Claims or evidence, what do you prefer? 

Of course, evidence! That is what your portfolio is – a strong evidence of your skills that employers prefer. While resumes create a great first impression, they are only part of a success story. A portfolio brings claims made in the resume to life and displays your writing expertise clearly and effectively. Therefore, having a strong technical writing portfolio makes you stand out from the crowd and lands you that dream job or a freelance gig. So, if you don’t have one, consider building an excellent portfolio to open the doors to opportunities. This guide will show you how to create a technical writing portfolio that showcases your skills like a pro.

What is a Technical Writing Portfolio? 

A technical writing portfolio is an elaborate document that presents your expertise, skills, achievements, and journey as a technical writer. Although it may sound similar to a resume, it is not. It contains the best work samples you would want to showcase to a potential client or employer as proof of your technical writing abilities. It is a perfect stage to create that first impression on prospects through your work, thought process, and other complementary skills. In the next section, we see what exactly you should include in a technical writing portfolio, along with practical tips. 

Components of a Technical Writing Portfolio

As mentioned above, a technical writing portfolio is a collection of your best work samples. Along with samples, it includes other elements that support your work and make your portfolio a complete documentation of your experience. Generally, a writing portfolio contains the following sections:

A short bio

This is usually the first section containing an introduction about yourself and your technical writing experience. In this section, you mention the goals and impacts you have created so far while highlighting your skills and expertise as a technical writer. You can also include your background to support your work. 

Work samples

This is the most important section of a portfolio. In this section, you showcase some of your best outputs to demonstrate the diversity of your technical writing experience. Include a variety of writing projects you have undertaken so far, such as user guides, how-tos, API documentation, product descriptions, etc. 

Although choosing the best while showcasing the variety is necessary, it is equally essential to present it with context and the impact your work had in solving specific problems. It helps the readers understand your analytical and problem-solving skills in handling project situations. 

Testimonials

Adding positive feedback from past clients, colleagues, or managers can upgrade your portfolio’s credibility and effectiveness. This section is entirely optional, but I strongly recommend adding it. The reviews let your prospects know of real project situations you have solved through your skills. The third-party validation assures the reader about the positive impact you could create through your work. 

Contact information

There is no need to mention why this section is necessary. It should include various ways in which a potential hiring manager can contact you. Provide several options, such as email address, phone number, LinkedIn profile, etc., so they can choose their preferred way of reaching out to you. 

How to Create a Technical Writing Portfolio?

1. Choose your best work

For writers with diverse writing experience, select the most substantial piece from each category—blog posts, white papers, case studies, and more. Focus on including samples that are highly relevant to the specified requirement. These selections must showcase your top skills and achievements, convincing potential clients or employers of your ability to deliver high-quality work.

If you do not have work samples ready, create one. There are multiple ways to publish or create your sample:

• Contribute to open-source projects
• Publish blog posts or articles on topics of your interest on popular blogging platforms.
• Reach out to blogs in your niche and offer to write guest posts
• Find technical content that needs corrections and how you can improve it

2. Find an online writing portfolio website

An online portfolio is widely accessible and easy to share with a link. 

To prepare your online portfolio, use the free online writing portfolio websites. 

These websites offer several templates for creating your portfolio with minimal work. Some also provide customization features where you can explore options to enhance the appeal of your portfolio. 

In other words, it saves time and simplifies your work.

The following sites offer free plans you can count on: 

• Clippings.me
• WordPress
• Behance
• Adobe Portfolio

You can either share an online link or take a print of your portfolio for an in-person interview. 

3. Create a short and clear bio

A bio is typically 100-150 words long. Introduce yourself as a technical writer and highlight your skills. Avoid including your education or experience here, as the resume would do this job.

Consider a result-oriented approach when writing a bio highlighting your value to a potential employer. Describe how your work impacted the project outcome and contributed to solving a problem. To begin this part, add a hook that resonates with the potential employer’s needs. Use bullet points if appropriate. 

Do not undermine the importance of a photograph. A professional picture significantly enhances your credibility with employers.  

4. Include testimonials and letters of recommendations

It may sound overwhelming to add testimonials despite a good resume and various work samples. 

Today, customers read reviews before buying a new product because it gives additional assurance about the product. The same is true when hiring an employee or freelancer for a project. Testimonials and letters of recommendation build trust and ensure your credibility as an ideal candidate. 

Past clients or employers may highlight a particular attribute of your writing skills, such as clarity, accuracy, creativity, and team-building skills that contributed to the project. Their feedback demonstrates the impact of your abilities. 

If you are a student or a budding technical writer with few or no clients/jobs in the past, you can include letters of recommendation from your professors, too. 

5. Structure your portfolio

Good organization and smooth navigation ensure a better user experience. Online portfolios offer plenty of options to organize the content in your portfolio.

The content must follow a logical order. Use features such as titles, a table of contents/menu bar, and a project description to give the reader easy access to the necessary information. 

In the work sample section, categorize samples by genre, niche, audience, or role. 

Apart from structuring, make the portfolio mobile-friendly. Also, consider adding a search function to allow viewers to find specific writing samples quickly. Do not forget to pay attention to font, color scheme, and design elements. 

6. Tailor your portfolio to specific job requirements

If you are a good fit for diverse writing positions, go through the job description by the employer and showcase your work accordingly. With slight tweaks in the portfolio, you can present yourself as the right candidate for the job. 

The same applies when applying for freelance gigs. Optimize your portfolio section whenever you apply for a gig to showcase that you can deliver what the client expects. This will also give you a competitive edge over other applicants. 

7. Keep it updated

As important it is to build a portfolio, it is equally essential to keep it updated with the latest changes of your career journey. Keep a track of your latest milestones that you achieve and let your portfolio know about it.

Remember, an outdated portfolio not only creates a poor impression but may also lead to a missed opportunity. An updated portfolio showcases your growth and acts as a proof of your progress as a technical writer.

Conclusion

A well-crafted portfolio not only showcases your skills but also depicts your journey as a technical writer. Beginner-level writers should work on building a solid portfolio alongside crafting their resume. Selecting your best work and showcasing a variety of technical writing formats in a user-friendly approach grabs the attention of potential employers. The time and effort invested into building a solid portfolio soon gets you returns in the form of exciting opportunities. Ready to showcase your technical writing skills? Create a portfolio now and get noticed.