How to Build a Powerful UX Writing Portfolio in 6 Steps.

The digital world, it’s a living, breathing thing, isn’t it? It thrives on clarity and seamless interaction. Every single button, every error message that pops up, and every onboarding flow that guides you – those are all chances to make someone’s experience better. To guide them, reassure them, and maybe even put a smile on their face. This is where UX writing comes in. It’s a special craft, more than just being good with words. It’s about really understanding people, how products work, and how designs come together. If you’re a writer with big dreams in this fast-moving field, let me tell you, a great portfolio isn’t just nice to have; it’s absolutely essential. It’s the direct link between where you want to be and actually getting there.

I’ve seen so many writers stumble when it comes to their portfolio. They end up sharing general writing pieces or just a jumble of unrelated stuff. That’s a huge mistake. A UX writing portfolio isn’t like a scrapbook. It’s a carefully put-together display that shows how you solve user problems, using words as your tool. It speaks directly to the people doing the hiring, proving that you really get the small details of microcopy, the bigger picture of content strategy, how to make things accessible for everyone, and how to keep making things better, step by step. This guide is going to cut through all the noise. I’m going to give you a clear, step-by-step plan to build a portfolio that doesn’t just get noticed, it gets you hired.

Step 1: Taking Apart the UX Writing Role & Finding Your Spot

Before you even think about putting words on a page for your portfolio, you absolutely need to understand what UX writing really is and who you want to write for. Without that clear picture, your portfolio is going to lack focus and won’t be as effective as it could be.

Getting a Handle on the Core Ideas of UX Writing

UX writing isn’t just about throwing words onto a screen. It’s about using communication strategically to make the user experience better. To build a portfolio that really shines, you need to live and breathe these core ideas and show them in everything you do:

• Clarity: Is your message understood immediately? Does it prevent confusion? Your portfolio should highlight how you make complicated information simple.
  • My Example: Instead of just showing a button label, explain how you went from “Submit” to “Confirm Order.” This offers so much more clarity and eases a user’s worry at that crucial checkout point.
• Conciseness: Can you say it with fewer words without losing the meaning? In those tight UI spaces, every character is precious.
  • My Example: For a mobile app notification, show how you took a long error message and made it short and to the point: “Payment Failed. Update card details.”
• Usefulness: Does the copy actually help the user do what they’re trying to do? Does it give them the information they need exactly when they need it?
  • My Example: Show how your microcopy for a password reset didn’t just say what happened but also led them straight to the next step: “Password updated successfully. You can now log in.”
• Consistency: Does the language across the entire product feel like it belongs together? Does it match the brand’s voice and tone?
  • My Example: When you’re showing multiple screens from one project, explicitly point out how you kept a friendly and helpful tone across everything, from the headings to the little tooltips.
• Empathy: Does your copy anticipate how users might be feeling, what their frustrations might be, and how they think? Does it offer reassurance or guide them the right way?
  • My Example: For an empty state message, don’t just write “No items.” Show how you phrased it to lessen frustration and encourage action: “Your favorites list is empty. Start exploring to add your first item!”
• Accessibility: Is your copy understandable by everyone, no matter their ability? Have you thought about screen readers, how much information someone can process, and different languages?
  • My Example: If you worked on alt-text or ARIA descriptions, explain your process for making sure your copy gave the same information to visually impaired users. If your copy was translated, talk about how you approached transcreation (adapting it culturally, not just word-for-word).

Figuring Out Which UX Writing Roles & Industries You’re After

“UX writer” is a pretty big umbrella. Are you aiming for a starting role at a new company, a content strategist position at a big tech company, or do you want to specialize in something specific like finance tech or healthcare? Your portfolio needs to show that ambition.

