Developing Your Professional Portfolio

Transcription

1 Cntact Infrmatin: Phne: (703) Fax: (703) Website: Develping Yur Prfessinal Prtfli WHAT IS A PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO A prfessinal prtfli is an rganized cllectin f relevant dcuments and artifacts that shwcases yur talents, mst relevant skills, and charts yur prfessinal grwth. A prfessinal prtfli can be created and used fr any discipline r prfessin (teaching, art, research, nursing, jurnalism, etc.) Yur prtfli may live in tw phases: A Persnal Wrking Prtfli very cmprehensive and detailed A Prfessinal Presentatin Prtfli tailred frm yur Wrking Prtfli t suit a specific need WHY SHOULD I CREATE ONE? The prcess f creating a prtfli enables yu t demnstrate examples f yur qualificatins. It shuld be seen as an extensin f yur résumé r curriculum vitae nt a replacement. It helps yu determine wh yu are, what yur life gals and philsphies are, what yu d best, and hw yu wish t present yurself and yur wrk t a targeted audience. It can als serve as a valuable tl t assess yur prfessinal develpment, interview effectively, navigate career transitins and track yur prfessinal grwth. PORTFOLIO COMPONENTS Prfessinal Prtflis are as individual as we each are s n tw will be the same Primary cmpnents typically include, but are nt limited t:

2 Cver Table f cntents Intrductin wh yu are, what yur prfessinals interests are, yur gals and/r philsphies Credentials - such as yur resume, transcripts, references, stellar evaluatins Leadership Highlights Research r Prject Outcmes papers authred, articles written, imprtant presentatins Teamwrk r Cllabratin Prjects highlighting YOUR wrk and cntributin Hnrs/Awards WHERE DO I START? Step One: Cllectin f Data This is a cntinual prcess. Identify and cllect evidence f yur skills and experiences frm: Activities Study Abrad Experiences Emplyment Curses Training Hbbies Cmmunity Service Prjects Schl Prjects Vlunteer Wrk Gear yur cllectin prcess twards finding examples f yur wrk that best represent wh yu are. Be thughtful as yu g abut yur daily assignments and think abut hw yu can demnstrate yur rle, tasks, and activities perfrmed. Since yu are cllecting items fr yur wrking prtfli, include a variety f items that are relevant, shws wh yu are as a leader, demnstrates utcmes (hw a prblem was slved), and shwcases yur drive and initiative. Yur cllectin prcess can be very cmprehensive and include many dcuments. Hwever, yu shuld fcus n quality and nt quantity.

3 Step Tw: Srting Nw it s time t rganize yur cllectin f data. Take sme time t think abut hw yu wish t tell yur stry. Analyze yur target audience (this can be tailred in yur presentatin prtfli ) Organize yur cllectin int yur selected categries: Cver Table f cntents Intrductin Credentials Leadership Highlights Research r Prject Outcmes Teamwrk r Cllabratin Prjects Hnrs/Awards As yu cllect items and rganize them, filter thse things that are imprtant representatin f yur wrk, but d nt clearly fit int a categry. Keep them in a file bx r binder in case yu need it in the future. Be sure yu have permissin t utilize any prprietary infrmatin. ASSEMBLING Traditinal prtflis may be assembled in a 3-ring binder, with dividers and clear sheet prtectrs Yu will need a fluid prduct that will allw yu t stre and remve as needed, relevant wrk samples Grup similar items tgether and remember t lead each sectin with yur strengths. The gal is t quickly be able t find key skill examples when presenting. In assembling a traditinal prtfli: Create sectins with dividers r tabs. Clear sheet prtectrs may be used t prtect dcuments. Use high quality payer fr layut designs when tailring fr presentatin. Make it prfessinal and visually appealing, but remember it shuld nt lk like a scrapbk.

4 eportfolio INTERVIEWING Hw D I Make It Wrk Fr Me? The best prtfli will nt help yu if yu d nt use it knw hw t prperly use it. The mst effective methd is t use the prtfli t enhance yur presentatin f skills during an interview Knw yur prtfli s that yu are able t quickly refer t gd examples that will substantiate yur demnstratin f skills during an interview. Hw t use the prtfli during an interview: D nt hand the interviewer yur prtfli at the beginning f an interview unless it is requested. Remember it is an extensin f wh yu are and shuld be used as an enhancement tl. Yu want t first establish a rapprt with the interviewer, and then utilize the prtfli n mre than 3-5 times thrughut the interview. DO NOT OVERUSE! The fcus shuld be n yu and nt yur prtfli.

5 Respnd t the questin yu are asked and prvide a specific example. Infrm the interviewer that yu have an example t share and remve the item frm yur prtfli and pass t the interviewer. Explain the relevance f the dcument t the example yu have shared. Place the items back in yur prtfli at the end f the interview. D nt leave yur prtfli behind, unless yu have created a mini- tailred presentatin prtfli that has been created slely fr the interviewer. REMEMBER A prfessinal prtfli is a valuable creative tl that can be utilized thrughut yur prfessinal jurney t highlight the best f yu! Remember it is an extensin f wh yu are and allws ther t see yu as multi-dimensinal. It s never t early r t late t begin. Start tday!