It's very common to scroll down an employment opportunity and discover that they want a sample of your work. This is especially common in internship job postings. The reason employers want to see your work is because it gives them an idea of what you have accomplished, and how they can help you improve in your field. For example, journalism internships often ask for a few writing samples. If you have worked at your student newspaper, then save some of the articles you have written and submit those with your application. The same thing applies to an art student. Keep any project that you think demonstrates your ability as an artist and add it to your portfolio.

The key thing is to keep work that you are proud of, and resembles who you are. The work should be your best, since the employer will only see you on paper, before deciding if you should get an interview or not. Since you know that you will most likely be asked for a sample of your work sometime in the future, use that as motivation to do well in your classes or your current job right now.

Once you have a few samples together, you can start to put together a portfolio of all your work. This can include any project you are proud of, certificates of achievement, etc. Then, if you are asked for a sample, you can dig it out and give the employer exactly what they are looking for. Remember that your samples should be related to the career path you want to be on. Always double check to make sure your material is relevant to the position you are applying for.