What you need for a portfolio may vary based on the field that you are in.

Typically, applications will request a CV or resume, a personal statement and/or cover letter, and three letters of recommendation or references. Degree program applications will request statements and letters of rec, as well as official academic transcripts from all colleges/universities you have attended, and sometimes standardized test scores.

Unless you use a portfolio service, you won't have copies of letters of recommendation. (see the next section). 

You can also add any notable projects you have done to your portfolio. This will remind you of the work you want to highlight when you go back to update your materials. Sharing your portfolio, or your CV or statement, is a good way to introduce yourself to professionals you want to meet. It's also a way to share more about you with a professional you know when you ask for a letter of recommendation.

Important: save a backup copy of your portfolio in case you lose access to the computer you wrote it on. You may have several drafts or versions of each document. For each, make the date you updated it part of the file name, or include the word "current" on your most recent version.

Storage options include saving a backup copy on a flash drive or external hard drive, or your college or university may offer backup options like Google Drive, Box, or Microsoft OneDrive free as long as you have a student email. For access to Google Drive, you can also make a free professional Gmail address. You will not be able to include letters of recommendation, as you should not view your letters of recommendation.

Online portfolio services like Interfolio let you store your documents, and ask your recommenders to send their letters to your portfolio. Interfolio doesn't let you read the letters, but will let you send them when you choose your documents for an application. You have to make an Interfolio account to make a free portfolio. There's a small charge to send applications.

The best way to figure out how you want your website to look is to look at what other people have done. Ask classmates or coworkers if they have a website or use professional social media. 

It is always best to look at what near peers have done, as their websites would be more similar to what you would want to make. If you look at the website of someone more senior, keep your expectations in check. You are at a different point in your career. 

You can use existing platforms, build your own website, or both. Existing networking platforms include LinkedIn, and for researchers, ORCID and the National Research Mentoring Network. Many people also make a social media account just for their professional interests, using whatever social media platform is most popular in their field at the time. This lets you join groups and hear about news and opportunities.

Making your own site offers different options to choose from. Google Sites is one of many - it is what we used to build this website! Other options include: Wix, WordPress, and Gitlab. PebblePad is free for people at some universities, and your free account remains with you when you leave.

There are three major points to consider before you start. 

• The first is cost. Some platforms will charge you monthly to host your personal website. Others might have a free option. 

• The second is ease of development and maintenance. Free/low cost platforms might not be as easy to use and may require you to rely heavily on your own technical abilities. 

• Lastly, some platforms may offer easy to use services for free; however, they may have you sign away ownership of the content you post. Keep ownership of your professional work.

For professional social media accounts and personal websites, having a profile picture can help people identify you. This is especially beneficial for connecting with people who you have only met briefly -- at a conference for example -- and who might not remember your full name.

Networking and social media platforms allow you to adjust your profile's visibility settings. If you have concerns about privacy and putting your picture or full name in your profile, make sure to look into what settings are available to control who can find you and see your profile.

Tell readers about you. There aren't really any rules about what you can and can't include here as this is about how you represent yourself. 

Keep in mind though that it is possible that anyone could come across your portfolio. If there is anything you don't want a hiring manager, application reviewer, or anyone in a similar position of power to know, don't include it.

If your bio is on the longer side, make the first sentence short and concise, capturing what you do and your interests. Doing this will help people who are skimming through get the most important details. Additionally, social media sites often cut off everything past the first couple of lines if your bio is too long.

Expanding and maintaining your network is a vital aspect of your professional development. How will people get in touch with you, or stay in touch?

Having a way for people to contact you is extremely important. Remember that any contact system only works if you check it regularly, so use what works for you. 

People may have just discovered your portfolio and want to learn more about you or even collaborate on a project. Old connections might not have up-to-date contact information. It helps to make a professional email address for yourself, which will not change when you graduate. 

Social media platforms have built in messaging, so making a professional social media account on a platform like LinkedIn is another way. If you're building your own website, you will have several different options. One is to use a form to allow people to submit a message. You could list your professional email address on the site if you prefer, but be careful to protect against spam if you are doing the tech work yourself. 

What do you want people to know about what you have done? Are there any projects you want to showcase?

You may want to summarize your projects and share only the information that is already publicly available. Doing so can help you avoid privacy issues.

Read the terms of use for the platform you are using. By accepting the terms and conditions of use, are you agreeing to give up your ownership of the content? If so, what do you want to put on the site?