You spent hours on your portfolio. You chose the projects carefully. You wrote thoughtful descriptions.
And yet—silence. No messages. No interviews. No leads.
The problem usually isn't your work. It's how you're presenting it.
Here are the seven most common portfolio mistakes, and how to fix each one.
1. No clear call to action
The mistake: Your portfolio ends with your projects. There's no obvious next step.
Visitors finish looking at your work and think, "That was interesting." Then they close the tab. You've given them no reason to reach out.
The fix: Tell people what to do next.
It doesn't need to be aggressive. A simple "Let's talk" or "Get in touch" works. Place it where people naturally finish browsing—at the end of your project section, or in a sticky footer.
Make your email visible. Don't hide it behind a contact form. People prefer sending a quick email to filling out fields.
2. Showing everything instead of curating
The mistake: You've included every project you've ever worked on. Your portfolio is a timeline of your entire career.
This feels thorough, but it's actually overwhelming. Visitors don't know where to look. They can't tell what you're best at. Your strongest work gets lost in the noise.
The fix: Choose 3-5 projects that represent your current ability.
Ask yourself: "Would I want to do more work like this?" If the answer is no, leave it out.
Quality over quantity. Always.
3. Missing project context
The mistake: You show the final deliverable but don't explain the journey.
A screenshot of a dashboard tells me nothing. I don't know the constraints you worked under, the problems you solved, or the decisions you made. I can't tell if you're brilliant or if you just executed someone else's vision.
The fix: For each project, answer:
- What was the challenge?
- What was your specific contribution?
- Why did you make the choices you made?
- What was the outcome?
Two paragraphs is usually enough. The goal is to show your thinking, not to write an essay.
4. Slow loading and poor mobile experience
The mistake: Your portfolio takes forever to load. Or it looks great on desktop but falls apart on a phone.
Over half of portfolio traffic comes from mobile devices. If your site is slow or broken on a phone, you're losing more than half your audience before they even see your work.
The fix: Test your portfolio on your phone. Really use it.
- Does it load in under 3 seconds?
- Is the text readable without zooming?
- Can you navigate easily with your thumb?
- Do images display correctly?
If you're using heavy frameworks or uncompressed images, consider simplifying. The best portfolios are often the fastest.
5. Outdated content
The mistake: Your most recent project is from two years ago. Your bio mentions a job you left 18 months back.
This signals that you're not actively maintaining your professional presence. It raises questions. Are you still working in this field? Are you still available?
The fix: Set a reminder to review your portfolio quarterly.
Each time, ask:
- Is my most recent work represented?
- Does my "About" section still reflect who I am?
- Are all the links still working?
- Is there anything that no longer represents my current direction?
A portfolio doesn't need to change constantly, but it should feel current.
6. Weak or missing "About" section
The mistake: Your About section is either missing entirely or reads like a LinkedIn summary written by a robot.
"Results-driven professional with a passion for innovation." This tells me nothing. It could describe anyone. It's forgettable.
The fix: Write like a human.
Your About section should answer: "Who is this person, and would I want to work with them?"
Include:
- What you actually do (be specific)
- What you care about professionally
- Something that gives a sense of your personality
Three sentences is often enough. Authenticity beats length.
7. No contact information
The mistake: You've made it impossible (or just annoying) to get in touch.
Maybe your email is hidden. Maybe there's only a contact form that feels like a commitment. Maybe the only option is connecting on LinkedIn.
Each barrier costs you opportunities.
The fix: Make your email address visible and easy to find.
Put it in your header, your footer, and your About section. Yes, all three.
If you're worried about spam, use a dedicated professional email. The cost of a few spam messages is nothing compared to the cost of missed opportunities.
How to audit your own portfolio
Here's a quick checklist. Take 10 minutes and be honest with yourself.
- Open your portfolio on your phone. Does it work well? Is it fast?
- Show it to someone who doesn't know your work. Can they tell what you do and how to reach you within 30 seconds?
- Look at your project count. Do you have 3-5 strong pieces, or a pile of everything you've ever touched?
- Read your project descriptions. Do they explain your thinking, or just show the output?
- Check the date on your most recent work. Is it current?
- Read your About section aloud. Does it sound like you?
- Try to contact yourself. Is it easy?
If you found issues, that's good news. Now you know what to fix.
The easiest way to start fresh
If your portfolio needs more than a quick fix, consider starting over.
With Curvit, you can upload your CV and have a clean, professional portfolio in seconds. No design skills needed. No fussing with layouts.
Just your work, beautifully presented.