02/13/02 MSU College of Social Science

JOBTALKSJOBTALKS

Building Your Career Portfolio

Indiana UniversityKelley School of Business

Contents used in this presentation are adapted from Career Planning Strategies and used with the permission of the author.

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The Career Portfolio

How to Present Yourself to How to Present Yourself to Potential EmployersPotential Employers

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DefinitionDefinition

A A portfolioportfolio is a documentation and is a documentation and demonstration of your accomplishments demonstration of your accomplishments representing growth in your skills and representing growth in your skills and understanding of those skills over time.understanding of those skills over time.

The portfolio not only documents your results but The portfolio not only documents your results but also also howhow you got there and you got there and whatwhat you learned in you learned in the process.the process.

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Employers are asking…Employers are asking…

““How much will you How much will you cost me to train?”cost me to train?”

““Can you keep your Can you keep your personal life in order personal life in order so that it does not so that it does not interfere with work?”interfere with work?”

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Employers are seeking…Employers are seeking…

Proof of current Proof of current relevant soft skillsrelevant soft skills

Real work samplesReal work samples

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Two Broad Categories of SkillsTwo Broad Categories of Skills

TransferableTransferable– across careers, jobs, across careers, jobs,

and industriesand industries

– organizationalorganizational

– interpersonalinterpersonal

– work-stylework-style

Work ContentWork Content– do a specific type of do a specific type of

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– immediate contributionimmediate contribution

– gained through course gained through course work and job work and job experienceexperience

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Employers Want the “Total Package”Employers Want the “Total Package”

Excellent communication skillsExcellent communication skills Technical proficiencyTechnical proficiency LeadershipLeadership TeamworkTeamwork Interpersonal skills and personal traitsInterpersonal skills and personal traits

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Portfolio AdvantagesPortfolio Advantages

Clearly shows your individuality, Clearly shows your individuality, personality, & skillspersonality, & skills

Speaks to your skills without your having to Speaks to your skills without your having to say directly “I’m good”say directly “I’m good”

The resume gets you the interview, the The resume gets you the interview, the portfolio gets you the jobportfolio gets you the job

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Steps for Assessing Your Major Steps for Assessing Your Major AccomplishmentsAccomplishments

1.1. What I Did?What I Did?2.2. What I Learned?What I Learned?3.3. What’s Next?What’s Next?

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#1: #1: What I Did?What I Did?

The first step is documentation The first step is documentation of events, activities, and skills of events, activities, and skills that have been accomplished.that have been accomplished.

It is a collection of your most It is a collection of your most important accomplishments, important accomplishments, both personal and professional.both personal and professional.

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# 1 Artifact# 1 Artifact

Choose a tangible item Choose a tangible item to exhibit the to exhibit the accomplishment or accomplishment or skill you have just skill you have just selected to showcaseselected to showcase

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Sample Artifacts for a PortfolioSample Artifacts for a Portfolio Career & professional Career & professional

development goals development goals Resumes/Cover lettersResumes/Cover letters Your work philosophyYour work philosophy Self-assessment records Self-assessment records TranscriptsTranscripts Work historyWork history Skill areas Skill areas Works in progress Works in progress

(activities and projects) (activities and projects) Work & learning Work & learning

samplessamples Work term reportsWork term reports Certificates, diplomas, Certificates, diplomas,

degrees, & awardsdegrees, & awards

Professional Professional memberships & servicememberships & service

Records of community Records of community service/volunteer work service/volunteer work (brochures, letters of (brochures, letters of recognition, etc.) recognition, etc.)

Newspaper clippings Newspaper clippings featuring you featuring you

Letters of appreciation Letters of appreciation Photographs/MediaPhotographs/Media Networking contactsNetworking contacts Letters of Letters of

recommendation/ recommendation/ referencesreferences

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#2: #2: What I Learned?What I Learned?

The next step is going back and looking at each The next step is going back and looking at each entry and writing “statements” identifying and entry and writing “statements” identifying and explaining the purpose of each piece of explaining the purpose of each piece of evidence so that the entries are meaningful evidence so that the entries are meaningful when reviewed by others.when reviewed by others.

These statements should also contain reflective These statements should also contain reflective comments about your learning.comments about your learning.

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#3: #3: What’s Next?What’s Next?

