Chapters
How portfolios are reviewed
Before a reviewer reads a single case study, they have already decided whether to keep going. This chapter shows how much weight the portfolio carries in that decision, how little time it gets, and what happens to the portfolios that make it to a second read.
78% rely on the portfolio and case studies to judge whether a candidate is a fit. It outweighs industry experience, the CV, and the name of any past employer.
When assessing a candidate for the first time, what do you rely on most to determine if they’re a good fit?
65% of reviewers spend under four minutes on a portfolio the first time they open it. Volume sets the pace, as one in ten reviewed more than 200 portfolios last year.
How long do you typically spend reviewing a portfolio the first time you open it?
The scan is a gate. The real read comes later, when a shortlisted candidate's case studies get up to 30 minutes of close attention. So the portfolio has two jobs: be easy to skim in minutes, and hold up under a close read.
First pass
1–4 min
Most reviewers make a shortlist call this fast
Pre-interview
Deeper look
Collecting questions for the interview
Interview
Live walkthrough
Case studies discussed in depth
Where AI appears, it mostly ranks portfolios for a human reviewer. The reader is a busy person with a specific role in mind, not a keyword filter.
Does your organisation use AI to screen portfolios?
53% of reviewers rate an about section as important. They want a sense of your career path and tone of voice, but personal details matter less.
How important is an About section in a portfolio?
Reviewers cross-check the portfolio against the CV and LinkedIn. Roles, dates, and responsibilities are compared, and inconsistencies and careless errors are early red flags.
CV
Portfolio
Chapter 02
Chapter 02
Chapter content coming next.