Marketing yourself - Why you need a tech writing portfolio

Start by thinking about work that you’ve already done, then make a list of your samples. Next, think about a gap analysis - what’s missing? What would you like to be able to show? Try for coverage of different types of writing, or really narrow the focus.

For example:

If what you need doesn’t exist yet, get working to create that sample. How to get fodder for your portfolio

For each of your samples, you’ll need to answer a few questions about its current state and format:

Gather your samples by collecting them together in one place, online. That means, scan any hardcopy samples. PDF any work that is published but might change over time. De-identify anything that needs to be anonymized.

Don’t just present a list of links and expect the writing sample to do all the talking. Level-up your writing samples by giving them context.

Here is your chance to tell the behind-the-scenes story for any given writing sample. Add the backstory and explain more about each piece. This might touch on: what challenges you faced, what problems it solved, why you’re proud of it.

This way your portfolio is really going to bat for you, and will act as your billboard for any potential employers. It also adds a personal touch and shows that you’re a three-dimensional human being. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable - admitting something was difficult to write, or even describing ways you might write something differently today, shows that you’re a critical thinker and that you’re self-aware.

Imagine someone has asked you questions like "Why have you included this sample?" or "What does this piece of work show?". You could call the reader’s attention to specific areas of a piece, or describe the toolchain you used to build or publish it.

For example:

Once you’ve got your collection together, think about how you want future employers to access your samples. There are many ways to present this information, ranging from a one-page list of links to a full-blown personal website. You can make it private or publicly available.

This is your chance to curate your writing samples. A really long one-pager means you have less control over the impression you make. A tailored PDF means you can customize your portfolio when applying for specific jobs.

Don’t overthink it, and don’t over-engineer it (unless you want to show off your ace development skills!).

Some quick and easy ways to host a collection of your samples:

After creating your portfolio, you might like to share it to get feedback. You could choose a few friends or colleagues whose judgment you trust. Alternatively, you might prefer to approach people who don’t know you-this gives you an opportunity to validate the impression you want your portfolio to make. You can ask reviewers to describe you and your skillset based on the writing samples in your portfolio.

If you’re stuck finding a reviewer, try asking in the Write the Docs community slack channel #career-advice, or reach out to someone here at The Good Docs Project.