Hi, I’m Sanne, and I’m a Marketing Coordinator at myBlueprint. Like many students entering the job market, I wanted to stand out, but with hundreds of applicants for every role, that was easier said than done. When I applied for the role at myBlueprint, my digital portfolio became my secret recipe. It helped me show not just what I’d done, but who I am—and it played a big role in landing the job.
In this blog, I’ll share how building a digital portfolio changed my job search experience, and why I believe every student should start creating one early.
Why I Chose to Build a Digital Portfolio
When you’re a student, finding an internship or a summer job is the last thing you want to think about, but inevitably, it has to be done. It takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there, and then when you finally do apply to a job, you realize there are already hundreds of applicants ahead of you, with a vast amount of similar experience. I wasn’t alone in this. Nearly half of Gen Z job and internship seekers are submitting more than 50 applications during their search, and that number’s only going up, according to a RippleMatch survey. Companies are feeling the squeeze, too. ServiceNow saw a 50% increase in internship applications this year, while Citadel reported a 65% spike, and accepted less than 1% of its 69,000 applicants for its summer program.
One great realization came from my years of endless summer internship applications: employers are all hearing the same thing - a constant loop of “I have lots of work experience, hire me, hire me!” So I wanted to show them the why behind the campaigns I’d built, the results behind processes I had improved, and the initiative I’d taken. I wanted to give them a real sense of how I think, create, and grow.
So, how could I show them my personality, who I really was, and what evidence did I have to prove the impact I would make at their company? I didn’t just want to keep wishing on my lucky stars that my resume would speak for itself. I wanted to show them the why behind the campaigns I’d built, the results behind processes I had improved, and the initiative I’d taken.
From Discouraged to Inspired
How I eventually flipped the script on my hiring journey, and how a digital portfolio was the key.
When I was in my third year of undergraduate studies, I forgot to apply to 99% of the summer internships posted in September and October, because I was too caught up in my classes and writing the perfect cover letter. Realizing this in November, I was desperate to find any chance to land my dream marketing internship in Toronto for the summer. So when I heard about an experiential marketing program happening at my school, I felt as though it was my final chance to make it happen. As part of this program, alongside my resume, I needed to create a personal branding piece. I could choose the format: a poem, a slideshow, a song, a video, etc. I chose to create a digital portfolio video.
I had such an unexpectedly positive response—everyone who saw it immediately got to see a side of me that often took months on the job to learn. Later, I found out that hiring teams want to gain insight into job seekers’ personalities to ensure their workers will be happiest and most successful in their roles. I then decided to expand on this and created a shareable digital portfolio that opened with that 2-minute video and flowed into the projects I was most proud of, both from undergrad and my previous roles. Entering the workforce was no easy task, but I had never felt more confident that I could rely on my digital portfolio video to show employers who I am and use the rest of my portfolio experience to paint a picture of how I have applied the skills I possess. It built a connection with the viewer, whether they expected it or not. Done were the days when summer job hunting felt like a soulless search for the impossible chance of finding a good job.
All in all, it told my story, it was thoughtful, personal, and 100% me.
What I Included in My Digital Portfolio (and Why)
I treated my digital portfolio like a digital storytelling space. It was less about listing job experience, like you’d see on a resume, and more about showing outcomes and processes. It was about backing up what I said on my resume with evidence of my skills and experience.
Digital Portfolio Example
I’ve listed some of the things that set me up for success when I created my digital portfolio.
How to make a digital portfolio and what to include:
- A personal branding video:I kept it short because I know how busy hiring managers are. Just over two minutes long, it told a story about who I am and what has shaped me. It was a quick way for hiring managers to get to know me and the value I could bring to their team and company. I added creative elements that showcased my personal brand, such as a funny introduction that started off with me racing to get home. I also spoke directly to the camera, used voiceovers, and images from my childhood, sharing what drives me and the qualities that I embody.
- University projects: The experiential marketing competition, club leadership roles, and case competitions I took part in—each with a short reflection on the idea, impact, result, and what I had learned.
- Professional experience: Real-world projects from internships and seasonal roles. Digital campaigns, content I was featured in, and initiatives that I had led. I linked to live assets when I could.
- Skills in action: Instead of listing “collaboration” or “communication,” I embedded examples—like a group project I led from ideation to execution and a marketing process I presented to stakeholders.
- My branding: The design, tone, and layout all reflected my personality and style—clean, vibrant, and intentional.
How My Digital Portfolio Helped Me Stand Out
The interviews that I received all pointed to something astoundingly similar: I had made an impact on the hiring team even before saying hello. When I began interviews for the Marketing Coordinator role at myBlueprint, I got the sense that I had already given them a positive impression with the extra effort I had put in to show them who I was. It said a lot to them, which in turn added to my determination to work for them if they recognized my potential. I received a positive reaction from both HR and the Marketing hiring manager mentioned that they especially loved my digital portfolio video, and as a result, wanted to learn more about me. Finally, instead of trying to convince them I was a good fit, the portfolio made it obvious.
