevant researchIdentifying potential opportunities to improve productivity via the latest statistical modeling. I have been proving myself by providing a satisfactory service to my clients, which you can see from the “Testimonial" section on my Upwork profile. In addition to a resume, I’ve also attached my sample work copies so you can take a closer look at my qualifications. I can ensure that the work will be delivered on time without any mistakes. Hence, I'm more than happy for the chance to speak further with you about how my skills can assist your company in achieving its goals. Sincerely,Catherine Conners Upwork cover letter sample for web developers Dear Mr. Jonas, Thank you for reaching out to me. I have read the job posting for the Web Developer job at LedCamp and I’m very interested. I find it is very similar to my previous experience and aligns closely with the career I have been pursuing. Please allow me to give a brief summary of my qualifications. I have more than 6 years of experience in web development and UX/UI design with proficiency in JavaScript and HTML/CSS. Besides that, I have engaged in several mobile side projects that require the use of Objective-C and Swift. I also have a good taste in design and demonstrate excellent creativity through various innovative ideas and works. In my last role as a Front-end Developer, I developed new user-facing features, determined the structure and design of 8 web pages, built reusable codes, and optimized page loading times. My biggest accomplishment is a 28% reduction in the bounce rate and 33% growth in conversion rates, which are achieved by my effort in creating a more modern and responsive web experience for users. I believe my hands-on experience and technical skills will prove relevant for your upcoming rebrand and subsequent website changes. I will be available anytime next Monday to Wednesday for an interview. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely,Samuel Huang Upwork cover letter sample for graphic designers Dear Lina, With a strong passion for creating visually-stunning designs, I’m eager to join your team as a Graphic Designer. I believe that my 5-year experience will help your brand grow and spread into the SEA market. I first started my career as an in-house graphic designer for a fashion brand, and two years later, I decided to be a professional freelancer. I want to travel to as many countries as possible all over the world to explore different cultures, which cultivates the diversity in my design style and allows me to work well with various clients coming from anywhere and in any industry. I have worked on a range of print, interactive and digital design projects with the capability of taking sophisticated information and transforming it into a story with eye-catching visuals. I also provided creative design solutions that attract attention and convey the intended message. Most outstandingly, the “Your Own Boss” campaign in which I designed all communication materials has generated an increase of 25% in the client's annual sales in 2021. With superb communication skills, I am an excellent team player and open to feedback. If hired, the works that you will be able to see me deliver for this project will speak volumes of that statement. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to further discussing my qualifications with you at your convenience. Sincerely,Casy LuongSample Upwork cover letter for virtual assistants Dear Team, My name is Shenzhou and I’m writing to express my interest in the Virtual Assistant job advertised on Upwork. As a top-rated freelancer on Upwork, I have virtually assisted 9 clients including both individual clients and corporations within the fields of technology, education, and tourism. During 4 years of working remotely as a virtual assistant and office admin, I have handled the following tasks: Providing personal assistance to several top-level executivesCreating reports and presentationsScheduling webinars and company meetings via video conferenceTranslating documents from Chinese to English and vice versa My home office is fully equipped with the standard office equipment required for administrative assignments. Besides that, I guarantee a 2-hour response time to any form of communication between 8 am to 10 pm EST. With strong task management and organization skills, I’m confident I would be a great addition to your team. My diligence, flexibility, and reliability also make me a great candidate for this position. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you further about my qualifications. Kind regards,Shenzhou Sample cover letter for Upwork customer service jobs Dear Mx. Sam, I’m writing to you regarding your company’s Customer Service Representative job posted on Upwork. A true appreciation for your products and my hands-on customer service experience make me an ideal candidate for this opening job. I have 3 years of experience in TeleSales and Customer Service within the insurance and education sectors. My key skills include making cold calls to promote relevant goods and services, dealing with agitated or distressed customers, and developing new sales strategies to help the company grow and surpass all goals and objectives. This precious experience has honed my organizational and communication skills, as well as provided me, a go-getter, with extensive knowledge of how to upsell services and goods to potential clients. Considering the skills and achievements demonstrated above, I believe that I’m a perfect match for your open Customer Service Representative position. I’m excited to connect with you and share more about my qualifications. Many thanks,Kristen Huang Tips on How to Write a Cover Letter for Upwork Proposals✅ Be direct and straight to the point. One key difference between cover letters for job applications and Upwork proposal cover letters is the tone of voice and writing style. You don't need to be too formal and fancy language is also a don't. ✅ Answer the questions provided by the client. When submitting a proposal, you might be asked several screening questions in a separate section, for example: What challenging part of this project do you have the most experience in?What part of this project is most appealing to you?Have you had any jobs or projects that are similar to this one? Hence, make sure you'll fill all required sections and avoid repeating the same information in your Upwork cover letter. ✅ Focus on your skills and abilities. Here comes a winning trick when crafting an Upwork cover letter for beginners. Since you have limited experience either in the field or in freelance projects, it's important to focus on the skills and abilities that make you competent and outstanding. This is also a great way to assure the client that you’ll be able to bring more value to their project/team. Upwork Cover Letter TemplateFeel free to use the copy-pasteable Upwork cover letter template below to craft a winning letter for your job hunting on Upwork! Dear Hiring Manager or Ms./Mr./Mx. [Hiring Manager’s Name], I’m [Your Name], a [Your Specialization] with [number] years of experience. I'm very much interested in your project and believe that I fulfill all of your requirements for the job as specified on Upwork. For the past few years, I have [job task 1], [job task 2], and [job task 3]. Please have a look at my work samples that have been posted in my portfolio area and my work history area. In addition to that, I am adept at using [tool 1] and [tool 2] which help generate a/an [achievement] for my client (or company). You will also find that I'm a freelancer with [soft skill 1], [soft skill 2], and the ability to [soft skill 3]. These allow me to deliver high-quality work to my clients in time. I would appreciate an opportunity to further discuss with you about my qualifications and the project in more detail. Thank you for your consideration and please let me know if you have any concerns. Sincerely, [Your Name] With Cake, you can easily create a resume online, free download your resume’s PDF formats, and utilize ATS-compliant templates to create a resume. Land your dream job, create your resume online (free download) now!Create Resume — Originally written by May Luong —

