How to create a Career Portfolio

2012 Carmen Fischer ©

The phenomenon of globalization demands nowadays to have more skills than our parents. With the advancement of technology the current workforce has to keep up today with this constant flow of new information and knowledge. Job seekers and employers have indeed a constant challenge to encounter the present time. Going back to my years when I started my first job in another country, the only requirements to seek for a job was to have a certificate and the willingness to learn. In the year 2000 I started to learn that there were new skills and education that would lead me to a new job. Through the years that I have lived in Canada, I have had the opportunity to attend to different organizations that provided me with some information and advice that helped me to land in my first job. I am like many HR professionals seeking for opportunities to keep and apply the knowledge, skills and experience gained through job experience and in the School. Through this presentation I would like to give you some hints that may help you to take an step forward in your job search.

Introduction

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How to create a Career Portfolio

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You have received the “Magic Call” and now you have to spend some time preparing yourself for that big day and this is going to include doing some homework. A portfolio is part of your preparation process for an interview. A portfolio can be defined as “a group of pieces of creative work collected by someone to display their skills but can also be a demonstration of the person’s abilities in documentation for self-expression that reflects the individual own learning and application of the knowledge learned by work experience or school” .What do you need?The first thing that you should have at hand is a check list sheet that you can create in Word or Excel. Your checklist will include:

•

1 Create a Check List

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Templates

Checklist1

Cons.

Description YES NO

1 Company information - create a SUMMARY

2 Print driving directions to get to the interview on time and it will allows you to be there at least 15 minutes before your appointment.

3 Interview Information Sheet

4 Your reference list

5 A stamped labeled thank you card

6 Some examples of your accomplishments

7 Diplomas

8 Business Cards – you can create your card using the templates in Microsoft Office.

9 Copy of your Resume

10 Profile Summary

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Prepare your Portfolio• Supplies - Once you have collected all the items from your check list you will need to have the following:

• A view binder approximately 1 ½ inch with a pocket• Dividers• Sheet protectors • Pen• Small pad to take notes

You don’t need to spend a fortune. There are office supplies stores where you can find an extensive variety of items from economy brands up to brand name items.

Preparing your Career Portfolio

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1. - et

The idea of a view binder is to give you the opportunity to be creative and show part of your skills to the employer. A presentation sheet could look like this:

2

2

PortfolioYour name

[Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of the contents of the document. Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of the contents of the document.]

[Year]

[Type the company name][Pick the date]

Templates

Presentation Sheet2

You can create your own cover or use one of the customized covers in Word like the one previously presented. Go to INSERT and select COVER PAGE.

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- Include a pen, your business card and a note pad in the binder pocket.

I) Interview Information Sheet - Includes the name of the interviewer, department or building location, time of your interview, phone number(s) and extensions. As many information you can collect before the big day as better you are prepared to avoid delays in your arrival and will give you time to settle. Use the first sheet protector to insert your Interview information sheet and driving directions.

II) Profile Summary – Describe in few paragraphs who you are, your background and current experience.

TemplatesIntroduction Sheets

3

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Accomplishments

1

Company Information Reference List

32

History

Mission

Programs

Services

Products

History

Mission

Programs

Services

Products

Brief description

What is?

Reason

Result

Brief description

What is?

Reason

Result

Name

Title

Company NameRelationshipTelephone # and Extension

E-mail

Name

Title

Company NameRelationshipTelephone # and Extension

E-mail

Organize the content of your Career Portfolio - Prepare dividers with labels corresponding to the respective content.

4

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Diplomas

4

Resume Other documentation

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Head Page

(Address, e-mail, Phone #)

Career Objective

Skills Summary

Job Experience

Education

Head Page

(Address, e-mail, Phone #)

Career Objective

Skills Summary

Job Experience

Education

All your education diplomas that can include seminars or professional development.

All your education diplomas that can include seminars or professional development.

Can include letters of References or any additional document that you wish to include regarding your skills or education such as articles or publications.

Can include letters of References or any additional document that you wish to include regarding your skills or education such as articles or publications.

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Interview Preparation

Be confident, keep eye contact, ask

questions, stay calm and be professional

Be prepared to have any type of interview

(individual or panel) or write a test

Company and Industry Research

and practice interview answers,

wear business attire

Prepare your portfolio

Arrive at least 15 min before the

interview

Thank interviewer(s) for the opportunity, send a thank you card or e-mail and

follow up

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THANK YOU!