Creating Your Professional Portfolio Megan Roseman Class of 2009

Overview Why do I need a portfolio? Three elements of portfolio design: –Content –Technical skills –Aesthetics Resources Why do I need a portfolio? Three elements of portfolio design: –Content –Technical skills –Aesthetics Resources

Portfolio Purpose Isn’t a resume good enough? What a portfolio can do for you: –A narrative of learning experiences –Collection of papers, projects, experiences, etc. –Reflection of you and your interests Who will want to see it? –Residency programs –Employers –Fellow students Isn’t a resume good enough? What a portfolio can do for you: –A narrative of learning experiences –Collection of papers, projects, experiences, etc. –Reflection of you and your interests Who will want to see it? –Residency programs –Employers –Fellow students

Where to start Consider the central aspects of portfolio design –Content –Aesthetics –Technical skills Consider the central aspects of portfolio design –Content –Aesthetics –Technical skills

Content Your portfolio should contain –Narrative summary –Community service activities –Career goals –Educational activities –Resume –Anything else that reflects you as a student pharmacist Awards, memberships, leadership positions Your portfolio should contain –Narrative summary –Community service activities –Career goals –Educational activities –Resume –Anything else that reflects you as a student pharmacist Awards, memberships, leadership positions

Content, cont. Show examples of your work Include photographs of you –At work –At school –Doing something you love Sum yourself up –Why are you in pharmacy school? –What sets you apart from others? Show examples of your work Include photographs of you –At work –At school –Doing something you love Sum yourself up –Why are you in pharmacy school? –What sets you apart from others?

Content, cont. Hints –Type content out in a word processing program to make spelling/grammar checks easier –Convert papers, resumes, etc. to PDF form to prevent unsavory activity –Highlights from each quarter/year Hints –Type content out in a word processing program to make spelling/grammar checks easier –Convert papers, resumes, etc. to PDF form to prevent unsavory activity –Highlights from each quarter/year

Aesthetics A reflection of your professional self Do –Get creative with color, layout and photos –Get ideas from other well-designed webpages –Use the whole “canvas” Don’t –Turn it into a MySpace page –Go crazy with color, special effects, animations –Make the page difficult to understand or use A reflection of your professional self Do –Get creative with color, layout and photos –Get ideas from other well-designed webpages –Use the whole “canvas” Don’t –Turn it into a MySpace page –Go crazy with color, special effects, animations –Make the page difficult to understand or use

Aesthetics, cont. Even professionals get it wrong –Web pages that….well…pages –Too busy, bad navigation, distracting animations Better examples –PaulPaul –MineMine –OthersOthers Even professionals get it wrong –Web pages that….well…pages –Too busy, bad navigation, distracting animations Better examples –PaulPaul –MineMine –OthersOthers

Aesthetics, cont. Hints –Use photos to your advantage Break up the page Create a color scheme –Borrow from others Steal elements from professionally designed pages –Ask friends for feedback Hints –Use photos to your advantage Break up the page Create a color scheme –Borrow from others Steal elements from professionally designed pages –Ask friends for feedback

Technical skills Steps to getting started: –Set up your account –Learn how to use SFTP –Web design programs Front Page Dreamweaver –Tutorial (course website) Steps to getting started: –Set up your account –Learn how to use SFTP –Web design programs Front Page Dreamweaver –Tutorial (course website)

Technical HELP! Get organized –Sketch out the organization of your site before hand –Load up your SFTP server with your documents (files, photos, etc) Help sessions –Two during the quarter –Come with questions Get organized –Sketch out the organization of your site before hand –Load up your SFTP server with your documents (files, photos, etc) Help sessions –Two during the quarter –Come with questions

How to use your portfolio Be ahead of the wave –Potentially used for licensure –More professional programs using portfolios Job interviews –Send link to potential employer Residency interviews –Case reports Be ahead of the wave –Potentially used for licensure –More professional programs using portfolios Job interviews –Send link to potential employer Residency interviews –Case reports

How to use your portfolio Certificate programs Scholarship applications Grant applications Certificate programs Scholarship applications Grant applications

Resources UWNETID – Fugu (SFTP download) – #descr Front page tutorial – Dreamweaver download – UWNETID – Fugu (SFTP download) – #descr Front page tutorial – Dreamweaver download –

Conclusion Get started soon –Do tutorial –Play around with design Give yourself time Questions? Get started soon –Do tutorial –Play around with design Give yourself time Questions?