🔑 Key takeawaysA professional portfolio is not only a must-have for artists and designers, but also a great tool for any job seekers to market themselves. When building one to achieve your career goals, make sure it includes all key elements, such as:Bio/About youOnline presenceContact informationWork samplesSkills QualificationsTraining ExperiencesEducationRegardless of the format, your personal portfolio should be easy to navigate and aesthetically pleasing.Have you ever been told to submit a portfolio for your job application?Simply put, a professional portfolio is an excellent way to present your works to potential clients or employers while demonstrating your qualifications for a project or a role. It’s particularly essential to have an online portfolio for your job hunting if you’re working in creative industries like writing, art, design, photography, etc. A personal portfolio, on the other hand, focuses more on personal branding - but is still beneficial for your career.Let’s dive into the importance of portfolios in job applications, check out amazing career portfolio examples and learn how to build one.In this article, you'll read about:What Is a Portfolio?What Should Your Portfolio Look Like?What to Include in a PortfolioHow to Create a Job PortfolioCareer Portfolio ExamplesCreated by Cake What Is a Portfolio?A portfolio can go under various names such as: career portfolio, work portfolio, and professional portfolio, depending on which profession you’re doing. Think of it as a curated collection of the best works you want to show recruiters and potential employers. Other than that, you can also use your online professional portfolio to develop your personal branding and sell your products. Note that a portfolio is different from a resume even though both of them are important for a job application. CAREER PORTFOLIORESUMEContent – Provides a lot of details, including personal life.Content – Only includes the information that is relevant to the job opening.Design –Has multiple pages.Varies between industries.Design –No longer than 2 pages.Needs to follow general rules. ⚠️ Note: The term “portfolio" is also widely used in the finance investing field.“A portfolio is a collection of financial investments like stocks, bonds, commodities, cash, and cash equivalents, including closed-end funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs)”, explained by Investopedia. What Should Your Portfolio Look Like?There are many ways you can build a portfolio for your career and each format is structured differently. Check out the most common formats of a personal portfolio: Digital portfolio file A digital portfolio is a file in the format of PDF, .doc, .jpeg, or .mp4 file. It works well when attached as a file to an email sent to the employer. Online portfolio An online portfolio is created on platforms like Cake, Behance or Dribbble; and can serve as a tool to create a bigger online presence. Website A portfolio website is essentially a website that consists of your works and is usually created using platforms like Wix and WordPress. It works just like how any other website would. Physical or paper portfolio This portfolio type is compiled manually in a folder or printed out to show employers and clients during a job application.Physical fashion portfolio example What to Include in a PortfolioWhether you're writing a professional portfolio or a personal portfolio, make sure to include the following elements. 1. Cover page Imagine hiring managers and clients open your job portfolio along with many others at the same time. It is the cover page that grabs their attention and makes the first impression. To ensure they won’t immediately close your online professional portfolio, you should put extra effort to design it carefully to serve its purpose and show your personal taste. Key elements you need to pay attention to include:FontsColorsBackgroundLayoutVisual hierarchy 2. Self-introduction and/or resume The self introduction for a career portfolio is similar to a CV summary statement. You will need to showcase the key points about you, including: Professional titleYears of experienceYour passion and expertiseKey skillsOutstanding achievements 💡 Pro Tip: Your introduction should not be too detailed and lengthy. Instead, focus on describing who you are and what value you can bring to the client or employer. You can also include your resume in your personal portfolio or career portfolio, if your goal is to showcase your career journey. Including your work history in your personal portfolio with a concise resume can be an effective tool to demonstrate your qualifications and capabilities. 3. Work samples These pieces of information are particularly important for a job portfolio. Without work samples, there's no need to include a portfolio in your job application. Based on your profession, you can present your works in different formats like images, videos, illustrations, etc. For example, a photography portfolio will need to showcase captivating pictures, whereas the highlights of a teacher portfolio for the interview will be impressive video lessons and digital lesson plans.If you shoot products or short time-lapse sequences for clients, it also helps to revisit practical product photography tips so your lighting, composition, and pacing stay consistent across the series. 💡 Pro Tip:Make sure you check the quality of your work samples before publishing them to your career portfolio. 4. Side projects Have you worked on something that is unpaid or just for entertaining - but they are actually relevant to what potential employers and clients are looking for? Go ahead and leave some room for them in your personal portfolio! By doing so, you can easily point to the work you have done in the past, and thus get a leg up on the competition. 💡 Pro Tip:When listing projects on your job portfolio, the more specific, the better. It's essential to show the audience how you did and what you achieved. 5. Licenses or Certifications These supporting documents are high quality evidence of how you acquired a high level of knowledge and mastered your skills in your field. Thus, including licenses, certificates, or professional development seminars you have attended will enhance your credibility and highlight your qualifications for the position. 💡 Tip:Especially if you're making a nurse portfolio, licenses and certifications can be deemed as must-have components. 6. Awards or other proofs of accomplishments Have more to bring to the table to demonstrate a higher level of your competence? Then it’s never a bad idea to include these proofs in your portfolio. In your job portfolio, you can also include different types of artifacts such as:Certificates of awards / prizesPublications materialsTestimonials from satisfied clients 7. References It's highly recommended that you put together a list of references or testimonials to your career portfolio. That way, you can attract more potential clients in the future. However, take this into consideration if you decide to include your portfolio in a job application. Some employers may doubt the veracity of the claims unless they really hope to learn more about your job performance and work attitude in the past. 💡 Pro Tip: If you work as a freelancer, including your client testimonials can also serve as great social proofs of your skills qualifications. How to Create a Job PortfolioStep 1: Choose a suitable format for your portfolio. As mentioned earlier, the choice of portfolio format varies between industries and the type of content you want to include. For instance, videographers or film-makers would find digital or online portfolios more convenient because it’s more convenient to access video works in a digital format, whereas artists or models might want to have a physical portfolio prepared when they attend an audition or interview. It's important to follow the instructions from the hiring managers. You may create an online professional portfolio that you can view from anywhere, but you can prepare several hard copies for the interview as well. Step 2: Arrange the materials with a consistent layout design. Keep in mind to categorize your works for convenient viewing. That will make it easy for site visitors or your portfolio readers to navigate and it also helps showcase your professionalism. Let's say you're making a design portfolio for your job application, your works can be sorted out chronologically or by different styles and the tools you used. For physical or paper portfolios, you can use a binder, folder, or portfolio case to make the pages easy to flip through. Other ways to help employers find information easily are using section dividers, tabs, and color-coding. Step 3: Opt for a simple color palette clear font style. It's a great idea to make your personal portfolio visually appealing, especially for any candidate in the arts or design fields. That being said, make sure you select a simple color palette and easy-to-read fonts. The final goal is to retain visitors on your web page. Step 4: Proofread your portfolio. Don't rush to publish any data without running a thorough check. An online professional portfolio may encounter some bugs or there might be typos sometimes. Step 5: Frequently update your portfolio. This might take you a lot of time and energy but it's totally worth it! Make sure you pay attention to both the content and design of your job portfolio and haven’t missed anything essential. Career Portfolio ExamplesGet inspired by the following portfolio example that can help you create a portfolio in your job application. Graphic designer portfolio exampleGraphicDesigner Portfolio Example   The graphic designer portfolio example shown above serves as a dual-purpose showcase, highlighting the candidate's formal experience while providing a gallery of their most successful works. This approach ensures that a potential employer can immediately verify the candidate's skills while understanding the professional context of the project.For more portfolio examples, you can check the following pages:CakeBehanceAdobe PortfolioPinterest..or you can also check out our articles on portfolio examples! Photography portfolio 3Dartist portfolio Video editor portfolio UI design portfolio UXdesigner portfolio Marketing portfolio Acting portfolio Architecture portfolio Web design portfolio Web developer portfolio  Cake’s free online portfolio maker is suitable for creative and design professionals. With our user-friendly portfolio-making tools, anyone can make their very own portfolio hassle-free. Create your online portfolio now!Create PortfolioBuild Professional Resume and Portfolio with CakeCake is your all-in-one career solution. Use our online resume builder for an ATS-friendly resume, complete with hundreds of free, professional resume templates and examples. Optimize your application instantly with Cake AI Resume Checker and generate a compelling cover letter with Cake Cover letter AI.Beyond documents, Cake helps you grow: build an online portfolio, find opportunities on our job portal, and establish your personal brand.Ready to simplify your job search and make success a piece of cake? Start using Cake now! --- Originally written by May Luong ---

