How to Create a Portfolio for Remote Jobs

Looking for a job? Build a portfolio. Not just a résumé. If I were job hunting in 2025, here’s what I’d do. Build ONE great portfolio project in the next 30 days. Something that shows - not tells - your skill, thought process, and creativity. I say this as someone who's also hired half a dozen people in the past 2 years. There's too much noise out there. You've got to find a way to stand out. Here are 3 roles and 3 portfolio projects you can build in the next 30 days to stand out: 👩🏽💻 1. Product Manager Build: A new feature for an app you love → Pick a product (Spotify, Notion, Duolingo) → Design a new feature: user problem → solution → wireframes → Write a PRD (problem, KPIs, edge cases, success metrics) One of the most creative ways I've seen a friend get an interview was this: He mocked up a "Spotify Social Listening" feature - then sent it to Spotify PMs. This got him an immediate response and interview. Tool stack: Notion, Figma, Canva, ChatGPT, Whimsical 📱 2. UX/UI Designer Build: A 2-week redesign challenge → Pick a real-world flow that sucks (e.g. booking train tickets on IRCTC lol or the entire Goodreads web app) → Interview a few users (just ask around within your friends) → Redesign the flow with better UX → Share your case study on Behance or your website Write a post on the entire process you followed. Tool stack: Figma, Maze, Framer, Medium 📊 3. Data Analyst Build: A dashboard + case study → Choose a public dataset (NYC taxi data, Netflix ratings, upcoming Indian startups) → Clean + analyze it using SQL/Python → Build a dashboard in Tableau or Power BI → Publish your insights + charts as a case study Once again, write a post on the entire process you followed. Tool stack: SQL, Python, Tableau, Canva, Medium ... It's easy to get stuck in the rut of applying to jobs every day. Try something a tiny bit different... and you can easily stand out from the noise. Best of luck! 🌿 Found this useful? Repost it to help someone who’s job hunting. 🟢 Want a free guide to acing your first PM interview? Comment below “portfolio” below and I’ll send it over. :)

Confession: While I've reviewed thousands of portfolios, I've never read a case study all the way through. I ALWAYS scan them. I just don't have the time to look through every detail. And I know that most other folks who are reviewing portfolios are doing the exact same thing for the same reasons. This means that your portfolio should: 1. Make it easy to scan 2. Use big, high quality visuals 3. Tell quick, concise stories 4. Most importantly, make that story easy to consume in two minutes or less If I were to build my portfolio today, here's how I would do it using these principles: 1️⃣ I'd have a top overview section that has a short blurb of what to expect/what I accomplished AND the final mockups/prototype of what I created. 2️⃣ I'd write out each case study using a word document first to make sure that my headlines told the entire story quickly and concisely. I'd use a classic story arc 1. Context/background 2. Conflict 3. Rising action 4. Climax 5. Falling action 6. Resolution The simpler version of this is the 3 Cs of storytelling: 1. Context 2. Conflict 3. Change (AKA what improved as a result of your work) 3️⃣ I'd optimize my headlines below the overview to tell the story of what I learned. Once everything was written out in a Google doc, I'd edit everything down to the essentials. I'd make sure to pull out the important learnings/quotes and make them big so reviewers could easily scan them. 4️⃣ I'd break up sections with large images to make it feel more interesting and less fatiguing. 5️⃣ I'd ask friends and family to read it and provide feedback about clarity and how much time it took them. If they can easily understand it, see my impact, and quickly go through it, then I'm on the right track. 6️⃣ I'd use LinkedIn and adplist.org to find more folks to provide feedback. Again, I'd focus their feedback on clarity and the amount of time it took for them to go through it.

Sometimes a little creativity is exactly what we need to jumpstart our remote job search. "Our portfolio matters more than our resume." This insight transformed everything for my client Mark, a designer who’d been applying to remote roles for 3 months with zero responses. The traditional approach wasn't working: ❌ Generic portfolio ❌ Spray and pray applications ❌ Standard resume submissions ❌ Waiting for responses ❌ Following up only about application status Here's the exact strategy Mark used to land his dream remote role: ✅ 1 // He studied 25 job descriptions from top companies like Shopify, Stripe, and Figma. ✅ 2 // Created targeted portfolio pieces solving real problems ✅ 3 // Built a mobile-first portfolio website optimized for busy hiring managers ✅ 4 // Connected with creative directors on LinkedIn who viewed his work ✅ 5 // Used his portfolio analytics to time his follow-up messages The results? 📈 5 new interview requests in 3 weeks and 3 offers (all full remote). But the biggest lesson? It wasn't about having the perfect portfolio. It was about having the right portfolio for the right audience. Question - What else would you have added to Mark’s job search strategy? Question 2 - On a scale of 1 to 5, how’s your current job search going? How can we help? — 📌 Want more help? Join the “Escape the Cubicle” Newsletter with weekly tips on how to… …level up your remote career, grow & monetize on LinkedIn, and work from anywhere. Scroll to the top of this post and click “Subscribe to Newsletter” to join 30,000+ subscribers. ☝🏻 I’m giving away my professional resume template to all new subscribers this week. 🙏 Here’s to us growing together, Wes #jobsearchtips #careercoach #businesscoach 🎥 @bouboudesign_

