Choose evidence that fits the internship
A portfolio gives you space to explain projects that a CV can only mention briefly. Whether an employer wants one depends on the role and application instructions. Keep the requested CV, questions and documents complete; use the portfolio to support them.
If you are unsure what to include, start with the no-experience guide and project worksheet. Coursework and personal projects can be useful when you clearly describe your part in the work.
For application dates, use the UK summer internship timeline. Our student skills evidence guide helps you turn project notes into a clear account of your contribution.
Map the requirements to your actual projects
The example below uses a fictional mechanical design internship brief. It is not a real job listing or a record of a successful application. Suppose the brief asks for CAD, basic engineering analysis and clear documentation. Match those requirements to work you actually did:
| Requirement in the sample brief | Evidence the applicant has | What to explain |
|---|---|---|
| CAD and drawing skills | A coursework bracket model and revised drawing | The geometry owned by the applicant and the reason for the revision |
| Basic analysis | A static FEA study with a hand-calculation comparison | The assumptions, units and limits of the comparison |
| Documentation | A team assembly note | Which instructions the applicant wrote and what they clarified |
If the advert asks for a tool you have not used, do not add it to the portfolio. You can name the tool you did use and explain the relevant task. The portfolio should help someone understand your experience, not hide a gap in it.
For an electrical internship, the same process might lead you to a board project, a bring-up log and a test summary. The electrical example shows how to distinguish your contribution, a design target and a measured result.
Change the order before rewriting everything
Imagine your existing portfolio starts with a personal website, then a society event, then the bracket project. For the sample mechanical role, start with the bracket. Put the assembly documentation next if it adds useful evidence, and keep the website only if you can explain its relevance.
| General order | Order for the sample design internship |
|---|---|
| Personal website | Bracket design and analysis |
| Society event | Assembly documentation |
| Bracket project | Another relevant project, if available |
This is a choice about emphasis. It does not change who did the work or what the results were. In a shared project, say which part was yours each time you describe it.
One portfolio can support several applications. If you edit its order after sending the link, earlier recipients will see the updated page too. Keep that in mind when making a substantial change for a different type of role.
Make the first project easy to assess
Give it a short opening: the problem, your role and the outcome you can support. Then show a useful image or link, explain one decision and state any important limitation. A reader should not need to open five attachments to understand the basic project.
The CAD and FEA walkthrough explains what belongs beside a mechanical analysis image. Software applicants can use the developer guide to organize a project around its demo, code and contribution.
Keep your introduction specific to your current situation: course or background, relevant interests and the type of work you are seeking. Avoid implying professional experience you do not have. A project in progress can appear if its status and completed work are clear.
Put the link where the application permits it
Add the portfolio URL beside your contact details on your CV and in an application form's website field when available. On LinkedIn, a featured link can point to the same page. Follow the employer's instructions if they restrict links or request a particular format.
FolioBuild publishes a website link. It does not currently export a matching PDF portfolio, so prepare a separate document if the application specifically requests one. Check the actual submission requirements before choosing a format.
A final application check
- Confirm that the first project relates to the role.
- Check every claim against your notes, including any AI draft.
- Identify your contribution to team work and label unfinished projects.
- Open the published link while signed out; check it on a phone too.
- Check contact details and remove information you cannot share publicly.
- Complete the employer's required documents and questions.
Use the internship application checklist to review the requested documents, submitted versions and next deadlines.
Use the student and graduate guide for the overall structure. You can preview the Mechanical or Electric template for the sample fields above. Manual drafts are free; AI uses credits and publishing requires the publishing plan. A portfolio makes your evidence easier to inspect, but it does not guarantee an interview or offer.