In part 1 of our two-part blogs series, we shared five reasons to ask for a portfolio before hiring engineering firms. In this blog, we delve deeper into reviewing portfolios of engineering candidates and why their portfolios are significant as well.

1. Portfolios clearly communicate a candidate’s past experiences.
   • One of the most important reasons to ask for a portfolio is that a portfolio is a demonstration of a candidate’s skills. Interviews can provide insight into a person’s personality, but portfolios provide concrete examples of their knowledge and ability. An interview can’t always provide a clear image of a person’s skillset. In engineering in particular, it is crucial that a candidate has not just the right personality and education fit, but also the capability to do the job at hand.
2. Portfolios show an engineer’s ability to communicate creatively.
   • It can be a difficult task to showcase your skills to a prospective employer. Creating a great portfolio requires creativity. A portfolio can be physical documents, a website, digital images, models or any other number things. Strong portfolios should standout—and give you great insight into an engineer’s ability to think outside the box when it comes to communicating on projects.
3. Portfolios highlight ability to document projects.
   • Documentation is an important step in the engineering process. A portfolio requires an engineer to have a curated collection of their past work, which can give an employer insight into a candidate’s organizational skills and ability to accurately document projects. Documenting projects well can be a huge attribute and asset to your company when it comes to gathering case studies in the future.
4. Portfolios guide the questions you ask in interviews.
   • As you review a candidate’s portfolio, you will have examples to refer to during the interview process. This is extremely valuable because a portfolio will allow you to ask detailed questions about an interviewee’s work. You will be able to ask specific, scenario-based questions that will reveal how they approach and think about problems.
5. You’ll learn more about candidates by looking at their portfolios.
   • After all, the more information you have on a candidate, the more likely it will be that you hire the right person for the job. In the pile of résumés and cover letters you receive, portfolios can make applicants stand out even more—making it even more clear who belongs with your company.

Are you looking to hire an engineer for your firm? TriMech Services has access to some of the top engineering talent, and has skilled Technical Recruiters on staff to help you find the right fit. To learn more, contact us!