People are still using resumes. These same applicants have portfolios...sometimes. A dribble or behance site is less than a more fully fleshed out portfolio.

And yes, ask for help from everyone. Developer friends, other designers, editors. There are so many people who can help.

And to your additional point about a digital profile/artifact, one might have a ton of existing without having to create something new like you describe, but your ideas are AMAZING. It behooves candidates to do a great deal of work to get noticed.