portfolio development ideas to jumpstart your career

What to say about us…

I made a yearlong commitment to StepUp Ministry. They are an interfaith

organization that empowersempowers people who are ready

and willing to make POSITIVE POSITIVE CHANGES in their lives.

I set and met goals. I I learned…learned…

What is a Professional

DevelopmentPortfolio?

• Organized evidence that qualify you for the job for which you are applying.

• Supporting evidence of why you are the best candidate for the job.

• Demonstration that you possess the work ethic and matching skills employers are seeking.

Overview

Other Uses? Other Uses? Provides

documentation when seeking a mentor or for

applying and interviewing for educational

opportunities such as internships and scholarships.

Format?Format?File on a flash drive

or compiled as paper documents

or created on-line such as a LinkedIn profile

presented effectively

and professionally.

A portfolio demonstrates initiative!

Your Unique Selling Tool is Your Unique Selling Tool is KnowledgeKnowledge

FACTIOD: Job candidates using portfolios gain an advantage over other peopleadvantage over other people in the JOB market.

What should a portfolio accomplish?

Be targeted to the job and audience Its contents should match what you are selling to the potential employer -- skills, talents, expertise, experience, values, passion and potential for growth.

Work your strengths! Find a way. Show only your best work in a style and format that is attractive to the employer.

Open and close with your best work. Bookend your best work. Don’t show anything you feel uncomfortable with, need to explain or apologize for -- these could result in a red flag to the interviewer.

Got chocolate?

Formal and Informal Education and Training:• Diplomas • Certificates • Brochures from workshops and other training events • Academic work samples: your best report, lab, research abstracts• Internship documentation • Professional development training such as conferences • Scholarship documentation • Second language evidence •

What should be included?

Skills, Technology, Tools and Equipment:• Presentations • Multi-media presentations • Photos in action • Items that you can handle • Non-Proprietary work-related reports • Technology demonstrations • Copies of PowerPoint presentations • On-Line class records

Me@Work

Overview

• Letters of Reference • Military Service

documentation • Public mention in the news or newsletters • • LinkedIn

Profile • Transcript• Extra copies of your resume• Licensure Papers • Letters of

commendation • Job performance evaluations

Other portfolio content ideas?

Quick TipsQuick TipsHIGH TECH• Scan and create PowerPoint or SlideShare presentation with ten to twelve slides using powerful graphics.• Build your own free website to display your talents. Link, tag and index to raise your visibility. LOWER TECH• Fill ten powerful pages in a presentation binder. • Type brief descriptions, use captions.

Portfolio Checklist• Does the portfolio show your best and most recent work?• Are your skills impeccable?• Have you included samples to match all required

competencies/skills for the job which are a match those you possess?

• Are all exhibits properly labeled, self-explanatory and spell checked?

• Does your portfolio show that you can work in this field at a professional level?

• Does the portfolio predict that you will grow on the job?• Have you conducted a practice interview (test run) using

your portfolio?• Did you obtain objective professional advice for what to

include in your portfolio from people in the field, your mentors or references?

• Have you (or a helper) created an online or digital version of your portfolio?

• Have you shared your career portfolio with your StepUp family?

Professional DevelopmentPortfolioThere is an art to using a portfolio during the interview and it can be thought of as a balancing act.

Most face-to-face interviews average 25 minutes— and during that time you must convince the prospective employer that you are the best candidate.

Your portfolio is part of your toolbox. Having both a printed and online portfolio opens up your options to communicate your value.

Once employed you are HOT NOW! Intentionally begin collecting work related materials for a portfolio that will document your growth and accomplishments as a career professional.

portfolio development ideas to jumpstart your career

Career