Created by CakeIn this article, you will learn:How to Answer “Why Should We Hire You”Tips on How to Answer “Why Should We Hire You”20+ “Why Should We Hire You” Best Answer ExamplesDuring a job interview, hiring managers may ask you a lot of tough questions. In general, these interview questions vary between industries, but there are some similar things that will be designed in order to learn more about you as a potential candidate. “Why should we hire you?” is one of the most frequently asked questions in a job interview. There’s no right or wrong answer for this, but more like a personal statement to explain why you think you are a good fit for this position.You may find different variations of this question below:“Why should you be hired for this role?”“Why should we choose/work with/select/employ you?”“Why do you believe you are suitable for this role?”“Why should we hire you over other candidates?” Read on to find out more about the best way to answer this question so that you can ace your job interview and land your dream job.How to Answer “Why Should We Hire You”Follow these steps to nail the question “Why should we hire you?”:Research the company and position.Make a list of your strengths.Talk about your experience in the industry.Highlight your skills (both hard and soft skills).Mention key professional achievements or awards.Mention your educational background and/or training.Practice your answer until you are confident. 1. Research the company and position. By understanding more about the company and position that you are applying for, you will have an edge in answering the interview questions as you will know how to give them an answer that they want to hear. The following list outlines 7 things you should learn about an employer when preparing for the upcoming interview: The company’s products and servicesThe company’s mission and valuesThe company’s clients and partnersThe latest news and recent events about the companyThe job responsibilitiesRequired skills and professional experience 2. Make a list of your strengths. During a job interview, you are often asked to describe your strengths. Hence, by preparing ahead of time for this question, you can save a lot of time for thinking and give hiring managers a proper answer that highlights your self-awareness and professionalism. 3. Talk about your experience in the industry. Recruiters and employers may have read your CV/resume already but they will still ask you some more about your background and experience in the industry. If you have held similar positions in the past, sharing relevant experience will be the best answer for “Why should we hire you?”. If you’re a fresher with limited experience, check out other tips below. 4. Highlight your skills (both hard and soft skills). When hiring managers ask you why you’re the best fit for the role, they expect to see you demonstrate hard skills that allow you to fulfill the tasks that the job requires. Soft skills, meanwhile, help prove that you can fit into a new workplace. 5. Mention key professional achievements or awards. Most employers love to hear about your performance in the former roles. Hence, showing your greatest accomplishment is the best way to answer “Why should we hire you?” in an interview. 6. Mention your educational background and/or training. If you’re a recent graduate, it’s not easy to share a lot of experience in the field. Instead, try to focus on your educational qualification and/or any other course you take related to the position. This is the best way to answer “Why should we hire you?” as a fresher. 7. Practice your answer until you are confident. Even though you’re confident and have strong communication skills, you might still be stumbled by challenging questions like “Why should we hire you?” at some point. It's important to practice for the interview to make sure you are as prepared as possible. Tips on How to Answer “Why Should We Hire You”💡 Provide concrete examples or details. These pieces of information, given in a specific context, will support your claims better. Moreover, hiring managers find it more persuasive when asking you “Why should we hire you for this position?”. 💡 Use quantifiable results to show accomplishments. This is a great way to demonstrate your competencies and value which could give you a huge advantage over other applicants. An answer with quantifiable achievements leaves a stronger impression on the hiring professional who is asking you “Why should we work with you”. 💡 Be concise and avoid generic answers. You should mention all the necessary details in your answer while keeping it concise and not being too generic. Showing employers what makes you stand out from the competition is the way to answer why you are suitable for this role. 20+ “Why Should We Hire You” Best Answer ExamplesOutlineFresherReceptionistCall centerCustomer serviceBusiness Process Outsourcing (BPO)NursingAccountantCashierSoftware developerPolice officerData entryDigital marketing/Social media marketingAdministrative assistant/Executive assistantTeam leaderGraphic designerCaregiverSecurity guardSalesHRTeacher ✅ Fresher Q: Why should we hire you for this position? A: Over the past 4 years at college, I have acquired essential skills and knowledge in marketing, especially content marketing. Also, I have been working as a freelance content writer for a while, which makes me suitable for this position. I’m very eager to bring many values to your organization. ✅ Receptionist Q: Why should we hire you as a receptionist? A: Without a doubt, I have the complete package required for a receptionist job. I am skilled at communicating with people and handling tough situations with tact and courtesy. I can also speak four languages fluently, English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. I am sure I can make a significant contribution to the growth of the Hilton Hotel. So, why shouldn’t you hire me? ✅ Call center Q: Why should we hire you for this call center position? A: Based on what you have said and my own research, Medium Corp. is looking for someone with channel experience, an aptitude with data, and excellent communication skills. My experience aligns well with that and ensures I am the ideal fit. Being able to remain calm and professional in any situation has given me the confidence that I can meet the challenges of this role. ✅ Customer service Q: Why should we hire you as a customer service representative? A: I believe that I'm the right fit for this customer service representative position at IVY Moda. I possess strong communication skills and the ability to develop interpersonal relationships with several clients which have been acquired from relevant roles in the past. I am also passionate about listening and assisting them with their solutions. ✅ Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Q: Why should we hire you in BPO? A: I certainly can do this job well. From what I’ve read on your company’s job posting on LinkedIn, I noticed that PledgeCamp is seeking a professional at a senior level who can lead and deliver complex client engagements. As you have seen from my CV, not only do my educational qualification and professional experience in the field overlap with what you're looking for, but my additional skills as a BPO manager for 10 years could be well-suited to help PledgeCamp expand their business to the USA. ✅ Nursing Q: Why should we hire you for the nursing position? A: The very first reason is that I am willing to accept a lower wage compared to other applicants’ expectations. I see taking care of people as my personal mission - something that I want to do for the rest of my life. I also believe that my training and skills match those you specified in the job ad, specifically my competencies in inpatient intake. In my last position, I was responsible for observing and monitoring the patients’ condition, and collaborating with physicians and other nurses to devise individualized care plans. ✅ Accountant Q: Why should we hire you as an accountant? A: I like working with numbers because my mom is an accountant as well. In previous roles, I have been told that I have exceptional problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and management traits. With 7 years working as a chartered accountant, I've gained extensive experience in preparing management accounts, managing payroll and VAT returns, as well as using multiple software packages. I have an in-depth understanding of accounting business processes and I always strive to continually improve them. ✅ Cashier Q: Why should we hire you as a cashier? A: I would say you should hire me because I am willing to work on weekends and holidays. I love to communicate and work with people so I always show a joyful, friendly attitude. Besides work attitude, I can also speak good Chinese, which is very important because this Walmart store is located in China Town. ✅ Software developer Q: Why should we hire you as a software developer? A: As written in the CV and cover letter, I have held similar positions at both tech startups and multinational companies. Over the years, I have mastered relevant skills and professional experience as a Software Developer, which I can’t wait to put to use in my future career. ✅ Police officer Q: Why should we hire you as a police officer? A: I have always dreamt of becoming a police officer since I was little. I yearn for a world where people of all backgrounds are treated fairly and feel safe and secure. When I was in college, I not only accomplished all relevant coursework with high grades but also participated in some civil society groups. ✅ Data entry Q: Why should we hire you for the data entry role? A: To be honest, I possess all the essential skills and experience that NextTech Academy has been looking for. It's not just required technical skills and relevant responsibilities in the past roles, but also plenty of soft skills which will be applicable in this position. I am able to work under pressure and pay attention to detail and accuracy. ✅ Digital marketing/Social media marketing Q: Why should we hire you for digital marketing?