How to Create a Jobseekers Portfolio

1
How to Create a Jobseekers Portfolio

• Internship Career Services Program
• North Carolina Wesleyan College

2
What is a Portfolio?

• portfolio n.
• A portable case for holding material, such as
  loose papers, photographs, or drawings.
• The materials collected in such a case,
  especially when representative of a person's
  work a photographer's portfolio an artist's
  portfolio of drawings.
• www.dictionary.com

3
Why create a portfolio?

• It will make you stand out from other candidates
  at a job fair or interview.
• A portfolio will give you something to speak from
  rather than solely from memory. This gives you
  more confidence!
• Helps you make sense of the skills you have.

4
What are the components?

• High quality samples of your BEST work
• Summary/explanation of each piece
• Letters of recommendation
• Organized categories
• A professional case/notebook/folder
• An introduction
• Table of contents
• Resume on high-quality paper

5
How do I select what to include?

• Dependent upon the type of field you are going
  into (similar to resume creation).
• Ex. ) If you are interested in going into sales
  then what types of skills might be of interest to
  those employers? This should guide what you
  include!
• You may choose to change out your items as you
  interview for different types of jobs just as you
  would tailor your resume for varying jobs.

6
Where can I find items?

• Academic work
• May need to review transcript to refresh your
  memory
• Employment
• Internships
• Volunteer work
• Extracurricular activities
• New items created solely for the portfolio

7
Formats of Materials

• Print text
• Graphics
• Posters
• Brochures
• Fliers
• Audio/Video Tapes/CDs
• Flyers
• 3-D Models
• Photographs

8
Types of Materials

• Scripts
• News stories
• Research papers
• Fiction
• Surveys
• Speeches
• Group project descriptions/ presentations
• Be sure to indicate your level of involvement
• Verify that all items from previous employers
  are allowed to be shared.

• Video or audio demo reels
• PowerPoint presentations
• Spread sheets
• Others?

9
What do you have?

• Take a few moments to brainstorm a list of items
  you could include.
• Share with us!

10
How long should it be?

• Approximately 10 items
• You may have 20 or more in your comprehensive
  portfolio but try pull out 10 of the most
  relevant items each time you use the portfolio.
• Too many items will dilute the strength of each
  individual item.
• Employers are more likely to review your
  portfolio if it is succinct and well organized.
  If you include too many items it will be
  overwhelming and likely put aside.

11
How much time will it take?

• Dependent upon commitment level
• Plan for a couple of hours of work per day for
  about 2 weeks
• You get out what you put in!

12
How much will it cost?

• Doesnt have to be expensive, but it can be
• Scanning, printing, copying can add up if you
  have to use Kinkos so try to use school or
  friends equipment
• Shop around

13
How do I use it?

• Leave it with the employer
• Be sure to tell them when you will pick it up.
  Give them a couple of days.
• Dont forget to go back! You will have quite the
  investment (time and ) so you dont want to
  misplace it. This will also give you a 2nd
  chance to get in front of the employer.
• Refer to items as relevant questions are asked in
  interviews. BEST OPTION!

14
Other Considerations

• Aesthetic appeal
• Variety of items
• Consistent organization with easily identifiable
  sections
• Sensible storage system
• Sheet protectors or lamination
• Continue to update
• Save a couple electronic files of everything
• Have a qualified individual review your final
  product to gain feedback and correct typos

15
High-Tech Options

• Consider compiling the many separate
  documents/images/files into a .pdf file that
  could be emailed to prospective employers.

16
More Advice and/or Critique?

• Internship Career Services Program
• Jessie Warren
• Student Support Center - PC 188
• 985-5106
• jwarren_at_ncwc.edu