The Importance of a Portfolio

As strategic communication and journalism students progress through their college careers, they frequently hear about the importance of a portfolio when applying for jobs and internships. This can often raise questions like, “What exactly is a portfolio?” and “How do I create one?”

To understand these topics further, we spoke with Dr. Matt Cikovic, who is helping lead MN + Folio, a course designed to guide pre-professional creatives in building a standout portfolio. He shared insights about the class, explained why having a portfolio is essential for students, and offered his perspective on the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication (HSJMC).

What is MN + Folio? 

MN + Folio is a one-credit May class that offers hands-on opportunities to produce ideas and create experiences with professional coaching throughout the process. It helps students build a personal brand and portfolio by the end of the course using tools like Adobe Creative Suite, HSJMC cameras, and editing software. This is an especially valuable opportunity for students interested in design, art direction, or strategy. 

When asked about the idea behind creating a course designed to help students develop a beginner portfolio, Cikovic said, “The whole point of the experience was to leave with quality portfolio work, and that is something we want all of our students at Hubbard—advertising, public relations, and journalism students—to have.” 

He also discussed how other programs that offer portfolio building are often extremely expensive and less accessible to students. Because of this, Hubbard aimed to provide these opportunities directly to students. He stated, “There are portfolio schools out there, and a couple here in Minneapolis are tremendously expensive. The expectation is that students leave here, gain fundamentals and theory from us, and then spend thousands of dollars at these portfolio schools to produce work. Why would we let students do that when we can assist you, save you so much money, and help you do that here? We have the resources, the talent, and the faculty; we can help you with those things.” 

Why are portfolios so important?

When discussing the significance of portfolios, Cikovic explained that they offer students an effective way to showcase themselves and their prior work to potential employers. He stated, “You can dictate how you want your website to feel and how you want your work to be presented.” Without a portfolio, employers might lack an understanding of the context surrounding the work and the effort invested in creating it. By being able to represent yourself through your website, you can highlight what makes you and your work distinctive. Cikovic remarked, “You have your own website, your own slice of the internet, and it's yours; you can dictate how you want it to feel and how you want to be perceived by others.”

Advice for students

When asked what his advice for Hubbard students was, Cikovic said, “Come talk to your professors.” He emphasized the importance of going to a professor’s office hours, even if it’s just to ask questions about internships or interests that they may have. He said, “We're here for that kind of stuff, and I always want students to feel like they can come to me for those.”  

Hubbard Hot Take

One Hubbard hot take that Cikovic had was the lack of seating in Murphy Hall. He said, “I don't think we have enough chairs for you all.” He explained the importance of enough seating for students to be able to relax between classes. Cikovic said, “I think you all need more places to sit so you feel more comfortable. So you see the building as like a comfortable place to exist, right?”

Learn More

To learn more about Matt Cikovic and his portfolio, you can visit his website at mattcikovic.com. 

By Kate Henning, Backpack student