A work sample, or work example, is a piece of your past work that demonstrates your skills and abilities. It showcases your capabilities to potential employers or clients more effectively than simply describing your experience.
What Makes a Good Work Sample?
A strong work sample effectively illustrates your skills relevant to the job you're applying for. It should be:
- Relevant: Directly related to the target position or industry.
- High-quality: Demonstrates your best work, showcasing your abilities.
- Well-presented: Professionally formatted and easy to understand.
- Clear and concise: Highlights your achievements and contributions.
- Permissioned: You have the right to share the work (especially if it contains confidential information).
Types of Work Samples
Work samples can take many forms, depending on the profession:
- Written documents: Reports, presentations, articles, marketing materials, code samples (for programmers).
- Visual work: Designs, photographs, artwork, videos, website mockups.
- Physical products: Handcrafted items, prototypes, models (depending on the field).
Example: A graphic designer might submit a portfolio of their best designs, while a software engineer might share snippets of their code on platforms like GitHub. A writer might submit published articles or blog posts.
The provided reference states: "A work sample is a single piece of writing, portfolio piece or physical product you've completed in the past. Usually, it's something you've created from previous jobs or volunteer work. A work sample helps you show, not tell, how good you are at doing your job." This emphasizes the importance of using tangible evidence of past performance to highlight abilities.
