You need a portfolio. Whether it’s for a performance review, a freelance job, changing jobs or just to have a record of your best work, you need one. More so, you need one that matters, one that shows off the relevant work you’ve done.

As we mentioned previously, a portfolio is also a great way to show off what you have been doing for people who are not in the know. While presenting one of your goals is fantastic, the final outcome is even better. It’s also important to share your final version with anyone who contributed to your work. Send a quick thanks and show off how they helped you succeed.

So how do you build a portfolio that matters?

Well, you begin by keeping track of your goals, your progress and the final piece. While you may not share your goals with everyone who sees your portfolio, this will a great point of reference for you. It will help you track your own progress and growth.

A portfolio should showcase your best work and the pieces that produced the best results. It’s something you can take with you even after you leave the company. You can also show off your work in your social networks if your company allows it. We’re all social creatures, and naturally, your portfolio should be a part of that social brand that you’ve built.

Your portfolio is your WorkStory. It’s one of the key takeaways from any experience, and the components of it may come from unusual places like a short-term goal that produced a long-term result. This is why it’s vital to keep track of your goals as they happen, because you don’t know where they may lead in the future, no matter how small.

You should also seek feedback on your portfolio on a regular basis, which is why it’s important to have one that is exportable and shareable. The feedback you get on your portfolio is different than what you would get on an individual project. Since your portfolio is constantly growing, the feedback to ask for is how you can improve it — to figure out the weaknesses in order to make your portfolio one that matters.

Do you have a professional portfolio? What pieces did you decide to include in it and why?