Creating a Professional Creating a Professional PortfolioPortfolio

Ms. StewartMs. Stewart

Business Management 12Business Management 12

What is a job skills, job-search, or What is a job skills, job-search, or career portfolio? career portfolio?

It is a job-hunting tool that you develop It is a job-hunting tool that you develop that gives employers a complete picture of that gives employers a complete picture of who you are who you are

Your experienceYour experience Your educationYour education Your accomplishments Your accomplishments Your skill sets -– and what you have the Your skill sets -– and what you have the

potential to become -– much more than potential to become -– much more than just a cover letter and resume can provide just a cover letter and resume can provide

What can I use a Portfolio for?What can I use a Portfolio for?

You can use your career portfolio in job You can use your career portfolio in job interviews to showcase a point, to illustrate the interviews to showcase a point, to illustrate the depth of your skills and experience, or to use depth of your skills and experience, or to use as a tool to get a second interview. as a tool to get a second interview.

Ok, I’m sold! Now what??Ok, I’m sold! Now what??

Your biggest time commitment will be the Your biggest time commitment will be the initial development of your portfolio, but initial development of your portfolio, but once you've developed it, keeping it once you've developed it, keeping it current and up-to-date should be fairly current and up-to-date should be fairly easy. easy.

Your two biggest decisions in developing Your two biggest decisions in developing your portfolio are determining:your portfolio are determining:1) The format of the portfolio 1) The format of the portfolio 2) The organization of the portfolio2) The organization of the portfolio

OrganizationOrganization Your portfolio must:Your portfolio must:

→ → Be kept in a three-Be kept in a three-ring binder ring binder

→ → Have a table of Have a table of contents contents

→ → A system to A system to separate the various separate the various parts of the portfolio parts of the portfolio (tabs or dividers)(tabs or dividers)

→ → All documents in All documents in plastic page plastic page protectorsprotectors

Next Step??Next Step??

Once the organization is complete, you Once the organization is complete, you then have to gather, write, copy, and then have to gather, write, copy, and assemble the material that goes in the assemble the material that goes in the portfolio. portfolio.

Here’s the categories you will need in your Here’s the categories you will need in your portfolio:portfolio:

CategoriesCategories

1) Cover Page1) Cover Page2) Career Summary and Goals2) Career Summary and Goals3) Personal Mission Statement3) Personal Mission Statement

4) Resume4) Resume 5) 5) Skills, Abilities and Marketable QualitiesSkills, Abilities and Marketable Qualities 6) 6) List of Accomplishments List of Accomplishments 7) Samples of Work7) Samples of Work 8) Letters of Recommendation8) Letters of Recommendation 9) Transcripts and Certificates9) Transcripts and Certificates 10) Awards/Recognitions10) Awards/Recognitions

Cover PageCover Page

Think of this as the first impression! Your Think of this as the first impression! Your cover page should make a statement and cover page should make a statement and say something about yourself.say something about yourself.

Career Summary and GoalsCareer Summary and Goals

A description of where you see yourself in A description of where you see yourself in two to five years. What are your goals for two to five years. What are your goals for education, employment, life style, etc?education, employment, life style, etc?

Personal Mission StatementPersonal Mission Statement

A description of the guiding principles that A description of the guiding principles that drive you and give you purpose. drive you and give you purpose.

ResumeResume

A summary of your education, A summary of your education, achievements, and work experience, using achievements, and work experience, using a chronological or functional format. a chronological or functional format.

Skills, Abilities and Marketable Skills, Abilities and Marketable QualitiesQualities

A detailed examination of your skills and A detailed examination of your skills and experience. This section should include experience. This section should include the name of the skill area; the the name of the skill area; the performance or behavior, knowledge, or performance or behavior, knowledge, or personal traits that contribute to your personal traits that contribute to your success in that skill area; your background success in that skill area; your background and specific experiences that demonstrate and specific experiences that demonstrate your application of the skill. your application of the skill.

List of AccomplishmentsList of Accomplishments

A detailed listing that highlights the major A detailed listing that highlights the major accomplishments in your life to date. accomplishments in your life to date.

Samples of WorkSamples of Work

A sampling of your best work, including A sampling of your best work, including reports, papers, studies, brochures, reports, papers, studies, brochures, projects, presentations, etc. Besides print projects, presentations, etc. Besides print samples, you can also include CD’s, samples, you can also include CD’s, videos, and other multimedia formats. videos, and other multimedia formats.

Letters of RecommendationsLetters of Recommendations

These could include recommendations These could include recommendations from teachers or past employers.from teachers or past employers.

Please allow some notice when requesting Please allow some notice when requesting these from teachers, as they will need time these from teachers, as they will need time to write them. Don’t leave these to the last to write them. Don’t leave these to the last minute!minute!

Transcripts and CertificatesTranscripts and Certificates

This could include a transcript or report This could include a transcript or report cards from school. Also, you may want to cards from school. Also, you may want to include certifications you hold (WHIMIS, include certifications you hold (WHIMIS, First Aid, etc.)First Aid, etc.)

Awards/RecognitionsAwards/Recognitions

A collection of any certificates of awards or A collection of any certificates of awards or recognitions you have received, these recognitions you have received, these could be for school, any extra-curricular could be for school, any extra-curricular activities or acknowledgements from work.activities or acknowledgements from work.

Reminder!Reminder!

When putting your portfolio together, make When putting your portfolio together, make copies of your original documents and use copies of your original documents and use the copies in your portfolio.the copies in your portfolio.

This safe guards your originals and if you This safe guards your originals and if you loose your portfolio or leave it at an loose your portfolio or leave it at an interview by accident you still have your interview by accident you still have your original documents!!original documents!!