• Generalist vs. Specialist: Decide if you want to show a wide variety of UX writing challenges or deep expertise in one specific area (like e-commerce checkout flows, software onboarding for businesses, or voice interfaces).
  • My Tip: If you’re just starting out, aim to be more of a generalist first. As you get more experience, you can narrow your focus. Your portfolio should clearly state what your current goal is.
• Industry Focus: Some industries have their own rules, specific jargon, and unique user needs. If you know a lot about or are really passionate about healthcare technology, financial services, or gaming, make sure your projects show off that industry-specific understanding.
  • My Example: If you’re trying to get into finance tech, include a project that shows how you explained complicated financial terms simply and reassuringly, like “APY” or “liquidity” within an investment app.

By really breaking down the UX writing role and deciding where you fit in, you’re setting up your portfolio to be not just well-written, but strategically smart and directly relevant to the opportunities you’re chasing.

Step 2: Picking Out (or Making) Your Showcase Projects

This is the absolute heart of your portfolio. Your projects aren’t just samples; they are detailed stories that show your process, your ability to solve problems, and the real difference you make. Focus on quality over quantity. Having three to five strong projects is way more impressive than a dozen flimsy ones.

The Bones of a Standout UX Writing Case Study

Every project in your portfolio should tell a story. It’s like a journey from a challenge to its solution, with you as the hero. Structure each case study with these key parts:

1. Project Title & Your Role:
   • My Example: “Making the Onboarding Flow Smoother for ‘TaskMaster’ Mobile App – UX Writer & Content Strategist”
2. Context & The Problem You Faced:
   • What was the product or feature? What problem were you trying to solve for users or the business? Why was UX writing so important here? Don’t just state the problem; show its real impact.
   • My Example: “Users of ‘EcoConnect,’ a sustainability tracking app, were quitting the initial setup 60% of the time because of confusing words and too many choices. This directly hurt our user retention and how much data we could collect.”
3. My UX Writing Process:
   • This is where you really stand out. Show, don’t just tell. Go into detail about how you approached the problem.
     • Discovery & Research: Did you look at analytics? Talk to users? Analyze user types? Examine what other similar content was out there? How did you find out what you needed to know?
       • My Example: “I started by looking at where people were dropping off in our existing data. Then, I did quick interviews with 5 potential users, asking them to ‘think out loud’ as they tried the current onboarding. I noticed phrases like ‘What does this mean?’ and ‘Too many options’ coming up again and again.”
     • Content Strategy & Principles: Based on what you learned, what content plan did you come up with? What guiding ideas shaped your writing? (e.g., “Simplify technical terms,” “Make it feel like they’re making progress,” “Show immediate value”).
       • My Example: “I developed a strategy focused on showing information little by little and giving positive feedback. My main principles were: ‘Clarity over completeness,’ ‘Action-oriented language,’ and ‘Celebrate small victories.'”
     • Drafting & Iteration: How did you write the copy? Did you try different versions? Did you test them (A/B test)? Explain why you chose certain words or phrases over others. This part is crucial.
       • My Example: “I wrote three versions for the ‘Privacy Settings’ screen. The first version used ‘Telemetry Data Sharing.’ I changed it to ‘Help Make EcoConnect Better (Anonymous Data)’ after users said the first one sounded intimidating. I did a small A/B test with unmoderated user testing to confirm the second version was clearer and felt more trustworthy.”
     • Collaboration: How did you work with designers, product managers, engineers, or researchers? Show that you’re a team player.
       • My Example: “I worked very closely with the UI designer to make sure the copy fit the visual space and looked good with the layout. I synced up with the product manager to align with business goals, and with engineering to understand what was technically possible for dynamic content.”
4. The Solution (The UX Copy Itself with Pictures):
   • Show the “before” and “after” if you can. Include screenshots, mockups, or wireframes with your copy inside. Don’t just paste text. Seeing your words in context is super important. Add notes to your screens.
   • My Example: Show a “Before” screenshot with the old, confusing copy, then a “During” one showing your suggested copy on a wireframe, and finally an “After” with the finished design. Add little pop-ups explaining why you chose certain words (e.g., “Changed ‘Proceed’ to ‘Next Step’ to better guide the user through the flow”).
5. Impact & Results:
   • This is where your portfolio goes from just samples to showing real value. Whenever possible, put numbers to your impact.
   • My Example: “The new onboarding flow cut down on drop-offs by 25% within the first month after it launched, leading to a 10% increase in weekly active users. User feedback surveys also showed a 15% improvement in ‘ease of use’ scores for the onboarding section.”
   • If you don’t have hard numbers, use a user’s comments, or explain the intended impact and why you think your solution worked.
     • My Example (qualitative): “User interviews after launch showed much less confusion and a stronger feeling of accomplishment during the setup process, which confirmed our decision to simplify the language.”

