Basic Portfolio Guidelines


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	Basic Portfolio Guidelines
	There is an increased need for people to have a professional portfolio (especially for an executive); the visual appeal a portfolio offers is highly important. Rather than a notebook, I would suggest finding a professional-looking zippered three ring binder. Office Max and Office Depot tend to have a good selection of varying styles, both vinyl and leather options. Try to find one with a D-ring type of three ring binder – it will keep the materials upright when presenting the portfolio contents. Other supplies you should have: non-glare sheet protectors, tabbed dividers, professional looking paper (for section pages), card stock (for mounting photos or creating captions). Like an effective resume, a portfolio needs to be tailored to the field or industry that is being targeted. You will want to collect a variety of work samples that can help demonstrate the skills and experience you have listed on your resume. Because employers are interested in learning about an individual’s personal attributes and work style, examples that illustrate this can also be a good addition. Portfolio samples do not need to be restricted to paid employment, as we acquire skills and accomplishments from volunteer and community activities too. Encourage yourself to look at your calendar. How is the day spent? What types of activities are you engaged in daily, and at different times of the year? What are some challenges you have faced or problems you have solved? Begin locating and collecting work samples that reflect the skills and activities you enjoy. Typical Contents: Cover Page Table of Contents Section Dividers, based on the Table of Contents Resume Letters of reference Positive performance evaluations Certificates of degrees completed and continuing education classes completed A school transcript (can be optional) Anything that reflects involvement in professional organizations Mission statement Management or leadership philosophy Goal Statements Anything that depicts leadership, communication, organization, strategic planning, financial management, marketing, teamwork, positive interpersonal traits, technology skills, etc. (the contents will vary depending on the person’s experience and the industry being targeted). Testimonials/thank you’s (from clients, colleagues, supervisors, etc.) Pictures that demonstrate skills or involvement Newspaper clippings Samples of projects or reports Awards/honors Reflective statements/captions Consider having several copies of the main pages of interest so that you can give the samples to the interviewer(s) without ruining your originals. Be sure everything is easy to get to and easy to take out if you need to do so. Selecting/Sorting Again, items selected for the portfolio should be based on how effectively your client can demonstrate the personal traits, knowledge, accomplishments, transferable skills, and experience needed for his particular field. The recommendations on the length of a portfolio vary widely. I believe you can have an effective portfolio that is only 15 to 20 pages long. I would recommend keeping it under 50 pages, and if possible, using both sides of the sheet protectors, not including the section dividers. If the portfolio is too large, it can become unwieldy, making it difficult for the job seeker to locate the item they would she would like to present (especially when under the duress of a stressful interview). Organize the sections according to areas of skill, knowledge and experience reflecting the key areas of the targeted position or industry. Create tabs for each section that match the table of contents, you can also prepare summary pages at the beginning of each section. I would suggest developing captions or reflective statements for work samples that are not stand alone items, i.e., the ones that wouldn’t make sense without explanation to someone unfamiliar with the job seeker or his/her experience. Using the Portfolio The portfolio is intended to be used to facilitate a dialogue during the interview process. Don’t expect the employer to look through the entire portfolio, nor wait to be asked about it. Respond first to the interview questions being posed providing concrete examples (I like the STARR technique). If there is a portfolio item that can back up the example being used, the job seeker should say, “I have an example of this in my portfolio.” Don’t ask whether or not they would like to see it—pull the item out of the portfolio and hand it to the interviewer(s). This can be a great way to engage everyone involved in a panel-style interview. Don’t overuse the portfolio, only show selective examples.


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