/Why should we hire you for social media marketing? A: I'm pretty confident that I am the right candidate for this role at Santu Travel. Not only do I like to work in the tourism and hospitality industry, but I also want to be a digital marketer. As written in my resume, I have over 5 years of experience in promoting tour packages and services on relevant platforms, including social media, and am familiar with search engine optimization. ✅ Administrative assistant/Executive assistant Q: Why should we hire you as an administrative assistant? A: I think you should hire me because I am a multi-tasker with high responsibility and the attention to detail. I have held similar positions in multinational corporations so I know clearly what is required to be a professional admin assistant. Above all, I have been a big fan of Shine Clinic for years, and the working hours fit me well, so I just see this as a precious opportunity. ✅ Team leader Q: Why should we hire you for the team leader role? A: I’m confident that my extensive experience as a lead engineer and strong leadership skills provide me with the capability to successfully perform this job.In former roles, I trained over 40 interns and new hires to be official full-time staff who later gained outstanding achievements. As a team leader, I don't want to manipulate people but motivate and guide them towards mutual goals. ✅ Graphic designer Q: Why should we hire you as a graphic designer? A: With 5+ years of experience creating visually-stunning designs that help brands grow, I think I would be a great match for this role. I have experience as an in-house and freelance graphic designer who is skilled at designing all communication materials and advertising. I’m passionate about delivering engaging works that tell some story about the clients or brands. ✅ Caregiver Q: Why should we hire you as a caregiver? A: As a meticulous individual who provides thorough care for seniors, I hope that I am a great addition to the caregiver team at God's Grace Center. With 10 years of experience, I’m proficient in assisting elder people with daily routines and other activities when needed. My exceptional interpersonal and organizational skills allow me to complete all tasks in a timely manner. I pride myself on a positive work attitude and a passion for helping people. ✅ Security guard Q: Why should we hire you for the security guard job? A: As you are seeking an individual who is trustworthy and attentive to security procedures, I would say I am the best fit. On my last day of the previous security job, my manager said how much they appreciated me following procedures under any circumstances and putting extra effort during busy times. I’m not only diligent about learning each company's policies but also took a criminal justice course to learn about my rights as a security officer. ✅ Sales Q: Why should we hire you in sales? A: I am confident that I can succeed as a Sales Representative at SamaAuto and help increase the company's profitability. In my 5 years of experience as a Sales Support, I have effectively assisted my customers through each step of the sales process and helped them resolve any concerns or questions as needed. I am also adept at processing, tracking, and shipping large orders efficiently. ✅ HR Q: Why should we hire you for the HR position? A: As HR plays a key role in any organization, I would like to be at the heart of the enterprise in this way. With over 3 years of experience as an HR generalist, I fully understand the biggest challenges as well as what skills are important in this role. However, I haven’t had the opportunity to further specialize in recruitment, so this would be greatly appreciated. ✅ Teacher Q: Why should we hire you as a teacher at Cambridge Taipei? A: First, I obtained a Master's in ESL and a TESOL certification. Additionally, I have taught English in Thailand and Vietnam for 5 years, meaning that I'm very familiar with Asian culture. I also included a great reference from my previous employer which can give you a clear idea of what I am capable of and how professional I am at work.With Cake, you can easily create a CV online and download your CV’s PDF format for free. Land your dream job and create your CV online (free download) now!Create CV--- Originally written by May Luong ---

Created by CakeResumeIn this article, we'll cover: Why Employers Ask “Describe a Difficult Situation”How to Answer “How Did You Handle a Difficult Situation”“How Did You Handle a Difficult Situation” Example AnswersTips for Answering “Describe a Difficult Work Situation”We all have been there: sitting at a job interview and suddenly hearing “describe a difficult work situation.” You freeze because you can’t find a way to paint the situation with a positive twist or you can’t even think of a difficult situation. Your mind goes blank. What happens next? Coming up with examples of difficult situations at work gets tricky because you need to think of a challenging yet manageable situation. So you can show that you are the right candidate. Do not worry. We will teach you how to describe a difficult situation and how you overcame it in a way that will impress interviewers. A potential candidate is more often than not asked to express how they overcame a difficult situation at work. Therefore, you need to learn to describe a difficult task and how you addressed it - include it in your preparation for an interview! Why Employers Ask “Describe a Difficult Situation”Recruiters tend to ask behavioral questions such as “provide an example of a difficult situation at work” because your answers shine a light on your emotional intelligence and problem-solving abilities required to deal with difficult situations at work. From how you answer the interview question about difficult situations, recruiters can gain insights into your communication skills, sense of responsibility, and efficiency at tackling complicated problems, among other key traits.💡 Note: If you are applying for a customer service position, recruiters may ask a variation of the popular interview question, such as an example of dealing with a difficult customer. How to Answer “How Did You Handle a Difficult Situation”One of the most effective ways to tackle the interview question “how to handle difficult situations at work” is to use the STAR method. This technique helps you organize your thoughts and deliver a great answer. STAR stands for: 🎯 Situation: Start by giving proper context to the interviewer. You will want to explain all the relevant details about the difficult situation at work you faced. For example: “I used to work as a customer service manager. One of the most important tasks was evaluating my team and providing feedback. However, after a merger, new team members joined our department. It was very hard to communicate and coordinate at first.” 🎯 Task: After giving them a thoroughly explained difficult situation at work example, you have to show them you are objective-oriented. For example:“My objective was to develop an effective communication mode that allowed us to work well together within a month.” 🎯 Action: It’s time to answer how you handled the difficult situation. Explain your moves in detail, and provide all the necessary information to show how you solved the difficult situation at work. For example: “I started with a get-together activity where we made sure team members got to know each other and their responsibilities as well. Moreover, I arranged weekly meetings to update everyone on their progress. Finally, I highlighted the input every person had for everyone to understand the importance of working as a team.” 