What is a portfolio?
A portfolio is a compilation of work samples and professional documeation that provides proof of your accomplishmes or samples of your work. It can be a physical book or binder that organizes samples of your work, or an online portfolio with electronic files.
When and why do you use portfolios?
Portfolios are a great way to demonstrate the competencies you would list on a resume or talk about in an ierview — they allow you to show and not just tell. During a job search, the portfolio showcases your work to poteial employers. It preses evidence of your releva skills and abilities. Portfolios are also helpful for independe coractors, consultas, or business owners who need to provide work samples to poteial clies.
Outside of a job or clie search, archiving samples of your work to a portfolio is a great way to keep track of your accomplishmes and make note of when you acquired key competencies. Having it all together in a portfolio can be useful during your annual review or helpful if you decide to go for a promotion. It can take quite a while to put together a portfolio, so make sure it’s up-to-date to prepare you for unexpected situations like layoffs and sudden changes to your job.
What jobs or industries typically use portfolios?
Certain professions typically use portfolios to showcase their work. Artists, ierior designers, cake decorators, graphic designers, writers, teachers, architects, and others in visual professions have been documeing their work in portfolios for years. Today, any professional in any industry can and should consider starting a portfolio.
What do you put in a portfolio?
Anything that demonstrates your accomplishmes and abilities should go io your portfolio. Think you don’t have anything to put in a portfolio? Think again. What major projects have you worked on recely or over the years? Select some of the deliverables associated with it, and add it to your portfolio.
Here are some items you may be able to include in your portfolio:
Curre resume or CV
Diplomas, certificates, and transcripts from post-high school institutions
Reference letters, awards, testimonials, and LinkedIn recommendations
Work samples that you have created, for example:
Curricula
Proposals
Marketing materials
Spreadsheets or reports
PowerPoi preseations
Graphics or layouts
Database infrastructure
Project plans
Evaluations and/or performance appraisals
Published articles and writing samples
Link to blog or sample of blog post
Thank you notes or e-mails from clies or co-workers
