Why You Need an E-Learning Portfolio

If you already have a job in e-learning and you’re not looking to switch, you might think you don’t need a portfolio. In this article, we’ll look at a couple of reasons why having a portfolio is a smart idea anyway. Here we go!

1. So you’re always ready for opportunities

In the current global climate, employment dynamics are changing at lightning speed. You never know when you might need to shift gears and start looking for a new gig. And even if your current job is pretty solid, you never know when the job or project of your dreams might come along to sweep you off your feet.

If you don’t have a portfolio prepped and ready to go, you’ll be left scrambling to pull it together. And often, when you rush to pull something together, it’s not your best work. 

Building a portfolio that accurately reflects the different types of projects you’ve worked on and the range of skills you’ve developed along the way takes time. 

So, instead of leaving it to the last minute, why not update your portfolio as you go? It’ll save you the mad rush down the line when you need to show your work. 

Put a periodic reminder in your calendar or at the end of your project plan that nudges you to make updates before immersing yourself in your next project. Investing a little time regularly will save you a lot of time later on!

2. To reflect on your skills & goals

It’s easy to get so caught up in the day-to-day that you forget to step back to see how far you’ve come and reevaluate where you’d like to go. Building and maintaining a portfolio is a great way to periodically reflect on your professional development.

When you’re working on your portfolio, ask yourself questions like:

• What challenges have you run into and what did you learn from them?
• Where do you want to be in five years and what skill set is needed for that?
• Does your portfolio showcase the type of work you want to do? 

If you have a certain job or project you’d like to pursue, this exercise will not only make it easier to craft your portfolio in a way that highlights the accomplishments that best align with your future goals, it’ll ensure they stay top of mind so you remain on track to achieve them.

The Bottom Line

The most daunting part of creating your portfolio is getting started. After the initial effort, it’s relatively easy to keep it updated with projects you’ve done and skills you’ve learned as an e-learning developer. When that dream job comes knocking, you’ll be glad your portfolio is ready to go!

Looking for more career advice? Check out these great resources:

• What to Include in an E-Learning Portfolio
• Boost Your E-Learning Career by Building Your Personal Brand
• 4 Skills Every E-Learning Developer Needs to Have

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