🎯 Result: Remember to provide a positive wrap-up once you give your example of how did you handle a difficult situation. Providing statistics will help you paint a better picture of the outcome to the recruiter. For example:“After the first month of working together, our team got to the efficiency level before the merge. And by the end of the first year, our productivity increased by 45%.” You will be able to ace the “tell me how you handled a difficult situation” interview question if you follow the structure of the STAR method. “How Did You Handle a Difficult Situation” Example AnswersYou will increase your chances of making a good impression by reading examples on how to describe a difficult situation and how you handled it. Example answer to “How did you handle a difficult situation” for a foreign language teacherExample answer to “How did you handle a difficult situation” for a customer service representativeExample answer to “How did you handle a difficult situation” for HR jobsExample answer to “How did you handle a difficult situation” for a graphic designerExample answer to “How did you handle a difficult situation” for a social media managerExample answer to “How did you handle a difficult situation” for a web developerExample answer to “How did you handle a difficult situation” for a marketing managerExample answer to “How did you handle a difficult situation” for a project managerExample answer to “How did you handle a difficult situation” for a sales representativeExample answer to “How did you handle a difficult situation” for tech support agent❓ Example answer to “How did you handle a difficult situation” for a foreign language teacher This example of a difficult situation at work shows how important the input of the candidate was for his previous workplace. Making the candidate a much more promising option: “I started my career at a language school. They did not have a proper class structure and every teacher did what they liked in their classes. However, it was hard for students to achieve a standard level. Therefore, I started to write a plan for each class. I did plenty of research and aligned with the other teachers so we all started using the same base materials. By the time I left, the school had a proper class plan for each grade, and the students all achieved fluency before graduating.” ❓ Example answer to “How did you handle a difficult situation” for a customer service representative This interview question example answer teaches you how to handle a difficult customer. Following the STAR method can give a positive twist to a negative situation when answering how you solved such a difficult situation at work. “When I was a customer representative for an electronics firm, I handled a furious client. The cellphone he had just bought seemed faulty, and he had lost his temper when he called us. My main objective was to improve the situation overall. I started by addressing his complaints until he calmed down. Then, I apologized and offered help with a replacement. Additionally, I offered him a reduction on his next purchase. He was grateful in the end.” ❓ Example answer to “How did you handle a difficult situation” for HR jobs It is common for interviewers to ask you to answer how to deal with a difficult coworker as an interview question. After all, conflict resolution will be part of your tasks if you join the HR team. “When I started working as an HR assistant, I was assigned to a recruit. At first, many of her coworkers complained she was always late with her reports and did not like to work in teams. Therefore, I decided to retrain her. I set KPIs for her to achieve and bi-weekly one-on-one sessions. Within the first month, all her teammates were already more welcoming, and by the end of the first trimester, she was surpassing every KPI.” ❓ Example answer to “How did you handle a difficult situation” for a graphic designer This example of what to answer when an interviewer asks “tell me about a time you handled a difficult situation” works great. Even though this case is about a graphic designer, you can use it for different positions in similar situations: “My previous company started expanding rapidly, so I started getting swamped with requests for designs. Everyone used different channels. It was hard to keep track of every project. Therefore, I created a set of graphic briefs for different common designs. People just needed to fill it with their requirements. Moreover, I established a communication platform. It reduced our communication errors and improved my workflow while creating a much more doable workload.” ❓ Example answer to “How did you handle a difficult situation” for a social media manager Describing a difficult work situation is only half of the objective. Focus on finishing with a positive twist that highlights the impact of your efforts. Take a look at the following paragraph as inspiration to answer how did you handle a difficult situation in your job. “When I joined a startup, their social media department was non-existent. I created guidelines for every platform with the right messaging and tone of voice. I took one week to learn about our mission and vision from our CEO and created decks that explained everything about social media to anyone who joined our team. By the time I left, our follower base had grown over 10,000 followers on Facebook and 25,000 on Instagram.” ❓ Example answer to “How did you handle a difficult situation” for a web developer Coming from a freelance path, you will have unique experiences to share when the recruiters ask you to answer how would you deal with a difficult customer during an interview. In this example, the candidate goes over a difficult situation at work that helped her improve her career status and welfare. “I started my career as a freelancer. I learned the complications of not defining the right metrics when accepting a job. I ended up working for a picky client who wanted me to keep changing details for free, even long after the time we agreed to work together. I learned from the situation, and the next time they wanted to work with me, I set clear limits on redesigns and my tariff. Thanks to that, I could work with several more clients and build my portfolio.” ❓ Example answer to “How did you handle a difficult situation” for a marketing manager Sharing a story where you went from zero to hero is a unique way to describe a difficult task and how you addressed it. In this particular example, the interviewee shares how he managed to solve a difficult situation at work by basically creating a cohesive department from scratch: “The company that I used to work for had a gigantic boom in demand. They needed to grow quickly to adapt to their demand and were hiring many new employees when I joined Most people in my department were new and unclear about their roles and degrees of authority. I implemented a weekly marketing meeting and created a deck for everyone to follow. Everyone had the chance to share their ideas and become a team quickly. Our team efficiency in generating leads went up 50% during the first semester.” ❓ Example answer to “How did you handle a difficult situation” for a project manager Here’s another interview question about a difficult situation. As a candidate for a project manager position, you want to show your problem-solving abilities and astuteness when you answer how did you handle a difficult situation. “I once managed a residential project. Since it was in a different city, the company hired a local engineer to run daily operations. However, after taking the wheel, I quickly realized everything kept getting pushed, and we were way behind schedule. I moved to the town for a month and created guidelines to follow to report as well as KPIs. We caught up to speed and finished the project within the deadline agreed with our partner.” ❓ Example answer to “How did you handle a difficult situation” for a sales representative Those expecting to work in sales need to prepare to answer how to deal with a difficult customer as part of the interview questions. In this example, the candidate goes over a difficult situation at work that he could solve thanks to his experience with e-commerce. “Once, I had to deal with a client who wanted to cancel an already shipped because he claimed that the system failed to apply a coupon. However, due to my experience with e-commerce, I could track his funnel and noticed he ordered the items days before we published the coupon. He accepted his mistake and apologized. I offered to grant him the same discount on a future purchase. The customer was happy and repurchased within two months.” ❓ Example answer to “How did you handle a difficult situation” for tech support agent This example of a difficult situation at work shows us how previous experience in different areas can be valuable in a new job. The candidate not only described a difficult work situation, but he also highlighted valuable skills for the recruiters to consider. “When I worked for XYZ, our main customers were from another country. Therefore, we used to get requests at night - angry customers do not like to wait. Thankfully, I had some programming experience. I set chatbots that reduced wait time during our off-time and solved over 40% of the incoming messages. Customer satisfaction went up 35% by the end of the quarter.” Tips for Answering “Describe a Difficult Work Situation”It is time to focus on some additional tips now that you read a few examples on how to describe a difficult situation and how you handled it. ✅ Choose a real experience. Keep it real when describing a difficult situation and how you overcame it. Recruiters will know if you are lying or trying to overhype your resolution. The best way to show them your skills is by sharing an authentic story when you solved a difficult situation at work. ✅ Show your thought process. As we stated, using the STAR method is the prime way to describe a difficult task and how you addressed it. Remember that you need to let the recruiter understand how your brain works. When providing examples of a difficult situation at work, you should provide every important detail. ✅ Focus on the positive aspects. Yes, you will be discussing a difficult situation at work. However, that does not mean that the recruiter wants to hear you complain for too long. Go over the situation, even the negative points. However, focus on the positive aspects when describing a difficult task and how you addressed it. ✅ Avoid bragging. Be wary of sounding too full of yourself when describing how you overcame a difficult work situation. Yes, it is great to shine a light on your strengths. But there is a thin line between showing how well-prepared you are and trying to oversell yourself. Keep it in mind when providing examples of difficult situations at work you solved. ✅ Do not talk negatively about your previous company. Do not paint your previous employee as the villain when discussing a difficult situation at work you solved. No recruiter will like your profile if you sound disloyal. Even if you did not have the best time at your last company, give your story the most positive twist. 🔑 Key Takeaways:You will do great if you follow these tips and go over the examples on how to answer “how did you handle a difficult situation”. Remember, it is one of the most common job interview questions. Learn how to describe a difficult situation at work and paint a positive twist on the solution you came up with.Good luck with your interview! Ready to give your resume the edge it needs? Try our AI-powered resume checker to identify gaps and optimize your content in seconds.Check My Resume--- Originally written by Roger Rene Ortega Figueroa---