Review each entry Review each entry View as springboard to future learningView as springboard to future learning Revisit and examine work accomplishedRevisit and examine work accomplished Professional and personal growth Professional and personal growth Assimilate information into Assimilate information into

“ “skills and achievements” skills and achievements”

for resume and interview processfor resume and interview process

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Sample Arrangement of Sample Arrangement of Career Portfolio SectionsCareer Portfolio Sections

Management philosophyManagement philosophy Professional goalsProfessional goals ResumeResume Work samples by skill areasWork samples by skill areas Works in progress Works in progress Community service (transferable skills)Community service (transferable skills) Professional membershipsProfessional memberships Degrees, certifications & awardsDegrees, certifications & awards ReferencesReferences

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Sections: Philosophy and GoalsSections: Philosophy and Goals

Mgmt Philosophy-brief description of your Mgmt Philosophy-brief description of your beliefs about yourself and the industry beliefs about yourself and the industry (Career Objective Statement)(Career Objective Statement)

Career Goals-professional goals for the next Career Goals-professional goals for the next 2-5 years2-5 years

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Section: ResumeSection: Resume

Your resume provides Your resume provides a brief summary of a brief summary of your education and your education and experiences.experiences.

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Section: Skill AreasSection: Skill Areas Skill areas-tabbed sections containing information Skill areas-tabbed sections containing information

on your skills and experiences relating to specific on your skills and experiences relating to specific areasareas– MarketingMarketing– People ManagementPeople Management– TechnologyTechnology

Target skills desired by companies you are Target skills desired by companies you are interviewinginterviewing– Job advertisementsJob advertisements– Job descriptionsJob descriptions

Focus on measurable skillsFocus on measurable skills– Technical skillsTechnical skills– Soft skillsSoft skills

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SSkill Areas Employers kill Areas Employers Want from Recent GraduatesWant from Recent Graduates

AnalyticalAnalytical CommunicationCommunication (Oral & Written) (Oral & Written)

Computer SkillsComputer Skills CreativityCreativity Decision MakingDecision Making FlexibilityFlexibility InterpersonalInterpersonal LeadershipLeadership

ListeningListening Multicultural Multicultural

UnderstandingUnderstanding OrganizationalOrganizational Problem SolvingProblem Solving ResearchResearch TeamworkTeamwork Time ManagementTime Management

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Work SamplesWork Samples

Work sample-physical examples of your Work sample-physical examples of your workwork– One for every skillOne for every skill

– Projects, reportsProjects, reports

– Real work samples preferable to school projectsReal work samples preferable to school projects

How do I get them?How do I get them?– What are you good at doing?What are you good at doing?

– Rummage through your stuff at home and at Rummage through your stuff at home and at work for sampleswork for samples

– Plan to secure work samplesPlan to secure work samples

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Propriety on Work SamplesPropriety on Work Samples

Do I need to get permission to take copies Do I need to get permission to take copies of my work?of my work?– If you signed a confidentiality agreementIf you signed a confidentiality agreement– If you are a contractor or employeeIf you are a contractor or employee

Use the templates of your workUse the templates of your work Do NOT share proprietary or personal Do NOT share proprietary or personal

informationinformation Do share letters, customer comments, class Do share letters, customer comments, class

or workshop projectsor workshop projects

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Section: Additional ProofSection: Additional Proof

Works in Progress-brief list of works, Works in Progress-brief list of works, activities, projects or efforts that are on-activities, projects or efforts that are on-going.going.

Letters of Recommendation-support or Letters of Recommendation-support or reference that verify your abilities in a reference that verify your abilities in a certain skill areacertain skill area

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Section: Transferable SkillsSection: Transferable Skills

SourcesSources– Community serviceCommunity service– Volunteer organizationsVolunteer organizations– Avocations (intense hobbies)Avocations (intense hobbies)– Intramural activitiesIntramural activities

ArtifactsArtifacts– Letters of recognitionLetters of recognition– Photos of projects completedPhotos of projects completed– Programs and brochuresPrograms and brochures

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Transferable Skills Support…Transferable Skills Support…

Soft skillsSoft skills– TeamworkTeamwork– Presentation skillsPresentation skills– Communication skillsCommunication skills– AttitudeAttitude– LeadershipLeadership– OthersOthers

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Section: Professional GrowthSection: Professional Growth

Memberships-member Memberships-member cards, citations, letterscards, citations, letters

CertificationsCertifications Diplomas, Degrees, or Diplomas, Degrees, or

Awards-copies of Awards-copies of actual recognition actual recognition receivedreceived

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Section: Reference MaterialsSection: Reference Materials

Academic Plan of Study-list of courses and Academic Plan of Study-list of courses and what you learned in themwhat you learned in them

Faculty and Employer Biographies-Faculty and Employer Biographies-descriptions of the people whose signatures descriptions of the people whose signatures appear throughout—who are they, what do appear throughout—who are they, what do they dothey do

References-list of people who can verify References-list of people who can verify your character, academic record or your character, academic record or employment historyemployment history

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Showcase Tips: Paper PortfolioShowcase Tips: Paper Portfolio

Include an Include an introduction and table introduction and table of contents of contents