Finding & Making Projects When You Don’t Have Professional Experience

This is a common hurdle for new UX writers, but it’s totally overcome-able. Don’t wait for a job to get experience; make your own.

• Redesign Existing Products/Features: Pick a popular app or website you use a lot. Find a part where the copy is confusing, the guidance is bad, or something just feels frustrating. Then, come up with a UX writing solution.
  • My Idea: Redo the error messages on a banking app’s login. Show how you’d make them clearer, more empathetic, and provide a path forward, instead of just being vague. Walk through your research (user reviews, common login headaches), your process (writing different versions, thinking about security vs. helping the user), and your proposed copy with mockups.
• Conceptual Projects/Passion Projects: Invent your own product or a new feature for an existing product based on a problem you see in the world.
  • My Idea: Design a new feature for a smart home app that helps people save energy. Focus on the small words – the microcopy – for notifications, settings, and guidance. How would you convince someone to turn off lights or adjust their thermostat just with words? This lets you define the user, the problem, and the solution from scratch.
• Daily UX Writing Challenges: Participate in online challenges (like Daily UI, or those from UX Writing Hub). Take these small challenges and expand them into full case studies. Don’t just solve the problem; explain your thinking.
  • My Idea: If the challenge is “Write a toast notification for a successfully uploaded file,” go beyond “File Uploaded.” Explain the context: What kind of file? Who uploaded it? What happens next? Write different versions, explain why you chose one (e.g., “Your resume for Senior UX Writer was successfully uploaded! We’ll notify you when it’s reviewed.”), and detail how it shows clarity, usefulness, and the brand’s tone.
• Volunteer for Non-Profits or Small Businesses: Offer your skills to local groups that are struggling with their website copy, signup forms, or other communications. This gives you real-world constraints and people who need your help.
  • My Tip: Look for smaller non-profits; they often have very limited resources. They’ll really appreciate free, skilled help, and you’ll get to work with real people and project limitations.

For every project, whether it’s from actual work or something you made up, remember to focus on the process and the impact. That’s what hiring managers truly want to see.

Step 3: Choosing the Right Portfolio Platform & How to Set It Up

Your portfolio isn’t just about what you show, but how you show it. The platform you pick and how you organize it directly affect how easy it is to read, navigate, and how professional it looks.

Your Platform Choices

• Dedicated Portfolio Builders (like Webflow, EditorX, Squarespace, Adobe Portfolio, uxfol.io):
  • Pros: You can customize them a lot, they look very professional, you usually don’t need to code, and they’re great for search engines. You get to completely control your story.
  • Cons: Can take some time to learn; they usually cost money.
  • My Recommendation: This is what most serious UX writers go for. It shows you’re committed and that you have a good sense for design (even if you’re not a designer, a well-structured site shows you understand good UX).
• Medium/Notion/Personal Blog:
  • Pros: Easy to set up, free or cheap, good for long, detailed case studies.
  • Cons: Less control over how it looks, less brand customization, might not feel as “professional” as a dedicated site. Can be hard to use for a portfolio with many projects.
  • My Recommendation: Fine if you’re just starting and want to get something out fast. But, try to move to a dedicated platform as soon as you can.
• Google Drive/PDF:
  • Pros: Simple, easy to share.
  • Cons: Not dynamic, terrible user experience for hiring managers. Hard to know if people are looking at it. Doesn’t look professional.
  • My Recommendation: Avoid using this as your main portfolio. Only use it as a last resort or for extra materials if someone specifically asks for it.

