A strong portfolio can fail at a very ordinary point: the reviewer cannot open it. You can see every project because you are signed in as the owner, while a recruiter receives a permission request or an expired link. Testing access is part of preparing the application, not an administrative detail to leave until someone complains.
Start from a signed-out view
Use a private browser window or another browser profile that is not logged into your publishing account. Open the exact link you intend to send. If a password is required, enter only the access information the reviewer will receive. Do not use your administrator password as a visitor password.
Follow the main project links, open any permitted downloads and try the page on a narrow screen. Check that the access instructions are visible before the protected content and that a reader can return to the project index without becoming trapped in a sign-in loop.
- Confirm the link points to the intended portfolio, not an editing screen.
- Check the password and any expiry date immediately before sending.
- Remove requests for the reviewer to create an unnecessary account.
- Provide a simple contact route if access fails.
Keep confidentiality separate from convenience
A password does not make confidential employer material suitable for publication. Use only work you are authorised to share, with sensitive details removed where appropriate. Explain your contribution without exposing customer information, internal credentials or another person’s private data.
For a career change, arrange the first view around the abilities relevant to the role. A reviewer should not need to open ten unrelated projects to discover the one that demonstrates the skill named in your application. Include enough context to understand the problem, your role and the result without an accompanying presentation.
Finally, send yourself the application message and follow it as a recipient would. The test is complete when the permitted work opens through that actual message. “It works on my laptop” is less useful evidence than a successful visit from the same starting point the recruiter will have.