Even at the end of the first round of interviews, I sent a thank-you email with my digital portfolio linked and attached, even going so far as to change the slide colours and fonts to match the company’s branding. I later learned that my portfolio stood out because it gave hiring teams a multidimensional view of me, something a resume alone couldn’t do. It wasn’t just the projects themselves, but the reflection, presentation, and voice behind them.
Considering a Digital Portfolio for Students in Your District
As a school or district leader, you’re always looking for ways to better prepare students for their futures, whether that’s college, careers, or life beyond graduation. Encouraging students to build a digital portfolio throughout K–12 is one of the most practical, future-ready steps you can take.
A well-crafted digital portfolio for students has been proven to capture and showcase their growth over time, not just a snapshot of their achievements at the end of high school, but a living record of how they've developed skills and grown as learners.
When students begin capturing their work in elementary, middle, or early high school, they develop a natural curiosity to showcase their learning. They learn how to select meaningful artifacts, reflect on their progress, and see the connection between their work and real-world skills. This habit makes it easier for them to continue building their portfolios post-graduation, so they’re not scrambling to put one together when a job or college application deadline approaches.
A digital portfolio also gives students a place to highlight the kinds of experiences colleges and employers are actively looking for:
- Work-based learning opportunities
- Volunteer experiences
- Extracurricular activities
- Real-world skills in action
Want a closer look at how students can document skills like these? Check out this blog post on capturing career readiness experiences with SpacesEDU.
By embedding portfolio-building habits early, you’re giving your students a lasting advantage—empowering them with the skills, confidence, and artifacts they need to succeed in a competitive world.
Interested in bringing digital portfolios to your school or district? Download our Guide to Choosing a District Digital Portfolio Platform.
Tips for Creating a Digital Portfolio
If you’re thinking about encouraging students to build their own digital portfolios, here are some practical takeaways to get started:
- Start with your story: What makes you you? Begin there. If you’re making a video, think about any values that resonate with you from your family or how your interests and experiences early on in life shaped you. Portfolios should reflect both what you’ve done and who you are.
- Curate, don’t dump: More isn’t better. Choose projects or experiences that are strong examples that really matter to you and the role you’re applying for. If you have smaller projects at the same company, they could always be grouped.
- Keep it easy to navigate: Follow a simple outline, such as a 3-4 pronged approach, listing out each one in a single bullet: idea, impact, result, and what you learned. You don’t want your portfolio viewer to feel like they're bombarded with so much information that the value you bring gets lost in the noise.
- Make it visual: Embed images, videos, slideshows, links to live assets, or even audio. Multimedia can help your viewer see the full extent of your work, what you’ve done, and who you are.
- Have fun with it: It can be daunting to know where to start. But the important thing is just to get started. Remember, nothing great has ever been perfect; let your creativity flow, and remember it’s a living document of your growth that will change over time.
And perhaps most importantly, make it personal. That’s what makes it powerful.
Why Digital Portfolios Belong in Every School
Looking back, I’m still amazed at how much creating my digital portfolio taught me about myself, my experiences, and the value of owning my story. It didn’t just help me land a job. It boosted my confidence and allowed me to reflect on what I learned from the experiences and opportunities I had, which prepared me for job interviews and coffee chats. Understanding the unique learning journey that I’d taken to gain the skills I had helped me see myself clearly and position myself better for the roles I applied for.
Imagine the possibilities if every student had that opportunity to reflect on their learning and to showcase their growth. At a glance, digital portfolios offer a foot in the door, but beyond that, they offer a sense of ownership and purpose.
For district and school leaders, it isn’t just about preparing students for college or careers; it's about helping them build a toolkit so that they can communicate, reflect, and thrive in a world that is constantly changing.
My story is just one example of a glimpse into what’s possible when we make space for digital portfolios in classrooms. It’s not an end-of-year task; it’s ongoing and helps to build a foundation of skills that students can rely on long after they graduate.
In Part 2 of this blog series, our team at myBlueprint will share why my digital portfolio stood out to them and what they look for when reviewing applications. Spoiler: it’s not about being the most polished. It’s about being real, reflective, and ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Why should our district encourage students to start building digital portfolios, especially if they don't have much traditional work experience yet?
For students, a digital portfolio is incredibly valuable because it allows them to highlight projects, coursework, extracurricular activities, or volunteer work that demonstrates their skills and potential. It helps them stand out from other applicants who may have similar resumes by providing a more personal and comprehensive view of their capabilities, creativity, learning, and problem-solving.
Q2: What kind of content should our district guide students to include in their digital portfolios?
A student's digital portfolio should be a collection of their best work that tells their unique story. Consider recommending they include:
- A personal branding video (short and engaging)
- School projects (with reflections on their role, impact, and learnings)
- Professional experiences (from internships or seasonal roles, including live assets)
- Skills in action (demonstrate, don't just list, skills like collaboration or communication)
- Their personal branding (design, tone, and layout that reflect your personality).
Q3:Will a digital portfolio really help our students stand out in a competitive job market and higher education landscape?
Absolutely! In a job market where hundreds of applicants apply for similar roles, a digital portfolio helps students make a memorable impression. It gives hiring teams a multi-dimensional understanding of who they are, something that a traditional resume can't. As Sanne experienced, it can create a positive impression even before an interview, making it clear to employers the value they can bring.