Outline10 Best Free Portfolio Websites:CakeBehanceDribbbleFlickrDeviantArtCrevadoWixWordPress.comGithubJournoPortfolio5 Best Online Portfolio Makers (Paid):Adobe PortfolioCarbonmadeKropZenfolioFabrik5 Tips on How to Create a Professional Online PortfolioIn line with the continuous advancement of technology, creators in whatever industries are using various digital mediums to showcase their works, such as personal portfolio websites, online portfolio makers or even social media platforms. This is because no matter what career field you work in, having an online portfolio can take your career journey to new heights. An online portfolio is a compilation of proofs and evidence from your previous works and achievements, so utilizing it during a job hunt can help build your credibility in potential employers’ eyes. In other instances, simply showcasing your online portfolio page for the public to view on the web can help you gain exposure, which helps with your personal branding. Creators everywhere are now in the market for online portfolio makers or website builders for their portfolios. Now, making an online portfolio is no longer such a daunting task which requires coding or web design skills. There are various portfolio sites that offer various portfolio creator tools as well as different pricing ranges. Depending on what type of portfolio you will create - artist portfolio, graphic designer portfolio, web developer/designer portfolio, photography portfolio, etc. - you want to use a platform that suits your portfolio needs the best. In this article, we have compiled a list of free and paid portfolio websites and online portfolio makers, along with its key features as well as pros cons so you can know how to make a portfolio website / webpage for free, with the platform that suits you best.10 Best Free Portfolio Websites1. CakeCake online portfolio maker featuresThe free online portfolio maker on Cake is suitable for creative professionals, creators as well as other field professionals alike. With the user-friendly tools that the portfolio maker offers, anyone can make your very own portfolio, hassle-free. It has various features that makes it one of the best free online portfolio makers out there.✨ Features One of its unique features is the ability to link your online portfolio to your digital resume as well as your own user profile on the website, which can similarly serve the purposes of a personal website too. You can also easily paste the links to your portfolio anywhere you wish.Another great feature of Cake’s free portfolio maker is that it allows users to create multiple portfolios under their profile, allowing them to organize and highlight different projects in a way that is most efficient and convenient for viewing. 💰 Pricing On Cake, you can create your portfolio online, free of charge. You only need to sign-up as a user, and you could enjoy all the online portfolio creator tools and features. 🔧 ToolsText (with font style options, bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, hyperlink, font size, alignments, numbering, bullets)Single ImageGrid ImageEmbed Media (websites, audio files, video files)Changeable background color using HUD (Heads Up Display) color pickerCake portfolio maker interface🔑 Suitable for everyoneThe user-friendly tools and interface of the online portfolio maker on Cake makes it suitable for not only creative professionals, but also professionals who would like to strengthen job applications with a digital portfolio. The portfolio tool can even be used to highlight soft skills. For instance, you can include video recordings of a presentation in your online portfolio page to showcase your presentation and public speaking skills.PROsUser-friendly tools interfaceOne user, multiple portfoliosNo limit on numbers of media in portfolioCan be linked to resume shareable through linkFree for registered usersCONsAllows file uploads up to 5MB3 font styles available for text tool2.BehanceBehance is a free portfolio website where creators can showcase and discover other creative works done by other creators. On Behance, users’ works which are made public will appear on the homepage of the website, allowing all website visitors and the online portfolio link visitors to view the works.Behance homepage✨ FeaturesUsing the platform is free once you have signed up on Behance. There is no restriction on the number of projects you can create.💰 Pricing Using the platform is free once you have signed up on Behance. There is no restriction on the number of projects you can create. 🔧 ToolsTextSingle Image Photo GridVideo Audio filesEmbedImport from Adobe LightroomChangeable background color🔑 Suitable for creative professionalsBehance is a platform where creative professionals, as individuals or institutions, showcase their works. It also serves as a platform for creatives to connect and collaborate in projects. If you are not working in the creative field, it is not recommended to showcase your works on Behance as it can be less advantageous for you to get your name out there. However, if you are looking to create an architecture portfolio, graphic design portfolio, illustrator portfolio, fashion design portfolio, photography portfolio, motion graphics portfolio or UI/UX design portfolio, Behance would be a suitable platform for you and your works, especially if you do not have much time to create a portfolio website.PROsUser-friendly tools interfaceOne user, multiple portfoliosFree for registered usersCONsSuitable for creative professionals onlyNo templates available3. DribbbleDribbble platform that is often used as a design portfolio website by digital designers artists. Recruiters who are looking for talents to collaborate with could also port opportunities on the platform. On the main homepage, users’ posts are also featured.Portfolio Website Dribbble✨ FeaturesThe unique trait of this platform is that it uses a social media style layout and interface to allow users showcase their works and interact with other users. You can upload ready-made works in 4:3 size single images onto the platform as “Shots”, or equivalent to a post on other social media platforms.On your profile, the shots will be displayed as thumbnails, and viewers could click on the thumbnail to enlarge the image and view any descriptions provided.Online illustration portfolio/user profile page on Dribbble by Meghdeep Sarkar💰 Pricing Using the platform is free once you have signed up on Dribbble. There is no restriction on the number of projects you can create. Though, there are options for you to go pro: PRO for US$ 12/month Upgraded profileMulti-shot videoInstant creative portfolioSell goodsPRO BUSINESSfor US$ 20/monthEverything in ProAccess to exclusive Project BoardTeam profile members‘Hire me/us’ button on all shotsPriority placement in Hiring search listings 🔑 Suitable for graphic designers, illustrators or artistsAs Dribbble only allows uploads of single, still images, this platform would be more suitable to be used as a graphic designer portfolio, illustrator portfolio, photography portfolio and art portfolio. If you choose to go pro, you would be able to sell your creations such as logos, illustrations, artworks, etc.PROsSocial-media viewing styleNo need to think of portfolio designInteraction with other users and page visitorsCONsSome features only available with Pro planOnly single image uploads4.FlickrFlickr is perhaps one of the most popular photo-sharing sites out there. With billions of photos and members in its database, Flickr is a good place for you photographers and videographers to share your work, connect with fellow professionals and find inspiration for your projects and is widely used by photographers worldwide as a photography portfolio website.Flickr’s explore page✨ FeaturesYou can think of Flickr as an online platform where you share your photo albums. On a user’s profile page, you could see the About, Photostream, Albums, Faves, Galleries, and Groups sections to know more about the user’s activities and works. You could also see the number of their followers and following, like a photo and leave comments under a photo.Ant McLean’s profile on Flickr💰 Pricing You could enjoy most features of Flickr for free. However, you could also upgrade to Pro for US$ 71.88/year and enjoy more features: Unlimited storageAd-freeAdvanced statistics for your postsWorry-free backup via the desktop Auto-UploadrExclusive discounts 🔑 Suitable for photographersAs this community platform mainly allows only uploads of pictures, it becomes more suitable for use as an alternative for a photography portfolio website. By using Flickr, you do not have to worry about any photography website templates or layout, as all you need to do is upload your files and it will be arranged nicely on your profile.PROsNo need to think of portfolio designInteraction with other users and pageCategorize works into Albums and GalleriesCONsGIF, PNG and JPEGphoto formats onlyFree plan limited to 1,000 photos only5.DeviantArtDeviantArt is a huge online art and design community with a very