I had a conversation last week with a marketing manager in Melbourne who’d been applying for roles for three months straight. Great experience, solid resume, strong references. Zero interviews.

Then she built a digital portfolio. Within two weeks, she had three interview requests.

That’s not a coincidence. It’s the reality of how hiring works in Australia right now.

The Resume Is Not Dead, But It’s Not Enough

Let me be clear: you still need a resume. Recruiters still want that one-page snapshot. But the resume has become a ticket to the door, not the thing that gets you through it.

What gets you through? Evidence. Proof that you can actually do what your resume claims. And the best way to show that proof is a digital portfolio.

Whether you’re a graphic designer, a project manager, a software developer, or a teacher, you have work you can showcase. It just takes a shift in thinking about what counts as portfolio material.

What Counts as a Portfolio Piece?

This is where most people get stuck. They think portfolios are only for creative types. But here’s a list of things that work brilliantly in a professional portfolio:

• Case studies of projects you’ve led or contributed to
• Before and after metrics showing the impact of your work
• Presentations you’ve delivered (even internal ones, with permission)
• Process documentation showing how you approach problems
• Writing samples including reports, proposals, or blog posts
• Screenshots or recordings of tools, dashboards, or systems you’ve built
• Testimonials from colleagues, managers, or clients

You don’t need dozens of these. Three to five strong pieces will put you ahead of 90% of candidates who only submit a resume.

The Australian Job Market Context

Australia’s job market has shifted significantly over the past couple of years. We’re seeing more contract and freelance roles, more remote positions, and more competition for permanent roles in major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

Hiring managers are reviewing dozens, sometimes hundreds, of applications for a single role. Your portfolio is the thing that makes them stop scrolling and actually pay attention to your application.

I’ve spoken with recruiters at several major Australian firms, and the consensus is clear: candidates who provide a portfolio or project showcase alongside their application consistently move further in the process.

But I Work in a Non-Creative Field

This is the objection I hear most often. “I’m an accountant. What would I put in a portfolio?”

More than you think. An accountant could showcase:

• A summary of a complex financial analysis they conducted (anonymised, of course)
• A process improvement they implemented that saved time or money
• A presentation they gave on tax strategy or compliance changes
• Professional development they’ve completed, with certificates

The key is to frame your work as stories with outcomes. What was the challenge? What did you do? What was the result?

Getting Started Without Overwhelm

You don’t need a fancy custom website on day one. Here’s a simple approach to get moving:

Week 1: Write down five professional achievements you’re proud of. For each, note the situation, your actions, and the results.

Week 2: Gather any supporting material: screenshots, documents, data, testimonials. Ask former colleagues for a quick LinkedIn recommendation if you don’t have one.

Week 3: Choose a platform. You can start with something as simple as a well-structured LinkedIn profile, a Notion page, or a basic site on WordPress or Squarespace.

Week 4: Put it all together. Write short descriptions for each piece, add visuals where possible, and share the link with a few trusted colleagues for feedback.

The Compound Effect

Here’s what I’ve seen over and over: once professionals start building their portfolio, they start thinking differently about their work. They document more. They track outcomes. They volunteer for visible projects.

The portfolio becomes more than a job search tool. It becomes a career development habit.

And when the next opportunity comes along, whether that’s a promotion, a new role, or a freelance gig, you’re not scrambling to remember what you did two years ago. You’ve got it all documented, polished, and ready to share.

Where to From Here

If you’re reading this and thinking “I should probably do this,” then yes, you should. The barrier to entry has never been lower. The tools are mostly free. The time investment is a few hours spread across a month.

And the return? Potentially the best career investment you’ll make this year.

Start small. Start now. Your future self will thank you.