Why use an online portfolio?

Pros and cons are arguments for or against a particular issue. Pros are arguments which aim to promote the issue, while cons suggest points against it. By analysing the pros and cons of an online portfolio I am able to understand what is important to consider when creating my own, this will hopefully help me to weed out any potential issues from the outset.

Pros

o   Can reach a wider audience

o   Modern way of communicating

o   Global – people can view your work all around the world

o   More likely to survive the economic downturn

o   Can be tailored and updated regularly making it flexible an always up to date

o   Allows clients to see your work & makes contact with designer easier

o   Great opportunity for a new designer to be seen

o   Can be used as an online CV available 24/7

Cons

o   Small fish in big pond & could get lost

o   Can be time consuming – needs regular review

o   Could be difficult to navigate

o   Not everybody has internet access

o   Internet servers are not always reliable

So what does this tell us?

By examining the Pros and Cons of an online portfolio it is clear how effective using one would be, the pros far outweigh the cons. I would say that the biggest strength for me would be the fact that I can get my work out there into the public domain, it is also a way of keeping my work centralised like an online CV accessible 24/7 to everybody. According to a recent study titled Career Portfolios: Proof of Performance, and conducted by Quintessential Careers, job-seekers learn more about themselves and their qualifications by preparing a career portfolio, therefore boosting their confidence and preparing them for job interviews regardless of how they actually use that portfolio.

I would also say that although I have identified some cons the only real issue would arise if I did not put enough energy into it resulting in outdated unprofessional work, I don’t think the fact that not everybody can use the internet would be a big concern, in the media industry these people are going to be few and far between.