If you’re a freelance eLearning developer looking to land more offers at higher rates, having an organized portfolio is absolutely crucial. First impressions matter, and a well-structured portfolio can make all the difference. In addition, our clients no longer even consider consultants that can’t present a portfolio that showcases what they can do.
In this article, I’ll walk you through how to set up your portfolio for maximum impact, share some platform recommendations, and sprinkle in links to further resources to help you bring your portfolio to life.
Portfolio Elements
Imagine your eLearning portfolio as a storybook about your professional journey. Each section should naturally lead to the next, making it simple for potential employers to follow along and see your value. I heard one hiring manager say to me just last week, “If I have to spend time trying to find what I want to see, I close the portfolio and count the consultant out.” While that may sound harsh, I understand. The hiring manager is seeking someone who can communicate extremely clearly. If your “showcase” is difficult to navigate, what kind of work would you do for the client?
Overview
This is your chance to make sure the potential client knows your unique abilities.
Tips: Keep it short and sweet. Try to explain what you can do for the client right from the start.
Here are some great intro examples:
- “Hey! I’m (name)! Learning Experience Design is my jam.” (This one is more casual than most – but if that’s who you are…)
- “I am a remote-based freelance eLearning designer and developer. I focus on helping companies to design and develop immersive, brand-aligned learning experiences. My mission is to inspire people through engaging visual design and interactive learning.
- “I help bring your content to life.”
- “Instructional Design. eLearning Development. Accelerating your Employee Onboarding with Impactful Multimedia Design.”
Samples
This is where it can get tricky. You have signed non-disclosure agreements with nearly every client. You must honor those NDAs. So, how do you post samples? That’s easy- build non-client samples! But what kinds of samples? What content? The content can be anything! Your favorite breed of dog. How to make a pizza from scratch. The rules of roundabouts. The possibilities are endless.
Back to what kinds of samples? Most of us don’t have time to build 10 full eLearning courses. Here’s my advice… none of my clients want to sit through a 30-minute eLearning course you’ve built. Instead of posting a complete course, build samples that highlight your unique ability. Just a few screens at most. Don’t make the viewer wade through 5 minutes of introduction content to get to the part you want seen.
Here are some ideas on the types of eLearning samples to consider:
- Interactions such as drag-and-drop or click-to-reveal
- Branching-scenarios
- Assessments
- Before-and-After visual design samples
- Software how-to video
- Samples using different tools
- Samples for industries or audiences that are your focus
Once you’ve really showcased your unique ability, build samples in other areas. The advice I give to consultants is this: Each time you find yourself with a couple of days between projects, you should be building a new sample for your online portfolio.
Presenting your samples
It’s a great idea to include a visual from the sample, plus a title and description. Here’s an example:
You can format them as top-bottom as shown above or side by side like this:
Consistency is the key to making the site appear neat and well organized. Whichever method you use, stick with it.
Organizing Your Samples
If you have more than half a dozen eLearning samples to showcase, or you want to showcase additional design work outside of eLearning, you may be interested in how to organize them. You will need to take stock of all the types of samples and consider how they might fit into an organizational framework. Here are some ideas:
Chronologically: This is the simplest method. I suggest putting the oldest samples at the end and the newest samples first. Why? Because trends in visual design change rapidly and what was cutting edge 3 years ago is out of date today. You might consider including a header with the year to make sure that the cool course you posted 5 years ago doesn’t get confused as a new design today.
Authoring Tool: Often our clients are interested in a consultant who is proficient in one specific tool such as Storyline, Rise, or Vyond. Categorizing your portfolio by authoring tool lets the potential client jump straight to the correct samples to view. If you have a sample built using more than one tool it should appear in both sections. For example, if you build a Rise course and include content blocks utilizing Storyline and Vyond, the course can be categorized in all three sections. However, I suggest you provide as asterisk explaining that it appears in several categories to avoid confusion.
Industry: Do you specialize in content for just a few industries? You can organize your content in industry categories such as “healthcare” or “call center”. This ensures that your depth of experience in that industry is highlighted.
ADDIE Model: If you have design documents, storyboards, or evaluation plans to showcase in addition to eLearning, you might want to organize into ADDIE categories: Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate.
Platform Recommendations
Choosing the right platform to build and host your portfolio is key. Here are some great options:
- WordPress: WordPress is highly customizable with tons of themes and plugins. It’s perfect if you have some technical skills. There are online resources to help you through it.
- Squarespace: The simple drag-and-drop elements make this simple for newbies.
- Wix: Super user-friendly with drag-and-drop features. Great for beginners.
What not to use: DropBox or other file sharing sites. Most of our high-security clients cannot even receive links to these sites and they have strict rules about downloading anything from them. When presented with two candidates and they can only view the portfolio of one candidate, which candidate do you think they will choose?
One Last Point
We often receive this statement from consultants when we explain the importance of having a portfolio during our one-on-one talent screenings: “I can’t afford the tools when I’m between contracts.” While I can completely relate to saving money, if you really want to build samples, you’ll find a way. Here are some ideas to investigate to get access to build samples in a tool:
- Free Trials – most of these tools offer a free trial period. A word of warning, don’t start the free trial before you have your ideas planned and time on your calendar to build the samples.
- Education Discounts – Many of these tools offer discounts for teachers and students. If you are either of these, check with the eLearning authoring tool company for discounts.
- Collaboration with Colleagues – If you network in person or on forums with your eLearning colleagues, you may be able to work out sharing with a colleague to build portfolio samples together. Be sure to check the licensing agreement on the tool to ensure your colleague doesn’t violate the agreement.
- Professional Associations – Local associations such as ATD often have access to tools or resources as part of membership benefits. I personally helped a consultant win a scholarship from one of these associations to get a license and training for eLearning.
At the end of the day, if you want to find a way to build samples, you’ll find it.
Conclusion
To wrap it up, here are the key takeaways:
- A well-organized eLearning portfolio is crucial for making a great first impression.
- Keep updating and refining your eLearning portfolio to reflect your latest and greatest work.
- An organized eLearning portfolio is a powerful tool for advancing your career, showcasing your skills, and demonstrating your professionalism.
External Links and References
- Check out Tim Slade’s portfolio design tips.
- Dive into Christy Tucker’s advice on eLearning portfolios.
- Learn more about personal branding from Dr. Luke Hobson’s portfolio tips.
- Facilitators check here for tips on a facilitation portfolio.
- Instructional Designers, check here for tips on organizing your ISD portfolio.
Happy portfolio building! With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to landing more offers and impressing potential clients.
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