Before you send a single application, run your portfolio through this checklist. Five minutes here prevents the silent rejections that come from a dead link, a slow page, or a missing contact path. Pair this with Portfolio Mistakes to Avoid and How to Build a Professional Portfolio.
Content
- [ ] 3–5 strong projects; weak ones removed (15 Developer Portfolio Project Ideas)
- [ ] Each project has problem, process, and outcome (How to Write a Portfolio Case Study)
- [ ] Real metrics or proxies where possible (How to Quantify Resume Achievements)
- [ ] A clear, specific Portfolio About Me Section
- [ ] No confidential or NDA material
Links & Technical
- [ ] Every demo and repo link works (test in incognito)
- [ ] Loads fast — images compressed (How to Host Your Portfolio for Free)
- [ ] Looks great on mobile (test at 320px)
- [ ] HTTPS enabled
- [ ] Resume link present and current (How to Add Your Portfolio Link to Your Resume)
Contact & CTA
- [ ] Obvious contact path (Portfolio Contact Section)
- [ ] LinkedIn / GitHub links correct (GitHub Portfolio Optimization)
- [ ] A clear call to action
Findability
- [ ] Title tag with your name + role (Portfolio SEO: Get Found)
- [ ] Meta description set
- [ ] Indexed (not blocked by robots.txt)
- [ ] Custom domain connected (Portfolio Domain Name Guide)
Consistency
- [ ] Same name, headline, and story as your resume and LinkedIn
- [ ] Resume optimized via the ATS checker and an ATS-friendly template
Final Pass
- [ ] A friend reviewed it on their phone
- [ ] Spelling and grammar checked
Fix any gaps fast by rebuilding with the portfolio builder.
Keep Your Resume and Portfolio in Sync
Your resume, your LinkedIn, and your portfolio should tell the same story — same name, same headline, same top projects — just at different levels of depth. A recruiter who sees a 'Full Stack Developer' resume and a portfolio headlined 'Aspiring Designer' gets confused, and confusion loses interviews. Lock the resume down first with the ATS score checker and an ATS-friendly template, then mirror that exact positioning in your portfolio. When they reinforce each other, every recruiter touchpoint pushes you forward. See How to Add Your Portfolio Link to Your Resume for placing the link correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I run this checklist?
Before every job-search push and whenever you add a project. Links rot — re-test every cycle.
What is the most commonly missed item?
Dead links and slow mobile performance. Both quietly cost interviews.
My portfolio fails several items — what now?
Rebuild quickly from your resume with the portfolio builder and re-run the list.
Build Your Portfolio Now
You do not need to code a site from scratch or spend a weekend wrestling with a website builder. Turn your existing resume into a live, shareable portfolio website in minutes with the TailorCV portfolio builder — choose a template, upload your CV, tweak the details, and publish a link you can drop straight onto your resume and LinkedIn. Before you start applying, run your resume through the free ATS score checker and switch to an ATS-friendly template so your portfolio and resume tell one clean, consistent story to every recruiter.
Related Guides
- How to Build a Professional Portfolio
- Portfolio Mistakes to Avoid
- How to Add Your Portfolio Link to Your Resume
- Portfolio SEO: Get Found
- Turn Your Resume Into a Portfolio in Minutes
- Portfolio Contact Section
- Portfolio About Me Section
- How to Write a Portfolio Case Study
- How to Quantify Resume Achievements
- How to Host Your Portfolio for Free
- Portfolio Domain Name Guide
- GitHub Portfolio Optimization