The Essential Layout for Your Portfolio

No matter the platform, your portfolio needs clear, logical navigation. Think of it as a product designed specifically for hiring managers.

1. Homepage:
   • Clear Title: Your job title and maybe a short, powerful statement about what you offer. (e.g., “Jane Doe | UX Writer & Content Strategist | Crafting Clear, Empathetic Experiences.”)
   • Introduction: A short, engaging paragraph (3-4 sentences) that tells people who you are, what you do, and what kinds of jobs you’re looking for. Show your unique point of view.
   • Featured Projects: Your strongest 2-3 case studies prominently displayed with catchy titles and maybe a brief, interesting summary. Make them easy to click on.
2. Project Case Studies (Each Gets Its Own Page):
   • As I explained in Step 2, each project needs its own well-structured page following the “Context, Process, Solution, Impact” format.
   • Visuals Are Key: Use mockups, screenshots, flowcharts, and before-and-after comparisons. Add notes to them.
   • Readability: Break up your text with headings, bullet points, and plenty of empty space. No big blocks of text.
3. About Me Page:
   • Your Story: Go beyond your resume. What led you to UX writing? What motivates you? What are your beliefs about how you work? Show your personality and your passion.
   • Skills: List your main UX writing skills (e.g., microcopy, content strategy, understanding user research, creating style guides, localization, accessibility, working with others, knowing tools like Figma, Miro).
   • Tools: Mention the software and tools you’re good at (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Miro, Jira, Amplitude, Google Analytics, CMS platforms).
4. Contact Page (or Very Visible Contact Info):
   • Make it easy for hiring managers to get in touch with you. Include your professional email address. You might also link to your LinkedIn profile.

Design & Accessibility Best Practices

Even if you’re not a designer, follow basic UX/UI principles for your portfolio itself:

• Clean & Simple: Focus on making it easy to read. Use lots of empty space.
• Consistent Look: Stick to 2-3 consistent fonts and a limited color palette.
• Works on All Devices: Make sure your portfolio looks and works perfectly on every device (desktop, tablet, phone). Hiring managers often look at portfolios on the go.
• Accessibility: Use clear, high-contrast text. Make sure the navigation order makes sense. Add alt text to all your images. Your portfolio itself should be an example of good UX.
• Proofread Carefully: A UX writing portfolio with typos is an instant rejection. Get other people to look at it multiple times.

Your portfolio’s structure and how it looks aren’t minor details; they’re central to how your work is seen. A well-organized, visually appealing portfolio shows attention to detail and an understanding of user experience – qualities that are essential for a UX writer.

Step 4: Writing Amazing Case Studies & Adding Notes to Your Work

This is where all the hard work pays off. Your case studies are your chance to show off your critical thinking, your strategic problem-solving, and your ability to clearly explain complex processes.

Crafting Engaging Stories

Every case study is a story. Make it captivating.

• Start with a Hook: Immediately grab the reader’s attention with the problem you tackled.
  • Bad: “This project involved writing copy for a new feature.”
  • Good: “We were seeing a 40% drop-off rate on our new sign-up flow, directly threatening our goals for getting new users. My job was to figure out where the problems were and rewrite the microcopy to guide users smoothly through the process.”
• “Show, Don’t Just Tell” Your Process: Instead of just listing research methods, explain what you learned from them and how that knowledge changed your writing.
  • Don’t just say: “I looked at what competitors were doing.”
  • Say: “My competitor analysis showed that while many apps used complex legal disclaimers, the ones that were most user-friendly broke down privacy settings into clear, benefit-driven language. This led me to significantly simplify our consent prompts.”
• Explain Your “Why”: For every bit of copy, explain the reasoning behind your word choice. Why that word? Why that order? Connect it back to users’ needs, the brand’s voice, or business goals. This is vital.
  • My Example: “Instead of the standard ‘Confirm,’ I chose ‘Activate Account’ for the final step. This was because users told us they wanted a clearer sense of completion and to immediately understand what would happen next. It also aligned with the product’s brand focus on empowering users.”

