How CareerLoop Empowers Job Seekers to Replace Resumes with Portfolios

William Zhao, founder of CareerLoop.

The traditional single-page resume is no longer sufficient in a hyper-competitive global job market. To address this gap, CareerLoop, a free portfolio creation platform founded by University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) student William Zhao, is fundamentally changing how students and professionals apply for jobs. The platform has already helped over 25,000 users worldwide stand out by converting simple text-based resumes into powerful, visual professional portfolios.

Hiring managers increasingly demand real proof of skills and a glimpse of a candidate’s professional identity beyond bullet points. CareerLoop was designed to meet this need by eliminating the complexity of design and coding. Its signature Resume-to-Portfolio feature allows users to instantly upload their current resume, select a template, and generate a polished portfolio in seconds.

"The goal is simple: make portfolios as common as resumes," said William Zhao, founder of CareerLoop. "By focusing on simplicity and accessibility, especially by keeping the platform completely free for students, we are leveling the playing field. Anyone, regardless of their network or resources, deserves the opportunity to showcase their value and land their dream job."

CareerLoop’s rapid growth is a testament to the demand for accessible career tools. The platform’s focus on the student experience is paramount, offering zero-cost access to anyone with a .edu email address. This mission has resonated globally, amplified by engaging, career-focused social media content that has garnered over 100 million views and driven global user adoption.

To ensure success, the platform features a growing library of Portfolio Examples across high-demand fields like data science, consulting, and project management, giving users a clear, practical roadmap for building a job-winning professional identity. CareerLoop is pushing to make portfolios the new normal in professional applications by significantly lowering the barrier to entry and providing the tools for mass adoption.