large member database. It is not a portfolio-hosting site, but many creatives use their DeviantArt profile page as their online graphic design, illustration, photography or art portfolio website. DeviantArt homepage✨ FeaturesOn DeviantArt, you could sort your works into different galleries. You could also sell your artworks, which will appear in the Shop section on your profile. DeviantArt is similar to social media for artists. It also allows you to “Watch” (similar to follow) users and chat with them.PingLeee’s profile on DeviantArt💰 Pricing You could enjoy most features of DeviantArt for free. However, you could also upgrade to Core plan for US$ 4.95/monthto enjoy features such as: Withdraw earnings0% commission feeLower digital sale feeHigher digital sale price per itemStatsMore storage🔑 Suitable for digital artists, illustrators, graphic designersEspecially if you are an aspiring creator, DeviantArt is a really good platform to build connections and get your name out there. There are many long-time users as well as younger creators on the platform, so it is a more friendly and less competitive platform to share your works.PROsSupports very diverse image video file types uploadChat with follow other usersShop section to sell your worksFree to joinCONsNo website building/designing toolsMany obscenity and violence content6.CrevadoCrevado is a free, easy-to-use online portfolio creator that allows creatives to showcase their work in the form of an online portfolio website. If you do not know how to make an online portfolio website, this platform could be a good place to start.Crevado portfolio website builder✨ FeaturesThe website builder tools available on Crevado are pretty straightforward, though you might need some time to get used to using them. There are so many elements to tweak, so if it is your first time creating a portfolio website you might need to spend some time to understand where and how to change certain settings. Still, the great thing is you can customize your portfolio website design without any coding.💰 Pricing With the free plan, you could utilize all the portfolio website template designs and almost all the necessary website building tools, though you can only get rid of the Crevado link in your website footer only by upgrading your plan. With a premium account, you could also enjoy these features: Up to 5000 images and 100 galleriesCreate multiple pages (free plan allows only 2 pages)Private password protected galleriesVideo SWF supportCustom domain binding🔑 Suitable for everyone who needs a personal portfolio websiteThe designs are highly customizable and there is no need to write codes, so if you are a visual work creator who wants to have a pleasing portfolio website, this online portfolio creator would be suitable for you.PROsSupports very diverse image video file types upload24 customizable website templatesCONsOnly 2 pages allowed with free planCrevado website link shown in footer with free plan7.WixA recently popular and perhaps one of the top portfolio websites is Wix. It offers a very user-friendly drag-and-drop website builder, and hundreds of free website templates that you can choose from, no matter if you are creating a photography portfolio website, graphic design portfolio website, web developer or web designer portfolio website, or even an art portfolio website.Wix portfolio website template options✨ FeaturesWix’s website builder tools are displayed in a very simple interface along with drag-and-drop functions, making it very easy to maneuver even by artists, designers, creators or even business owners who are not techies. There are also a huge number of templates to choose from, so you do not need to worry about your website being similar to others’.Wix website builder interface💰 Pricing With the free plan, you could have access and customize the hundreds of portfolio website template designs, but there would be Wix ads on your website. To remove them, you would need a premium account, where you could also additionally enjoy these features: Create a custom domain for your websiteFree domain for 1 yearFree SSL CertificateIncreased bandwidthIncreased storage space🔑 Suitable for everyone who needs a personal portfolio websiteDifferent professions might require different kinds of portfolio websites, and it is easy to choose which one suits your needs best from the website templates offered by Wix. It is one of the best website builders for artists, designers, photographers, writers and also small business owners.PROsExcellent templatesEasily add apps to your websiteCONsCannot change templatesSlower loading speed8.WordPress.comWordPress is one of the most popular website builders. It is popular among bloggers and writers, but of course, not limited to those professions only. With WordPress, you could create a blog and have another portfolio page. There are countless themes to choose from, so you can create your own unique blog and show off your works anyway you want.WordPress.com website builder✨ FeaturesAs WordPress allows you to have complete control of your websites, there are many elements that you need to customize on your own, and they can be quite overwhelming if you do not have prior coding experience. If it is your first time building a portfolio website, you might need some time to get used to all the tools.WordPress.com website builder tools💰 Pricing With the free plan, you could enjoy most of WordPress.com’s features such as choosing from the countless website templates and tools, but your website link would have a wordpress.com subdomain in it and there will be WordPress.com advertisements and banners on your portfolio website. Of course, you could also choose to upgrade your plan. Depending on the plan that you choose, you could also enjoy these features: Free domain for one yearUse premium themesRemove WordPress.com adsCollect payments earn ad revenue from your websiteUpload videosIntegrate Google Analytics advanced SEO tools🔑 Suitable for anyone with coding skillsThe website you create using WordPress would suit your needs for sure, no matter if you are creating a writing portfolio, photography portfolio, web design portfolio, web developer portfolio or just a personal blog. However, since the tools require basic coding skills, it is not as easy to use as other portfolio website builders.PROsCountless website templates to choose fromHuge collection of extensions, add-ons and plugins for websiteComplete control of websiteCONsDifficulty in website maintenanceNo drag-and-drop builder tool, not suitable for beginnersNeed basic HTMLand CSS knowledge9.GithubGithub is essential for every web developer. It can be used to collaborate on projects and create public repositories. The public repositories can be used as a web developer portfolio. If you are a frontend or backend developer, using Github to create your portfolio website can easily show your skills to potential clients or employers.Github homepage✨ FeaturesBy simply creating an account for free, you are able to create unlimited private and public repositories. Here, you can collaborate and work on a project together with other developers.💰 Pricing The great news is, most of Github’s features are free to use just with creating an account. However, if you choose to upgrade your Github account, you would be able to enjoy these features: Increased time for using GitHub ActionsIncreased storage for GitHub Packages🔑 Suitable for web developers As mentioned, GitHub is a platform for developers to collaborate and showcase their works. That means if you possess no coding skills and works, there would be no point in using GitHub for your project portfolio. There are also plenty of web developers portfolio templates to choose from.PROsCan create your own portfolio website from scratchDiverse features and functions (for making an online portfolio or collaborating on a project)CONsNeed coding skills10.JournoPortfolioOn JournoPortfolio, writers, photographers and artists can conveniently build their portfolio website. The interface of JournoPortfolio portfolio website builder is quite simple and straightforward, so you do not need any coding or design skills to create an amazing portfolio website for your works.JournoPortfolio website editor interface✨ Features There are 9 different templates to choose from, some are writing portfolio website templates and some can be suitable for use as photography portfolio templates. The colors and themes of each template are customizable, so you do not need to worry about having similar portfolio website design as other people. Aside from that, JournoPortfolio also provides analytics about your portfolio website such as the number of site visitors, viewing duration, etc. You can even connect your website with Google Analytics to gain more accurate insights about your website performance. Theme options on JournoPortfolio💰 Pricing JournoPortfolio’s free plan allows you to use all the templates, but limits your website to only 10 articles and 1 page. If you choose to upgrade to the Plus or Pro plan, you will be able to enjoy these benefits: PROfor US$10/month Unlimited articles pagesCustom yourname.com domainAutomatic article importArticle backupsPrivacy optionsAdvanced integrations PLUSfor US$5/month Unlimited articles pagesyourname.journoportfolio.com domain🔑 Suitable for writers, bloggers and photographersThe 9 templates that JournoPortfolio offers website designs that are more suitable to showcase articles or photography works. Of course, if you want to showcase other types of works, it is up to your choice. If you produce writings and want to showcase your works, JournoPortfolio has a great feature where you can directly upload the link to your article or the PDF file of your writings to include into your portfolio website. PROsCustomizable themesIntergrate with Google AnalyticsEasy editing with pre-made section blocksWrite publish directly on the platformSupports PDF or image files uploads, so you can also work offlineCONsLimited number of templatesMore suitable for writers photographers5 Best Online Portfolio Makers (Paid)Now if you have some more budget to spare, there are also many great (but paid) online portfolio makers with more various, pro portfolio website building tools. Below are 5 best portfolio website builders for your consideration.1.Adobe PortfolioIf you prefer to showcase your works in the form of a website, then Adobe Portfolio might be the more suitable platform for you. You could choose to create a full portfolio, which is similar to a personal website, or a welcome page. There are 12 portfolio website templates and 6 welcome page templates to choose from.12 website templates on Adobe Portfolio6 welcome page templates on Adobe Portfolio✨ FeaturesAdobe Portfolio is a part of the Adobe Creative Cloud. So, if you already have the Adobe Creative Cloud membership, you will be able to use Adobe Portfolio and also conveniently switch through the other Adobe softwares.