You’re doing the work, meeting your targets, maybe even going the extra mile. But when your pay review time comes around, you get… nothing.

But here’s the thing: doing great work isn’t always enough. If your wins aren’t visible, they might as well not exist. Sharon Armstrong, specialist recruitment expert at Armstrong Appointments, says:

“You can’t rely on your manager to see everything; you need to shove it right under their nose. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy, but building a mini portfolio is one of the best ways to take control of your career.”

It might feel a bit awkward or unnecessary, especially if you’re not planning on leaving your job. But having a simple, ongoing record of your achievements is one of the easiest, most effective ways to show your value without having to “brag.”

Instead of waiting for your boss to notice, you can gently point to your track record and make a case for a raise that’s impossible to ignore.

How to start your mini portfolio (no design skills needed)

This isn’t just for creatives. Anyone can build one, and it takes less effort than you think. You don’t need a template or fancy graphics. Just open a Google Doc, Notion page, Canva folder or even a Notes app, and start collecting the following:

• Praise from clients or colleagues: Screenshot nice feedback from clients or colleagues
• Examples of KPIs hit: Note key numbers (targets hit, growth metrics, conversions etc)
• Side projects and extra initiatives: Did you take the lead on anything outside your job description?
• Performance reviews or 1-1s: Include quotes or takeaways that highlight your strengths
• Mentorship moments: If you’ve helped train a colleague, share what they’ve learned and how it helped the team

 Bonus tips to go the extra mile 

Sharon also recommends a few overlooked ways to stand out and boost your value:

• Mentor up and down: “Offer to mentor junior colleagues, or even support senior ones if you’ve got a strength they lack. It builds respect, shows leadership potential, and puts you on the radar for bigger projects.”
• Get involved in hiring: Offer to review CVs, help in interviews, or suggest improvements to job adverts. It shows you’re interested in the business and opens up conversations you wouldn’t usually be a part of.
• Track the impact: Keep a note of what’s changed thanks to your input. That kind of evidence speaks volumes at review time.

You can’t assume your hard work will speak for itself, because most of the time, it doesn’t. But with a mini portfolio, you turn invisible wins into visible value.

“You’re not just reminding your boss of what you’ve done,” says Sharon, “you’re showing them why you deserve to grow.”