New Year, New Brilliance: Preparing Your Portfolio and Résumé for 2026
- JèM
- Dec 19, 2025
- 2 min read
Facet Fridays — Professional Services Edition December 19
As the year winds down, many people rush toward “New Year goals” without first pausing to assess what’s already been built. But brilliance isn’t about rushing ahead — it’s about refining what God has already entrusted to you.
Preparation is not pressure.
Preparation is stewardship.
As we look toward 2026, this is the season to polish your professional materials — not to create something new out of thin air, but to reveal what’s already there.
“Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings.” — Proverbs 22:29 (KJV)
Your Résumé Is a Reflection, Not a Sales Pitch
One of the biggest misconceptions about résumés is that they’re meant to impress. In truth, a résumé is meant to clarify.
It should answer:
Who has God shaped you to be?
What problems are you equipped to solve?
Where has your obedience produced fruit?
A strong résumé doesn’t exaggerate — it aligns. It tells a cohesive story of growth, discipline, skill, and calling.
When I work with clients on résumé writing and portfolio development, the first step isn’t formatting. It’s discernment. We step back and look at patterns, pivots, and purpose.
Because clarity precedes confidence.
Design Thinking Applies to Professional Services Too
Just like a well-designed space, your professional materials need:
Flow — information that moves logically and effortlessly
Hierarchy — what matters most is easy to see
Function — every word earns its place
Overcrowded résumés feel like cluttered rooms.
Underdeveloped portfolios feel like unfinished spaces.
When form supports function, peace follows.
The Art Therapy Lens: Honoring Growth Without Shame
Many people avoid updating their résumé because it forces reflection — and reflection can feel uncomfortable.
But growth doesn’t require judgment.
From an art therapy perspective, your career timeline is a process piece, not a final draft. Each role, season, and transition added texture — even the ones that felt messy at the time.
God wastes nothing.
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it…” — Philippians 1:6 (KJV)
Your portfolio should honor evolution, not hide it.
Preparing for 2026 Starts Now
Waiting until you “need” your résumé is like waiting for guests before cleaning the house. Preparation creates peace long before opportunity knocks.
This season is ideal for:
Updating your résumé with clarity and intention
Aligning language with where you’re going — not just where you’ve been
Creating or refining a portfolio that reflects your brilliance
Removing outdated language that no longer fits who you are
The polish doesn’t create the gem; it simply reveals its brilliance.
A Gentle Invitation
If you’ve been feeling a nudge to prepare — not out of fear, but out of faith — honor it.
Whether you’re staying planted or sensing a future shift, your professional materials should reflect excellence, integrity, and truth.
And if you need design assistance, résumé writing support, or clarity around presenting your work with confidence and purpose, I’m here to serve.
Schedule your discovery call to begin your professional refresh.