Article
The five-second test: can a stranger tell what you do?
A five-second test of what a stranger learns from your portfolio, and why a clear specialty makes the answer stronger.
Show your portfolio to a stranger for five seconds, then close it and ask three questions.
- What does this person do?
- What kind of work do they want?
- Would I know who to hand this to?
If the answers are vague, the portfolio is trying to please everyone and is landing with no one.
Why a niche helps
A clear focus, such as fintech, design systems or research for healthcare, makes you easy to remember and easy to recommend. Profiles that name a specialty tend to attract more relevant opportunities than broad, generalist ones.
It depends on where you are
Targeting a particular industry? A focused portfolio is more persuasive. Early in your career, a wider range can show versatility and growth. Either way, the message has to be intentional.
Make it visible in the first screen
Put the specialty in the headline, and lead with your strongest, most relevant projects. Keep the set small: five to eight good pieces make a stronger impression than a mix of strong and weak.
Repeat the test
Change one thing, test again with someone new. Stop when strangers describe you the way you want to be described.
- UX Design
- Product Design