Having walked together through the process of positioning ourselves - 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬 in O&G for early career 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞 roles. Now, let's look into unconventional strategies that will not only set us apart but also prove highly effective in securing these remote opportunities. Here's how you can make your application standout! ✅ 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐨: Instead of the traditional resume, consider creating an interactive portfolio. This could be a website or a document with hyperlinks to projects, achievements, or even a short video introduction. Make it memorable! ✅ 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨: Accompany your application with a short cover video. Use this opportunity to showcase your personality, enthusiasm, and unique skills. It adds a personal touch that a written cover letter might not convey. ✅ 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚: Leverage platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter to highlight your expertise. Share insights about the industry, comment on relevant posts, and engage with professionals. Recruiters often check social profiles, and a strong online presence can make you stand out. ✅ 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠: Go beyond describing your skills; showcase them by solving a problem the company might be facing. Create a brief report or presentation demonstrating how you would approach a specific challenge in the role you're applying for. ✅ 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨-𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 & 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬: Equip yourself with specific skills related to the role through online courses or micro-credentials. Mention these in your application to show your commitment to ongoing learning. ✅ 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫: If possible, try to connect with current or former employees of the company on LinkedIn. A short, polite message expressing your interest and asking for insights can sometimes lead to valuable information or even a referral. ✅ 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐬: Propose a virtual coffee chat to discuss the industry, the company, or even the specific role. This informal conversation can help you build a connection with someone inside the organization and gain insights that go beyond what's on the job description. ✅ 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤: Offer your skills on a freelance basis or volunteer for a short-term project. This not only adds experience to your resume but also demonstrates your commitment and adaptability. Now, armed with these insights, take action. 🚀 Your future in the oil and gas industry awaits—seize it with confidence and ingenuity. If you found these tips valuable, consider sharing them with your network. Now, I’d love to hear your thoughts. What resonated with you, and how do you plan to integrate these strategies into your remote job search⁉️ Share your insights in the comments below, and let’s continue the conversation.

1 specific action my client and I did to earn her a new job and 180,000,000 KRW salary 🎉🤝. (𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗷𝗼𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 ⬇️) If you want a high-paying job at a top company, you need to do more than the average candidate. One of the easiest ways to stand out? ✅ Create a project portfolio ✅ This is a website or slide deck sharing a few of your biggest/best accomplishments (whatever proves you'd be a great fit for the job you're applying to!) • I've heard from hiring managers across countries & industries that this is better than a cover letter • Significantly less people send a portfolio, so you'll stand out more • Since I started making portfolios with all my clients last year, they've had a > 90% success rate getting international job offers (with many getting multiple job offers within the time we work together) 𝗕𝗔𝗦𝗜𝗖 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝟭: 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲 ✅ Include the company Logo and a few 'key skills' from the job description 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝟮: 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗷𝗼𝗯/𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 ✅ Be specific! Say things that are unique to that company/role 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝟯-𝟵: 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝟯 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀/𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 ✅ When did this happen ✅ What was the problem/challenge ✅ What actions did you take (YOU...not 'your team') ✅ What happened as a result? 𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗜𝗣𝗦: • Make a 'Master Portfolio' that is 80-90% the same for all applications. You can just customize that 10-20% before sending it to companies • In addition to including this in your application, send it via email/LI message at least one member of the hiring team to make sure someone sees it • You don't need to be a graphic designer, but it definitely helps to have a layout that looks professional  𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲? Definitely. But I'd rather spend a few extra hours making a great portfolio than a few extra months unemployed. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘂𝗽 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼 𝘁𝗼 Creating & sharing a standout career portfolio = one of the best ways to make that happen 🤝 Want some help making a portfolio hiring teams will love? 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 :)