Post on 01-Nov-2014
description
Creating a Professional PortfolioA tool for career exploration
and marketing your skills + experience
Agenda
Get to know you Some “Take Aways” The Career Journey: A 10-year self-
reflection The Career Journey: A 20-year self-
reflection Introduction to Professional Portfolios
Why create a portfolio? What to include in your portfolio Dos and Don’ts
How Effective are Professional Portfolios?
Some “Take Aways”
• Your career path is not a point A to point B journey, rather an exploration that will take you to multiple destinations.
• Take the time to observe and understand the context of where you are at.
• Take the time to research and take advantage of the opportunities available to you.
• Spend the time to reflect on what you have learned from your activities, coursework, internships, jobs, etc. AND document it!
The Career JourneyA 10-year self-reflection
The Career JourneyA 10-year self-reflection
Interests Come From Your Life Experience
Credentials Come From Institutions
“Extras” Come from Service
Why Create a Portfolio?• Personal development and self-reflection• Career exploration• Job search skills and tools• Promote yourself while networking and seeking a job or internship
What to include in your portfolio?• Resume*• Reference list*• Letters of references*• Accomplishments • Brochures• Conferences,
workshops, seminars attended
• Public speaking/presentations or performances
• Performance reports, appraisals (e.g. internship and job evaluations)
• Description of
academic study• Description of
internships• Featured articles• Honors, awards,
scholarships,• In-class projects• Licenses or certificates
for specific trainings• Professional affiliations• Transcripts• Writing samples
Dos and Don’ts Do:
Have extra copies of your portfolio materials.
Change the contents of your portfolio (except for resume and reference list) to show samples of work that are relevant to the position you are applying for.
Ask for written recommendations from each employer or supervisor.
Don’t:
Misrepresent your qualifications. (See article from Boston Globe “Harvard missed signs it was being hoodwinked” by Tracy Jan on December 28, 2010.)
Include documents or artifacts that are clearly not your own or you do not have permission to put in your portfolio.
How effective are professional portfolios?September 20, 2009
Mieko, I got a new job!!! I'll be working as a Research Assistant in a position jointly funded by the Parks Department and the Forest Service. I can't help but think that your advice on portfolio building really made the difference. After a meeting with them, where I showed them my previous work, resume, letters of recommendation (thanks again!), and my transcript, they told me that my professionalism and organization seemed excellent. Based on that assessment they created this position for me. Again, I think the portfolio really made the whole thing happen. And without you, that wouldn't have been the case. My deepest gratitude is for you.
Dexter Locke, Class of 2009