💰 Pricing You could publish your portfolio website for free for 7 days. After the 7-day free trial, you would need to purchase the Adobe Creative Cloud membership plan to continue using the features. There are 2 plans you could choose: US$9.99/month -- including Adobe Portfolio, Photoshop and LightroomUS$52.99/month -- including Adobe Portfolio and all Adobe Creative Cloud products🔑 Suitable for visual creatorsWith Adobe Portfolio, you would be able to include all kinds of visual works. With the option to include images, text, photo grid, video, audio, embed media, button, social icons, forms or import files from Adobe Lightroom, this platform would be suitable for creating a webpage that serves as a photography portfolio website, graphic design portfolio website, videographer portfolio website, or art portfolio website.PROsUser-friendly tools interfaceOne user, multiple portfolio pagesDiverse media usageCONsLimited number of templates2.CarbonmadeCarbonmade is another great online portfolio maker that allows you to create awesome, eye-catching and easy-to-use interface to showcase your best works online. With templates, drag-and-drop interface and its pre-made section blocks, you can easily customize your portfolio website to your liking.Website editor on Carbonmade✨ FeaturesIf you are looking for a sleek, modern and smooth look for your portfolio website, then Carbonmade is the tool that you are looking for. The style of websites created with Carbonmade is unique to other websites that you often come across. The graphic designs and motions on Carbonmade’s websites are very smooth, and very pleasing to the eyes.Illustrator Adriana Bellet’s portfolio website created with Carbonmade💰 Pricing To publish your portfolio website, you need to purchase at least the beginner plan on Carbonmade. With US$9/month, you would be able to enjoy these features: Unlimited imagesUnlimited videos8 ProjectsBasic blocksLimited support3 NavigationsSD VideoAudio Uploads 🔑 Suitable for visual creatorsOn Carbonmade, you can include any kinds of visual works, from images to videos, audios and writings. This makes the platform suitable for creating a photography portfolio website, graphic design portfolio website, videographer portfolio website, or art portfolio website.PROsBeginners-friendly editor toolsUnique, clean website layoutPlenty of customization toolsCONsPlans are slightly expensive3.KropKrops is a website builder tool where creative professionals could build and manage their own portfolio websites using designer templates, unlimited images, and powerful customizations without any coding basics.Krop website builder✨ FeaturesKrop offers 37 different templates to choose from, so you can easily find one that best suits your needs and preferences. The tools for customizing the website are also quite user-friendly and do not require any coding.Website templates selection on Krop💰 Pricing If you sign up for Krop, you can first enjoy a free 14-day trial to see if the website is what you are looking for. After 14 days, the annual plan costs US$300/year, in which you can enjoy all the website’s features. 🔑 Suitable for all creative professionalsThe convenient features of Krop are suitable for those of you looking to create an online portfolio, hassle-free. There is not much room for customization but the layouts provided are already attractive and convenient.PROsEasy-to-use toolsDiverse templatesCONsUIis not intuitiveNot much option for SEOor website extentions4.ZenfolioZenfolio is a photography portfolio website builder, and is one of the best portfolio sites for photographers. Photographers use this website to create their own personal page to showcase and also sell their works. Many photographers, both aspiring and professional, use the features of Zenfolio as a photography portfolio website.Zenfolio photographer website builder✨ FeaturesZenfolio has many website and gallery templates to choose from. Each template looks very different from the others, and has different sections that are all useful components for a photography portfolio website.Zenfolio website template options💰 Pricing If you sign up for Zenfolio, you can first enjoy a free 18-day trial. After that, you would need to buy a plan to keep your site published. The starter plan bills for US$60/year, including these features: Access to gallery and homepage templatesUnlimited uploads for videos and photosSocial media integrationOption to use your own domain nameAccessible on any deviceBase price ordering for gifts and prints🔑 Suitable for photographersThe website is catered for photographers to share their works, sell them and also grow their business.PROsEasy-to-use interface with templatesUnlimited storage spaceOptions to sell market productsCONsOnly catered for photographers7% service fee for any sales made on the website5.FabrikFilmmakers, artists, designers, illustrators, photographers, 3D artists, CGI artists, VFX artists, stylists and even agencies and studios use Fabrik to create the perfect online portfolio for their works.Fabrik portfolio website builder✨ FeaturesFabrik also offers various themes that you can use to build your personal portfolio website. It categorizes the different themes according to different professions.Fabrik website theme selection💰 Pricing Signing up on Fabrik gets you a 14-day free trial, but once the trial is up, you need to buy one of their plans. The plans start from US$11/month, including these features: 50 Projects10 PortfoliosUnlimited blog posts2GB media storageSSL site securityCustomer support🔑 Suitable for creative professionalsThe website is catered for creative professionals to share their works in a personal website that is attractive and can be viewed in different devices.PROsDifferent templates for different professionsRelatively cheap pricingCONsLayouts are quite similar to one another5 Tips on How to Create a Professional Online PortfolioTake a look at these 5 tips on how to make an online portfolio!💡 1.Select only your best pieces.In portfolios, you will be judged based on your bad works. Make sure that you only include works that are great. You do not want to include too many projects and bring down the quality of your portfolio instead.💡 2.Include both client non-client work, creation process, and testimonials from clients.No matter if you already have prior paid experiences or not, you could always include your own personal projects to your portfolio, as this can help show your personality, creativity and potential to the viewer of your online portfolio.You could also include your creation process as well as testimonials from your previous works, so that your potential employer could have a rough picture of how it is like to work with you.💡 3.Use high quality images.Make sure that the image files you include in your online portfolio website are high quality and in a suitable size. Blurry and low-res images can badly affect the viewing experience and repulse people from viewing your portfolio.💡 4.Add measurable or quantifiable results.When you include numbers and data that shows how well your projects did, your credibility increases. Make sure to include any data that you have so that you can persuade your potential employers more effectively.💡 5.Update your portfolio frequently.The last, yet also crucial step of creating an online portfolio is to maintain it. Before publishing, make sure to check for any grammar mistakes or misspellings. Sometimes, links or files can be broken over time, so you want to make sure to check your online portfolio periodically to make sure all of the components are working properly. Also, remember to include your newer works and skills, and remove all irrelevant works.Still not quite sure yet? You could take a more detailed look at this step-by-step guide of how to make an online portfolio.Final Thoughts...Even if you are not an active influencer or celebrity, having a good personal branding and online presence can bring great benefits to your career journey. It increases credibility and also shows your potential in the field that you work in. By using an online portfolio maker, you could easily, conveniently and efficiently increase your online presence, even if you do not possess any design or coding skills. With the online portfolio maker on Cake, create your own professional portfolio and increase your personal branding!Create my portfolio!