Portfolios

During the interview process, a strong portfolio can make the difference. Your portfolio proves that you’ve achieved all the things you describe in your resume.

This is your chance to show your prospective employer what you’re capable of, with all your relevant projects and documents from your time as a student, employee and volunteer organized in one place. 

Keep your portfolio handy when interviewing, so that when an employer asks for it, you have it ready.

To work on your portfolio with a career expert, make an appointment.

Portfolio ContentsThere are many items you can use in your portfolio, including:

• Photographs of completed projects
• Examples of completed projects (sample menus, business plans, or procedure manuals)
• Photographs from study abroad experiences
• Examples of flyers or posters you developed for an event
• Copies of articles you've written for publication
• Certificates or licenses earned through on-the-job training, club participation
• Awards: customer service, employee of the month/year awards
• Samples of leadership activity in sports, clubs, organizations, and volunteer work
• Academic transcripts & teacher evaluations
• Letters of recommendation from past employers
• Thank you letters

Organizing a Portfolio
Keep your portfolio current and relevant to the job you are seeking. You can present your portfolio items in a binder, on a disc, or online.

Here are two options for organizing your portfolio:

• Skills: Group your portfolio items by the skills they demonstrate. This can include industry-specific skills (photos of completed projects), academic achievement (transcripts or letters of recommendation), or leadership abilities (awards and certificates).
• Chronological order: Group your portfolio items in the order in which you did them, to show how you’ve grown. From work you did for jobs, school and clubs, organize items in order that those jobs appear on your resume.

Posting Portfolios Online You can post your portfolio on any number of websites. Just remember to protect your privacy. Don’t share your personal contact information with everyone, unless you are comfortable with doing so. Otherwise, you include only your email address as a means of contact.

Here’s an example of a recent graduate’s online portfolio