Preparing for a career portfolio
Posted by admin on Mar 16, 2009
Portfolios have been used for many years by artists, models, and advertising people to demonstrate their abilities and present examples of their work. A portfolio is an organized collection of information and materials developed to represent yourself, your preparation, and your accomplishments. You might want to consider developing a career portfolio to help you with career planning and to represent yourself when you apply for jobs or for admission to an educational institution.
A portfolio should provide clear descriptions of your preparation, skills, and experience. Those descriptions can include examples of projects you have completed in school and on the job or for organizations to which you belong. They can even be work you have done as a hobby that demonstrates an important business skill. Evaluations of your skills and work evidenced through tests, checklists of competencies you have mastered, and performance reviews from employers can be included in your portfolio. In addition, you might ask people who know you well to write statements or recommendations that relate to your skills and abilities.
A portfolio can be developed over a long period of time. You might start it now and continue to add toit as you complete high school, go on for additional education, or move through jobs in your career ladder. You should prepare a portfolio that allows you to add and remove items. It should also protect the items so they remain in good condition. The portfolio should include your best and most recent materials.
A portfolio is a good way for you to identify important materials that will help you with your self-assessment. It also keeps materials organized SO you can show them to others to demonstrate achievement, or as you apply for educational programs and jobs. Because it needs to communicate your preparation and skills effectively, it should be well organized, understandable, and easy for others to review.