Smartly Highlighting Your UI Screens

Don’t just paste screenshots. Add notes to them to direct the hiring manager’s eye to your most important contributions and how you thought things through.

• Highlight Key Microcopy: Use arrows, boxes, or circles to point directly to the specific text you’re talking about (button labels, error messages, headings, tooltips).
• Explain Your Design Decisions: Next to each highlighted element, add a short explanation of:
  • The Problem: What was wrong with the old copy (if there was any), or what challenge did this specific piece of copy address?
  • Your Solution: The exact copy you wrote.
  • The Reason: Why you wrote it that way. How does it fit with your content strategy, user research, or design principles? How does it solve the problem?
  • The Impact: What was the expected or actual outcome of this specific copy change?
• Before & After Comparisons: When you can, show the “before” and “after” copy side-by-side on actual screens. This is incredibly powerful.
• Voice & Tone Examples: If you’re showing how you applied a specific voice and tone, point to examples on the screen and explain how they embody those qualities.
  • My Example: Point to a friendly onboarding message and explain, “This phrase, ‘Let’s get you set up, hassle-free!’, uses a conversational tone to make the process feel less daunting and set a welcoming mood for new users.”
• Accessibility Considerations: If your copy took accessibility into account, point out how.
  • My Example: “For visually impaired users, the alt-text for this image was carefully written as ‘A graphical representation of your daily calorie burn,’ ensuring clear description beyond what the visual conveys for sighted users.”

Real Examples of Problem/Solution/Impact Stories

Let me show you with a very common UX writing challenge: an error message.

What Not to Do (Just Random Copy):
Headline: “Login Error: Revised”
Screenshot: A generic login screen with an error message.
Text: “You entered an invalid username or password.” —> That’s it. No process, no reason why.

What to Do (A Detailed Case Study Snippet):

The Challenge: Users were constantly running into a generic “Invalid username or password” message when trying to log in. This caused a lot of frustration, offered no way forward, and led to many people giving up, especially those with slow internet or who often made typos.

My UX Writing Process & Content Strategy:
1. Research: I dug into user support tickets and found that many “invalid credential” complaints were actually because caps lock was on, the internet was slow, or people forgot their passwords – not necessarily because they typed wrong.
2. Principle: I decided to use the principle of “Actionable Empathy” for error messages: inform, reassure, and guide. No blaming.
3. Iteration & Collaboration: I worked with the security team to understand what information we could safely provide (for example, not confirming if a username exists for security reasons). I wrote several versions, focusing on empathy and clear next steps.

The Solution & Why (With Notes on the Screenshot):

[Screenshot: Login screen with new error message highlighted]

[Note 1: Error Message – “Oops! That username or password didn’t quite match.”]
* Problem: The old “invalid” message felt like an accusation. Users sometimes typed correctly but had caps lock on or a temporary network issue.
* Reason: “Oops!” shows empathy and reduces user blame. “Didn’t quite match” is softer than “invalid” and covers more situations than just incorrect typing.
* Impact: My goal was to reduce user frustration and the chance of them giving up.

[Note 2: Suggestion 1 – “Double-check your spelling (and Caps Lock!).”]
* Problem: Users often missed simple things like caps lock. The old message gave no hints for troubleshooting.
* Reason: This directly addresses a common user oversight without making them feel stupid. It gives them an immediate, easy action to try.
* Impact: Aimed to help users fix simple errors themselves before contacting support or leaving.

