Career Portfolios

Career Portfolios Student Research Guide

Suggestions for Developing and Using a Career Portfolio

What is a portfolio?

A portfolio is defined as a selection or collection of things, artifacts, and tangible materials that represent work-related events in your life. Your portfolio will document your progress, showcase your accomplishments and acknowledge your transitions. Your professional portfolio should be a visual representation of your abilities, skills, capabilities, knowledge and qualities; it should provide tangible evidence of your potential by documenting your past accomplishments. It should be brief and should represent your most impressive samples. Start saving things (papers, projects, photos, etc.) if you aren't already doing so.

No two portfolios, just as no two individuals, are the same. An effective portfolio should not have voluminous content. Careful selection of pieces that best demonstrate the breadth and depth of your skills is required. Keep the portfolio simple and manageable. In addition to their value as a marketing and self-promotional tool for job seekers, portfolios can also be used as a performance appraisal and promotional tool for those who are currently employed. A professional portfolio, like your résumé, should be regularly updated and revised.

For suggestions for portfolio contents, see University of Washington Geography Department's Starting Your Career Portfolio Collection

Portfolio Contents

The following are examples of some possible items to include in a portfolio:

1. Front Cover or Cover Page

2. Cover Letter or Portfolio Introduction

3. Table of Contents

4. Résumé

5. Statements of Interests, Values, Philosophy of Work, Short- and Long-Term Goals

6. Skills

   • Samples of sketches, drawings, blueprints, and/or photographs of models that illustrate your drawing skills and knowledge of various CAD software applications.

   • Samples of Gantt and PERT charts from MS Project, Excel spreadsheets and charts, and PowerPoint presentations to exhibit your computer skills.

   • Samples from a final project to provide evidence of your creativity.

   • Essays, projects or reports to demonstrate your communication skills and organizational and analytical abilities.

   • Videotape of presentations to show how well you can deliver information and answer questions about your presentation.

7. Training

   • Transcript(s).

   • List of courses (with a description of content and/or course objectives).

   • On-the-job training, courses taken

8. Degrees, certificates, licenses, from courses, workshops, seminars, or on-the-job-training.

9. Accomplishments

   • Job Description, Promotions (positive performance evaluations or reviews).

   • Awards (NVTHS, Perfect Attendance, Honors/High Honors, Community Service [photos of volunteer work projects], Memberships in professional associations)

10. References (focus on qualities of loyalty, dedication, integrity, character, personality, involvement)

    • Personal (minister or someone from community who has known you for some time).

    • Instructor.

    • Employer (focus on skills and personal qualities).

    • Letters of Commendation, Recognition, or Thanks for Community Service.

Portfolios can be developed in a variety of formats including print (facsimiles, documents, photographs, etc.), CD-ROM, Web page, and mixed media (including video).

Portfolio Development Process

The following actions are commonly part of developing a portfolio:

1. Self-Assessment: What skills and experience relate to the needs of the position and what examples of your work exhibit those skills?

2. Research employer or position to see what experience and skills are required for the job.

3. Review your collection of objects and gather documentation. Do not include samples that have grades or teacher comments on them. Revise and reprint these items before including them in your portfolio.

4. Write, review, and revise personal statements and résumé.

5. Purchase supplies (e.g. zippered ring binder, clear plastic sheet protectors, quality paper and tabbed dividers). Remember that a "book is judged by its cover."

6. Decide on arrangement, sequence, or order.

7. Develop captions or titles.

8. Create introduction or summary and table of contents.

9. Have your selections reviewed for content, design, correct spelling and grammar. Proofread and spellcheck on the computer and by someone other than yourself.

10. Revise and develop finished product.

11. Rehearse using your portfolio with practice presentations to individuals and to groups. (You should be able to explain the purpose of each section to your audience.)

    • What are the questions or opportunities that will allow you to refer to your portfolio?

    • How can your portfolio demonstrate your skills and abilities?

    • How can a discussion of the requirements of the position lead to portfolio examples that demonstrate your capacity for these aspects of the job?

    • How can using your portfolio strengthen your candidacy be demonstrating your accomplishments?

Using a Career Portfolio

Here are some of the benefits that are derived from using a career portfolio:

1. Ready access to documents like the resume, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and other important important documents that you can upload onto existing online career websites like LinkedIn, USAJOBS, and the like.

2. It allows you to create you own website where you can upload the career portfolio online where you can send a link to your career portfolio to perspective employers as you market yourself.

3. It provides one location for all your information documents that you will need to have as you apply for jobs throughout your life.

