| For years, creative professionals like architects, | | | | choose to use a chronological or functional resume |
| designers, artists and writers have used career | | | | format. |
| portfolios, sometimes known as the job search | | | | 2. Awards, Honors, Diplomas, Degrees, Unofficial |
| portfolio or "the book", to communicate their abilities. | | | | transcripts or any other document that verifies |
| These portfolios with be used to display prior work, | | | | education or outstanding work for which you might |
| either done for employment or for leisure and special | | | | have been recognized. |
| projects. In today's competitive, knowledge-based | | | | 3. Membership cards, licenses, training or technical |
| labor market, other professionals are discovering the | | | | certifications or any other documents that support |
| value of a well put together career portfolio. | | | | your qualifications are a great asset to a career |
| If well thought out, the act of putting together a | | | | portfolio. |
| career portfolio will help candidates from any industry | | | | 4. Letters of recommendation, performance reviews, |
| reflect on their skills and create an occupational focus | | | | employment evaluations, "Job well done" emails or |
| for future employment. It can help employees | | | | letters and customer satisfaction surveys are all |
| develop a marketing tool which is strategically laid out | | | | perfect examples that will showcase work ethic or |
| to influence a potential employer's selection. These | | | | express the opinions of others about your work. |
| career portfolios can also help existing employees or | | | | 5. Work samples and research output that |
| re-entry worker with career transitions or even get a | | | | demonstrate skills specific to the job for which you |
| promotion by identifying transferable skills. Not only | | | | are applying. |
| does the portfolio work well as a marketing tool, it | | | | 6. Sample publications, reports and papers written or |
| also serves as a reservoir of professional highlights. | | | | presented are always a positive add for your career |
| Career coaches and vocational counselors are | | | | portfolio as well. |
| increasingly recommending the career portfolio as an | | | | 7. Miscellaneous evidence of work and projects |
| important job search tool to help candidates stand | | | | completed could include event programs and photos |
| out from the competition in a competitive job | | | | of events you have helped to plan or coordinate. |
| market. Of course once you have made the decision | | | | Now that you know what to include in the career |
| to move forward with your career portfolio the next | | | | portfolio, the following are some general tips to keep |
| big decision is about what to include. In short, for | | | | in mind for the completing and presenting your |
| your first pass - include everything you can find that | | | | portfolio: |
| speaks to your track record as a competent | | | | 1. Make copies of items for use in your portfolio - Do |
| professional. Over time you might choose to retire | | | | not use your originals. Heaven forbid that your |
| outdated items from your career portfolio or you | | | | portfolio gets lost or ruined. Replacing originals of your |
| may even choose to create one on line. | | | | life's work will not be easy. |
| What to include in the Portfolio? | | | | 2. When displaying or showing your career portfolio - |
| The overall objective of the portfolio is to provide | | | | be sure to hold it so the viewer can see it clearly. |
| support for the information included in your resume. | | | | You already know what's there, so do not keep it |
| In other words you do not just have to speak about | | | | directly in front of you. It is a good idea to practice |
| what you have done; you can also demonstrate | | | | sharing your portfolio with friends, colleagues or |
| what you have done. To do this effectively, the | | | | career professionals and watch for falling content as |
| career portfolio must be conveniently designed for | | | | you open and display. |
| travel and the material must be easy to retrieve and | | | | 3. Explain items in the portfolio by talking about the |
| attractively displayed. In selecting items for your | | | | "why" or the "back story" behind your work. Be sure |
| portfolio, ensure that the item has a clear purpose | | | | to place these items not only in the historical context |
| and is tailored to suit your audience. In addition, | | | | of what you have done, but in context of what you |
| remember that the visual presentation will reflect | | | | can and will do for this new potential employer. |
| your professional standards so categories need to be | | | | 4. If you opt to create your portfolio offline at first, |
| clearly defined and labeled and special attention paid | | | | use a medium sized binder and sheet protectors as |
| to the fundamentals like font and layout. | | | | an easy way to get started. |
| Some of the key items to include in an effective | | | | 5. Remove, reorder or relocate materials as they lose |
| career portfolio could include: | | | | their relevance or your interest changes. Although |
| 1. Current resume which would include details on | | | | your career portfolio is about cataloging your past, it |
| education, jobs and duties performed. You may | | | | is also about relevancy to your future. |