Portfolios

A portfolio is a collection of items that highlight your career history and valuable, relevant skills which are not presented on your resume. A portfolio will also indicate to interviewers that you take very seriously their companies and your career. Although an interviewer may never even see your portfolio, having a compilation of past accomplishments and abilities may actually help you realize where your greatest strengths lie and what assets you should focus on in an interview.

A portfolio can include, but is not limited to:

• A resume or curriculum vitae
• Career mission statement
• Reference letters
• Academic transcripts
• Work samples (i.e., class papers, internship or co-op projects)
• Examples of community service projects
• Evidence of specific skills (i.e., writing, leadership, critical thinking)

Portfolio Structure

A professional three-ring binder should be used, and all papers should be placed in sheet protectors. The portfolio should be between 5-10 pages long, and the various parts of the portfolio should be separated by index tabs or title pages. It may be beneficial to have a master portfolio to keep a wide range of documents from which to choose to suit specific jobs.

Related Links:

• Tips for Successful Portfolio Development
• College View Career Center: Your Career Portfolio
• Your Job Skills Portfolio: Giving You an Edge in the Marketplace, article by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D
• Midsolutions Portfolio Development: An in-depth walk through the process of developing your portfolio

Portfolio Example:

• http://www.elon.edu/student/jcain