Many students develop professional portfolios with samples of their best work, either as part of an assignment or on their own. They use these portfolios during job searches or as part of applications to professional school. In addition to writing samples, a professional portfolio might have a résumé, a statement of goals or competencies, or other evidence of job-related skills.

When you apply for internships and jobs, a writing sample or portfolio may be useful or required. Employers value good writing skills very highly—it is always one of the skills they identify as critically important.

You might be asked for a writing sample as part of the application process, or you might decide on your own that presenting a writing sample is one way to gain an advantage in the hiring process. One or two samples are fine for most positions, but if you are planning a career as a professional writer, you would want to develop a full portfolio that might include more writing samples and some of the materials in a course portfolio.

Presenting writing samples

Deciding on format (print vs. online)