Show, Don’t Tell

The Importance of LinkedIn & A Digital Portfolio

By: Dylan DeSilva

As you’re applying to jobs and internships, the process can start to feel a little repetitive. Click submit, wait, repeat. Similarly, employers face the same monotony as they sort through hundreds of resumes that are seemingly identical. A list of dates, titles and action verbs in times new roman font can’t always capture who you are or the true impact you’ve made. As PR practitioners, storytelling is at the heart of what we do, so you should be telling your own story too. That’s why it’s important to Show, Don’t Tell to paint a picture of yourself beyond that piece of paper. By using tools like LinkedIn and digital portfolios, you can bring your experiences to life and showcase the person behind the paper. In PR we spend our time shaping how others are perceived, so why not apply the same strategy to ourselves?

LinkedIn, the platform we all know and love, is an amazing tool to facilitate networking

and connections with professionals and peers. It is a dynamic platform that allows you to

increase awareness of your personal accomplishments, and showcase your personality through creative visuals and engaging captions. When you apply for positions, you’re the one reaching out, but on LinkedIn, opportunities can find you. The more you post, the more you post, engage and interact, the more visible and discoverable you become.

Here are a few ways to strengthen your LinkedIn Profile and make it stand out:

1. Photo & Custom Banner: First impressions matter, even online. Start with a

professional headshot and customize your banner to reflect your personality and the field

you are interested in. By adding personal elements, you will automatically gain attention

and show your passions with just a quick glance. Be sure to include your name, industry

and email address for a concise summary. This simple, yet effective update will signify

personality and your intentions.

2. Utilize Endorsements: Endorsements are social proof that back up your skills. When

you input a new role under experience, you can specify what skills you strengthened or

learned in that position. An easy, but powerful way to highlight your workplace impact is

by having your boss and coworkers go to your page and endorse the skills they’ve seen

you develop. With the click of a button, the internet will know that your impact was

noticed and valued by others.

3. Post Everything: Don’t wait for major milestones to post. LinkedIn is all about

authenticity and growth, so show off all of your minor accomplishments along the way.Share updates on internships, class projects, certifications and your PRSSA involvement.

Include a photo, and a brief reflection on your takeaways. The more you share, the more

your network will recognize your consistency and ambition outside of formal jobs.

4. Thank Everyone: Behind every success is a network of people who helped you get

there. You should always be tagging mentors, teammates, and collaborators in your posts

to thank them. This is a polite gesture that demonstrates gratitude and professionalism.

This not only showcases your appreciation but also enhances your visibility when others

engage or share your posts with their own networks.

A Digital Portfolio turns your personality and professional story into a shareable link that

goes hand-in-hand with your resume to show employers more about you. It showcases real world experiences and visuals to humanize the roles listed on your resume. Portfolios reflect your sense for design and attention to detail - key qualities of a PR Practitioner. It’s an opportunity to show, not just tell your skills, offering tangible proof of what you’ve accomplished, to tell a recruiter your story.

Here are some tips and tricks to help you get started:

1. Platforms: Wix, Squarespace, Notion, Adobe Portfolio, or Canva Websites are all great options depending on your layout preferences and comfort level. Choose a platform that you feel comfortable with and make it your own.

2. Content To Include: Customize your pages to be relevant to the jobs you will be

applying for. For example, if you are pursuing social media roles, dedicate a page to your

campaigns, analytics, and visual content. Think of your portfolio as a customizable

extension of your resume that you can adapt for different audiences and opportunities.

Below are examples of what a PR practitioner might include, but every portfolio should

reflect the creator’s goals and desired field. If you’re an event planner, consider adding an

Events page featuring photos, recaps, and vendor collaborations. Your portfolio should

evolve with your interests and showcase the kind of work you are not only strong at, but

want to continue doing.

About Me: Write a professional yet personable bio that reflects your interests, experience and the kinds of roles you are seeking. Pair it with a high quality headshot to put a face to the name and showcase your background.

Resume:Your portfolio should include a clear, easy-to-read image of your resume along with a downloadable PDF link. This allows recruiters to quickly review your

credentials without straying away from the site.

Campaigns: Don’t let all of those class assignments and mock campaigns go to waste! Showcase your assignments and give a brief description of the objective, your role and key outcomes. This section can demonstrate relevant experience within the PR industry and show tangible projects you’ve done.

Writing Samples: Here is where you can include examples of press releases, blog posts, media pitches or any relevant pieces that showcase your comprehension skills and

understanding of PR writing formats. Keep the selection focused and relevant to your desired fields.

Certifications & Honors Utilize this space to highlight any certifications, awards, or honors that demonstrate your initiative to learn and work hard. Certificates show initiative to

strengthen your skills and learn beyond the classroom. Honors can include Dean's List and Honor Societies which show your strong work ethic and dedication to studies. Remind employers of your accomplishments and the hard work behind them.

3. Show your personality: You can finally break away from the sea of words that is your

resume. Utilize photos, metrics, and storytelling to bring your experiences to life. For

example, if you manage an event or campaign, include photos, key results and creative

assets that illustrate your role and impact. While your resume tells the story of your

background, your portfolio shows it. Utilize your favorite colors and an aesthetic that

matches your personal brand to let audiences get to know you. Your portfolio should be a

true reflection of who you are and a visual representation of your story, style and

strengths.

Public Relations is an incredibly creative and visually driven field. If you can build your

own personal brand, companies will trust you to enhance theirs as well. Your personality and

potential can’t always be captured on a single page, but they can shine through on LinkedIn and in a digital portfolio. Personal Branding shows you practice what you preach, you are not just learning PR, you are living it. Just as brands communicate through visuals, tone and personality, so should you. You have the power to control the narrative of how others see you, so make it count. Now, when you see an optional box for a personal website and space for your LinkedIn, you’ll be ready to fill it out with confidence. You don’t need tons of job titles and positions to look stand out, just a creative way to tell your story that shows audiences why you're so much more than a piece of paper.