As the hiring market picks up and new technologies put marketers in high demand, it is important to be ready to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. With that, welcome to our weekly blog series on getting that marketing job you’ve always wanted. Each week we will discuss a new tip or technique you can use to land that job you’re after. Last week’s topic was Your Resume.

This week’s topic = Create a Portfolio

A resume is not enough anymore for most marketing jobs. It’s still critical, but it is not the only thing that matters.

Most employers have had experience hiring the wrong people. It leaves a bad taste in your mouth. It makes you doubt your own abilities as an interviewer and judge of talent. And for that reason, more and more companies are shifting away from the traditional hiring process.

Instead of posting an ad, receiving resumes, conducting interviews, and making a decision, employers are adding in some extra steps. Either they have a test for you to take, or they rely on third party testing to demonstrate your skills. Or they ask you for samples of your work. Or they hire you on a temporary basis for a finite period of time before making you a permanent employee.

So how can you stand out from the resume-only crowd? You can create an online portfolio that is easy to share with potential employers when you send in your resume, or when asked in the interview process.

What should your online portfolio look like? That depends on where your experience lies and what type of position you are shooting for. Make sure to include relevant work samples for the jobs you are applying for, such as designs, case studies, campaign details, writing samples, etc.

You can host all of this on a free blog site, or one of several online portfolio sites that are specifically designed to showcase your work. If you have your own personal blog, you can include a portfolio with it. This is a great way to show potential employers that you are serious about your work and are well-versed in the field.

Have anything to add? Keep the conversation going in the comments below…