Portfolio Website

The rise of the portfolio website proves this is an effective tool that employers want to see. 

Validation

According to Kira Yee, Content and Channel Marketing Lead with the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (cira.ca), the top reason for building a portfolio website is to establish an online presence and build trust with your clients or employer. "...a good portfolio website can be huge for establishing customer trust and credibility," says Yee in her listicle offering four reasons why you should build an online portfolio. The portfolio website can boost your reputation and define you as an experienced professional. 

The added benefits learners gain from completing this course is experiencing how websites are built. Learners will decide how to position themselves within their chosen career sector, gather assets including, among other things, work samples that employers find relevant to their workplace.

The look and feel of your portfolio should also fit nicely with how you present yourself to an employer. You will be encouraged and supported to find strength and harmony in both. 

What you will learn

It's not uncommon to build new skills as you define your career goals and gather assets through the portfolio planning process.

This course is tailored to highlight career milestones and achievements and may also bring out the learner's design, composition and technical skills. This course encourages learners to use one of the many free templates offered by each selected platform site (see resources below). 

You will learn:

• how technology is applied through UX (user experience), SEO (search engine optimization) and web basics including HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
• how to plan out and rationalize each step of your portfolio project and manage your time to complete your project by deadline.
• how to gather key information that will support your development of a personal brand strategy.
• new trends as well as principles of classic design and visual representation, copywriting, formatting, font and colour choices, photography, video, illustrations and other visual elements that help your portfolio stand out.

How you will learn

Our courses are designed to promote cognitive engagement which involves mental effort, persistence and strategic thinking. Learners engage and grow by applying critical thinking skills, self-regulation and by connecting new information to prior knowledge. Strategies to promote a deep desire to learn include having choices, using collaborative, open-ended projects and creating tasks that require critical thinking rather than simple recall.

Here’s how we encourage cognitive engagement in our courses -

1. You will receive a course plan with details on each learning module for each week.
2. You will also receive a link to the Open Textbook for the course you have selected, free of charge.
3. Each course comes with a poster, a visual tool that maps out each step in the learning process.
4. Learning modules follow this same process so you'll always know what staage you're at within the course.
5. Learning resources include videos, slide decks, visual and editorial samples from various sources.
6. Your course plan will also indicate textbook chapters and pages to be read for your weekly quiz.
7. A live meeting is held once each week to discuss key elements of each module.
8. Assignments are also discussed in detail at the weekly sessions. You pick your own subject matter.
9. A social media networking resource is set up so you can discuss your studies and learn from other learners.

Please view the Learning page for more info on our teaching methods.

Learning objectives

Developing a professional portfolio requires time for self-reflection, patience for goal-setting and fortitude to explain your skill strengths and accomplishments. This course provides a framework for self-assessment and evaluation as well as a tested process to walk you through each step to plan, gather assets, organize and gradually come to terms with just how much knowledge, ability and personal growth you've achieved up to this point.

Here are five more take-aways to consider:

1. Goal setting for the next few years
   Learners define their career aspirations and set achievable SMART goals that lead to professional growth. While some may feel like they must plan for the rest of their lives, it's just for the next three years or so. The paint never dries on websites, as the saying goes, so you can return anytime and update your portfolio as your career takes shape.
2. Tracking achievements and managing time
   Maintaining a journal provides a structured way to collect, reflect and present evidence of accomplishments, skills, and knowledge gained throughout your education and career so far. 
3. Communication and presentation
   A well-developed portfolio can serve as a powerful communication tool, allowing individuals to effectively showcase their qualifications and experience to employers or peers. Learners will be encouraged to present their portfolio and share a few key moments in their journey.
4. Improved skill development
   The portfolio process can highlight areas where skills can be further developed, encouraging individuals to seek out opportunities to learn and grow. 
5. Career advancement
   Portfolios can be invaluable tools for job interviews, education applications, promotions or advancements, and other career and academic related opportunities, as the website is a showcase of an individual's qualifications, experiences and values.  

Free and open resources

Learners are asked to choose from the following web platforms that offer free portfolio templates and details on how to create a portfolio website. Each site provides directions and supports on how to get started with a design, however, learners are advised to follow their own design plan and branding strategy so their site aligns with their goals.

1. www.squarespace.com

Great design is how you stand out in the age of AI - with free workbook to help build your brand. - by Julie Osborn, August 2025.

2. www.wix.com 

Create a portfolio website that stands out - Wix.com

How to create a website from scratch in 11 steps (for beginners) - by Allison Ko. 

3. www.wordpress.com 

How to create an online website portfolio using WordPress - editorial staff at WPBeginners. March 2025

After one year of successful studies

• After one year, you will have six certificates for six professional skills you have studies including your very own portfolio website showing your completed assignments as professional work samples.
• You will have six posters outlining the process you followed within each course. You can recite those steps by heart.
• You will have more than six Open Textbooks and a series of learning resources that guided you through your studies to keep for future reference. You are ready to be challenged in your new job.
• You will have a resume and a draft cover letter to update for every future job application. 
• You will have a career plan to guide you to the right job market in your search for the kind of work you want to do.
• You will an assessment of your course work from your instructor who will also serve as a reference.
• You are prepared to succeed! Congratulations!
• Oh, and you saved $1,000.