Organize work Organize work samples into skill samples into skill areasareas

Keep to a consistent Keep to a consistent formatformat

Don't include original Don't include original documents documents

Don't punch holes in Don't punch holes in your documents your documents

Number sheet Number sheet protectors, not protectors, not contentscontents

Use quality paper & Use quality paper & captions to enhance captions to enhance

Create all text on Create all text on computercomputer

Use a high-quality printerUse a high-quality printer Don't use too many fontsDon't use too many fonts Be creativeBe creative Tailor your portfolio to Tailor your portfolio to

include only relevant include only relevant information to the information to the opportunity you are opportunity you are seeking seeking

Observe a maximum Observe a maximum length of 10-15 artifactslength of 10-15 artifacts

Consider having a copy of Consider having a copy of your portfolio or important your portfolio or important parts of it to leave behind parts of it to leave behind with an employer with an employer

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When Is It Appropriate to Present When Is It Appropriate to Present Your PortfolioYour Portfolio

In an InterviewIn an Interview– To illustrate skills you are asked to describeTo illustrate skills you are asked to describe

– As concrete proof of your accomplishments as they As concrete proof of your accomplishments as they relate to the opportunity at handrelate to the opportunity at hand(Generally do not send with your application package (Generally do not send with your application package

unless requested.)unless requested.)

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And Also…And Also…

In a Job Performance EvaluationIn a Job Performance Evaluation– To remind the employer of your contributions and To remind the employer of your contributions and

accomplishmentsaccomplishments

– Focus on the time since your last reviewFocus on the time since your last review

– Include career highlights, works in progress, Include career highlights, works in progress, group/individual achievementsgroup/individual achievements

– Give to supervisor 2-3 weeks before reviewGive to supervisor 2-3 weeks before review

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Hard Copy vs Electronic Hard Copy vs Electronic

HARD COPYHARD COPY Introduces oneselfIntroduces oneself Answers questions Answers questions

during interviewduring interview Summarizes Summarizes

qualificationsqualifications

ELECTRONICELECTRONIC To compete for an To compete for an

interviewinterview As additional research As additional research

for candidatesfor candidates As follow-upAs follow-up

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It’s alive!...... It’s alive!......

Whether hard copy or electronic…..Whether hard copy or electronic…..

A portfolio is a “living thing” in that it will grow as your A portfolio is a “living thing” in that it will grow as your career progressescareer progresses

You will want to limit the portfolio offerings you actually You will want to limit the portfolio offerings you actually use in any given a situation to the requirements of that use in any given a situation to the requirements of that particular job or performance interviewparticular job or performance interview

Sometimes too much is just too much – limit what you bring Sometimes too much is just too much – limit what you bring to an interview to carefully targeted portfolio itemsto an interview to carefully targeted portfolio items

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Online PortfoliosOnline Portfolios

Idea 1: Idea 1: Online resumesOnline resumes Idea 2: Linked resumesIdea 2: Linked resumes Idea 3: Online portfolio Idea 3: Online portfolio

collectionscollections

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Online ResumesOnline Resumes

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Classic Online PortfolioClassic Online Portfolio

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Online Examples of Career Portfolios

Basic Online Resume: http://www.guidesign.com/tammy/index.htmThis format is virtually identical to a paper-based resume format. Note lack of internal links.

Web Designer's Portfolio: http://www.carteret.com/mikefahyA linked resume with good example of integrating work samples within a web site.

Graphic Designer's Portfolio: http://www.6869.com/resume/index.htmlA classic online portfolio with clean, simple design and great graphics.

Portfolio For Self-Employment: http://careerlifeconsulting.comCheck out Joan Richard's on-line portfolio that promotes her company, CareerLife Consulting Services.

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Purposes of the PortfolioPurposes of the Portfolio

Self-assessment: who you are and what you Self-assessment: who you are and what you want to dowant to do

Repository for necessary documents: keeps Repository for necessary documents: keeps everything for the career togethereverything for the career together

Interviewing tool: sell yourselfInterviewing tool: sell yourself Performance appraisal tool: show Performance appraisal tool: show

supervisor your work strengthssupervisor your work strengths

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In SummaryIn Summary

You can use a portfolio to manage both You can use a portfolio to manage both your professional or career assets and your professional or career assets and showcase your potential.showcase your potential.

The very act of organizing your portfolio The very act of organizing your portfolio brings clarity to your career direction.brings clarity to your career direction.

This process requires reflection & analysis.This process requires reflection & analysis. When you sequence your samples in your When you sequence your samples in your

portfolio, you begin thinking more broadly portfolio, you begin thinking more broadly about your collection of talents. You think about your collection of talents. You think more deeply about who you are.more deeply about who you are.

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Collect NOW – Sort laterCollect NOW – Sort later

Set up your systemSet up your system– CalendarCalendar– Designated collection pointDesignated collection point

Schedule your self-review timesSchedule your self-review times Sort laterSort later Think Ahead—you are worth it!Think Ahead—you are worth it!

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If you would like If you would like to learn more, to learn more, Career Planning Career Planning StrategiesStrategies textbook will textbook will supply additional supply additional information on information on this topic.this topic.