[Note 3: Suggestion 2 – “Forgot your password? Reset it here.”]
* Problem: No clear way to reset a password directly from the error state.
* Reason: Provides an immediate, relevant solution for a common login problem, making it easier for the user to figure out what to do. It turns a frustrating situation into an actionable one.
* Impact: Expected to reduce support tickets for password resets from the login stage and improve overall successful login rates.

Results (Just an Example for a Personal Project):
While I didn’t have direct numbers for this conceptual redesign, the qualitative goal was to make users feel better during error states and reduce them giving up. This approach, based on solid UX research, is designed to smoothly guide users to a successful login. (For real projects, you’d put actual data here).

By really putting these principles into practice for each project, you’ll turn basic examples into undeniable proof of your amazing UX writing skills.

Step 5: Getting Found & Making a Mark

Having a beautiful, well-organized portfolio is only half the battle. People actually need to find it, and once they do, it needs to leave a lasting impression. This step is all about smart optimization.

Making Your Portfolio Searchable (SEO)

Yes, even your portfolio needs some basic SEO to help hiring managers and recruiters discover you.

• Keywords:
  • In your homepage title/description: “UX Writer Portfolio,” “Content Strategist,” “Microcopy Specialist,” “Product Content.”
  • Naturally woven into your About page and project descriptions: Use terms like “user experience writing,” “content design,” “information architecture,” “user research,” “web content,” “app content,” “onboarding flows,” “error messages.”
• Clear URLs: Make your project website addresses descriptive and include keywords.
  • Bad: johndoe.com/project1
  • Good: johndoe.com/ux-writing-onboarding-flow-case-study
• Image Alt Text: Add descriptive alt text to all your screenshots and visuals. This is good for accessibility and for search engines.
  • My Example: alt="Screenshot of banking app login error message before and after UX writing redesign"
• Loading Speed: Optimize your images and website code to ensure your site loads quickly. Slow sites frustrate users (and recruiters!).

Using Your LinkedIn Profile Effectively

Prominently link your portfolio from your LinkedIn profile, and use the platform to bring people to your work and show off your expertise.

• Banner/Headline: Include “UX Writer” in your headline. Think about a banner image that subtly hints at your work.
• “About” Section: Briefly introduce your philosophy on UX writing and link directly to your portfolio in the very first paragraph.
• “Featured” Section: Directly showcase 2-3 of your best case studies here with compelling descriptions.
• Experience Section: For each job you’ve had, highlight your UX writing responsibilities and achievements, linking to relevant portfolio pieces where it makes sense.
• Posts & Articles: Share your thoughts on UX writing, discuss industry trends, or elaborate on small projects. This positions you as someone with valuable insights and attracts attention.

Networking & Sharing Your Work

Don’t build your portfolio in isolation. Get it in front of people!

• Share with Your Peers: Get feedback from other writers, designers, or product people. They can spot things you might have missed.
• Targeted Outreach: When you apply for jobs, tailor your cover letter to specifically mention projects in your portfolio that are most relevant to the role. Don’t just send a generic link.
• Informational Interviews: If you have an informational interview, share your portfolio and ask for specific feedback.
• Online Communities: Share your work (appropriately) in UX writing groups, design communities, or professional forums. Ask for critiques.

Making It Easy to Scan & Maximizing Impact

Hiring managers are busy. Make it easy for them to quickly grasp your value.

• Easy to Scan Layout: Use clear headings, subheadings, bullet points, and short paragraphs. Avoid dense blocks of text.
• Visual Hierarchy: Guide the reader’s eye. Your project titles and main takeaways should be the most prominent.
• Calls-to-Action (CTAs): At the end of each case study, include a subtle CTA like “Curious to see more? Explore my other projects.” Or “Let’s connect!”
• Mobile-First Design: Make sure your portfolio truly adapts to different screen sizes. Many recruiters might first look at your portfolio on a tablet or phone. Test it thoroughly.
• Proofread Relentlessly: Any typo or grammatical error instantly damages your credibility, especially if you’re a UX writer. Use tools like Grammarly, Hemingway App, and get a second (or third!) pair of eyes to check everything.

