You’re a freelance linguist. How can you create a portfolio that will make clients want to hire you?

1 Identify your niche

Before you start building your portfolio, you need to define your niche and target market. What kind of linguistic services do you offer? Who are your ideal clients and what are their needs and expectations? How do you differentiate yourself from other freelancers in your field? By answering these questions, you can narrow down your focus and highlight your strengths and specialties.

2 Select your best work

Your portfolio should include samples of your previous work that demonstrate your skills and achievements. Depending on your niche, you may include translations, transcriptions, analyses, reports, articles, or other types of linguistic products. Choose work that is relevant, recent, and diverse, and that showcases your versatility and quality. You may also include testimonials, feedback, or ratings from your past clients to boost your credibility.

3 Organize your portfolio

Your portfolio should be easy to navigate and access for potential clients. You can use a website, a blog, a platform, or a document to display your work, depending on your preference and budget. However, whatever format you choose, make sure it is clear, concise, and consistent. You can organize your portfolio by category, by client, by language, or by project type. You can also include an introduction, a biography, a resume, and a contact section.

4 Update your portfolio

Your portfolio is not a static document, but a dynamic reflection of your professional growth. You should update your portfolio regularly to keep it fresh and relevant. You can add new work, remove outdated or irrelevant work, improve the design and layout, and update your information and credentials. You can also track your portfolio's performance and feedback to identify areas of improvement and opportunities.

6 Showcase your personality

Your portfolio is not only a collection of your work, but also a reflection of your personality. You should showcase your personality to stand out from the crowd and build rapport with your clients. You can use your tone, style, voice, colors, images, or other elements to express yourself and your brand. You can also highlight your values, passions, interests, hobbies, or other aspects that make you unique and relatable.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?