The Great Portfolio Debate

Just one more application to send…

Cover letter, check. Resume, check. Portfolio… rain check! When gearing up for a job interview or internship, it’s a no brainer to include a tailored cover letter and your most recent resume. However, another key essential that could help you land the position of your dreams is a portfolio.

Although you might already have a summer job, the best time to prepare for a future job or career is during the summer when you are already employed. Since summertime is usually less stressful, in terms of coursework, you may find a few hours of free time where you can create a stellar portfolio to take with you on future job interviews. And, I am not referring to your old, generic, high school portfolio either.

Today, portfolios are increasingly becoming more and more paperless. While it still might be wise to bring a hard copy of your portfolio to your job interview, it would also be beneficial to spend a few hours putting together an electronic portfolio that you can send out to potential employers, especially if you are applying for jobs online. Once you have made the decision to create a portfolio worthy of your dream job, the next step is to decide the specific materials to include in your portfolio.

A good all-purpose portfolio may include the following items:

• a professional statement of purpose
• your most recent resume
• professional and personal references
• letters of recommendation
• polished coursework samples
• internship work samples
• contact information

Of course, you can also include some background information about yourself, along with any other relevant material you think will make you stand out as a promising career candidate in your personalized portfolio.

Once you have gathered the materials to include in your portfolio, the final step is to assemble your portfolio in an employer-friendly manner. You want your perspective employer to be able to find the materials they are looking for in a fast and efficient method, regardless of whether you build a hardcover portfolio or choose to go the electronic route.

If you decide to create a print portfolio, make sure to use the bind your portfolio professionally, use cover sheets to keep your work samples neat, and use resume paper for your resume. If you choose to make an electronic portfolio, find a user-friendly site to use such as Wix, Google Sites, Circle Pad, WordPress, or Blogspot. Select a clean, visually pleasing design; watch the site tutorial and save all of your documents in PDFs so they cannot be altered by anyone viewing your portfolio site. 

Whatever method you choose, make sure to select the work that highlights your best abilities, proofread, pay attention to detail, and use your creative flare to make your portfolio represent you!

♥AUTHOR: ANDREA WHITLOCK