Bibliography of Online and Print Resources

WEB SITES

• Brown, Chris N. Architectural Engineering Technology Web Portfolio. n.d. 2 Mar. 2002 <http://www.vtc.edu/users/cbrown/>.

• Illinois State University. HTML Resumes and Web Portfolios. Oct. 2001. 2 Mar. 2002 <http://www.cas.ilstu.edu/english/249/Projects/resumes.html>.

• Kimeldorf, Martin. Portfolio Library. 2001. 2 Mar. 2002 <http://amby.com/kimeldorf/portfolio/>.

• Lethbridge College. Student Employment Resource Center. How to Prepare an Employment Portfolio. Nov. 1997. 2 Mar. 2002 <http://www.lethbridgecollege.ab.ca/serc/gradstud/tipsheet/portfoli.html>.

• New Jersey Institute of Technology. Career Development Services - Student Services. NJIT Career Portfolio Description and Samples. n.d. 2 Mar. 2002 <http://www.njit.edu/CDS/studentportfolio>.

• Sweet Briar College. Career Services Center. Web Portfolio Examples. Mar. 2000. 2 Mar. 2002 <http://www.portfolio.sbc.edu/examples.html>.

• University of Washington. Geography Department. Career Portfolio Basics. June 2000. 2 Mar. 2002 <http://depts.washington.edu/geogjobs/Careers/pfolbasics.html>.

• ---. Career Portfolio Resources. June 2000. 2 Mar. 2002 <http://depts.washington.edu/geogjobs/Careers/pfolresources.html>.

• ---. Starting Your Career Portfolio Collection. June 2000. 2 Mar. 2002 <http://depts.washington.edu/geogjobs/Careers/pfolcoll.html>.

ARTICLES

• Bisbee, Jennifer Regen. "Is Your Portfolio Really the Best Selling Tool?" Public Relations Tactics Vol. 2 Issue 9, Sept. 1995, 8. Available from EbscoHost MasterFile Premier [database on-line]. 2 Mar. 2002 <http://search.epnet.com/direct.asp?AN=9709195110&db=f5h>.

• Hansen, Randall S. "Your Job Skills Portfolio: Giving You an Edge in the Marketplace." n.d. 2 Mar. 2002 <http://www.quintcareers.com/job_search_portfolio.html>.

• Kimeldorf, Martin, and Barbara Hagy. "Expanding the Definition and Use of Career Portfolios." n.d. 2 Mar. 2002 <http://www.quintcareers.com/career_portfolios.html>.

• Smith, Greg. "Building Your Career Portfolio." Career World Vol. 29 Issue 4, Jan. 2001, 24. Available from EbscoHost MasterFile Premier [database on-line]. 2 Mar. 2002 <http://search.epnet.com/direct.asp?AN=3979807&db=f5h>.

BOOKS

• Bostaph, Charles, and Roland Vendeland. Employment Portfolio: Identifying Skills, Training, Accomplishments, and References for the Job Seeker. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 2000.

• Kimeldorf, Martin. Career Portfolio Sampler, 3rd ed. Seattle, WA: PublishingOnline, 2000.

• ---. Portfolio Power: The New Way to Showcase Your Job Skills and Experiences. Seattle, WA: PublishingOnline, 2000.

• Linton, Harold. Portfolio Design, 2nd ed. New York, NY: W.W. Norton, 2000.

• Nelles, Rick. Proof of Performance Portfolio: How to Build a Career Portfolio to Land a Great New Job. Manassas Park, VA: Impact, 2001.

• Poore, Carol. Building Your Career Portfolio. Franklin Lakes, NJ: Career Press, 2001. [Electronic resource] Access through ITT Tech Virtual Library (select BOOKS, select Ebrary, search by title or author).

• Satterthwaite, Frank. The Career Portfolio Workbook. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2003. [Electronic resource] Access through ITT Tech Virtual Library (select BOOKS, select Ebrary, search by title or author).

• Williams, Anna Graf and Karen J. Hall. Creating Your Career Portfolio: At a Glance Guide. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 2001.

To locate additional articles, try searching the EbscoHost database for the SUBJECT "Employment portfolios." To locate additional books on employment portfolios in your LRC or local library, try searching using some of these Library of Congress Subject headings:

• Architecture portfolios - Design

• Art portfolios - Design

• Commercial art - Marketing

• Design services - Marketing

• Employment portfolios

• Graphic arts - Marketing

Please consult an LRC service provider for additional resources or the Career Services staff and your instructor for further information and assistance in preparing a professional portfolio.