By actively optimizing your portfolio so it can be discovered and ensuring it leaves a strong impression right away, you’re transforming it from a static display into an active tool for advancing your career.

Step 6: Keep Your Portfolio Updated & Constantly Improve It

Your portfolio isn’t a finished product; it’s always evolving. The world of UX keeps changing, your skills grow, and your career goals shift. Approach your portfolio like you would any product: keep making it better.

Regular Reviews and Updates

• Add New Projects: As you gain new professional experience or complete impressive personal projects, add them in. Don’t let your portfolio get stale. Try to update it at least once a quarter, even if it’s just a small tweak.
• Remove Old Work: If a project no longer shows off your current skill level or career aspirations, archive it or take it down. Quality is more important than quantity.
• Refresh Your Language & Visuals: Go back and look at your project explanations. Can you explain your process more clearly? Are the pictures still sharp and relevant? Have you quantified your impact more precisely?
• Update Your “About Me” & Skills: Your professional story changes. Make sure your “About Me” page reflects your newest insights, passions, and developed skills. Add any new tools or methods you’ve learned.

Ask for Feedback & Keep Improving

Just like a UX designer gathers user feedback, you should actively seek input on your portfolio.

• Mentors/Senior UX Writers: Ask them to review your portfolio. They can give you invaluable insights into what hiring managers in their companies look for.
• Recruiters: If you have a good relationship with a recruiter, ask for their honest feedback on how your portfolio stands out (or doesn’t). What common mistakes do they see?
• Designers/Product Managers: They often work closely with UX writers. Their perspective on how well your portfolio shows collaboration and strategic thinking can be very illuminating.
• Peers: Join UX writing communities or peer review groups. Offer to review others’ portfolios in exchange for feedback on yours.

• Specific Questions to Ask (Don’t just say “What do you think?”):

  • “Is my process clear in each case study?”
  • “Do my projects clearly show both content strategy AND microcopy skills?”
  • “Is the navigation easy to use? Could you easily find my contact info?”
  • “Do my results/impact statements feel convincing and believable?”
  • “What’s one thing I could do to make this portfolio stronger for a senior UX writer role?”
  • “Does the tone of my portfolio match how I present myself?”

Learn from Setbacks (and Wins)

Every application is a piece of information.

• Analyze Rejections: If you consistently hear that your portfolio didn’t quite hit the mark, try to understand why. Was it a lack of specific project types? An unclear process? Missing impact? This is tough feedback to hear, but it’s essential for growth.
• Track Successes: When you do get interviews or job offers, try to understand what resonated with the hiring team. Which projects did they ask about most? What aspects of your process did they highlight? Double down on those strengths in your portfolio.
• Keep a Running Log: Maintain a document where you list feedback you received, the changes you made, and the results (interviews, rejections). This helps you see your portfolio’s improvement journey over time.

Stay Current with Industry Changes

UX writing is a field that’s always changing quickly.

• Read Industry Blogs and Publications: Stay informed about new tools, methods, and best practices.
• Attend Webinars/Conferences: Even free online sessions can keep you updated.
• Experiment with New Formats: If voice UI or conversational AI is becoming a big trend, think about a conceptual project that shows off your skills in that area.

Your UX writing portfolio is more than just a collection of examples; it’s a dynamic reflection of your professional growth, your critical thinking, and proof of your ability to solve real-world problems using words. By diligently following these six steps – from breaking down the role to constantly revising – you won’t just build a portfolio; you’ll create a powerful tool that clearly shows your value, opens doors, and moves your career forward in the impactful world of UX writing.