Introduction to Portfolios Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

1. A collection of records showcasing your accomplishments and attributes 2. A demonstration of your knowledge, skills, and preferences 3. A way to document and understand your career path 4. A tool to convince an employer to hire you What Is a Portfolio? Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Benefits of a Portfolio A portfolio can… 1. Exhibit your skills and experience to employers. 2. Present a more thorough picture of you than a resume can. 3. Help track your career progress. 4. Help build your self-confidence. 5. Demonstrate your personal and professional growth. Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Portfolios and Goals 1. Creating a portfolio forces you to define your goals. 2. Keeping your portfolio up to date is one way to measure your progress toward those goals. Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Types of Portfolios 1. Master Portfolio: A complete record of all of the essentials of your background that could be useful in a job search. Anything you might need to manage your career. 2. Employment Portfolio: A portion of the documents from your master portfolio, selected and arranged for a specific job being sought. Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Three Portfolio Approaches 1. Experienced Approach: For those with extensive work history. Includes many examples of career accomplishments. 2. Potential Approach: For those with limited work history. Emphasizes academic achievements, community involvement, and personal attributes. 3. Balanced Portfolio: Blends elements of the other two types. Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Using Portfolios in the Job Search 1. For tracking progress 2. To fill out job applications 3. To help in writing resumes and cover letters 4. In career exploration 5. To help answer interview questions 6. To make a positive impression on an employer 7. To emphasize skills, abilities, and accomplishments Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Getting Started Getting Started 1. Define yourself 2. Define your opportunities 3. Define a strategy 4. Define your approach Portfolio Design Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Seven Section Portfolio Model A common way to organize a portfolio is by including these seven sections:  Personal Information  Personal Goals and History  Values  Accomplishments and Job History  Skills and Attributes  Education and Training  Testimonials and Recommendations Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Personal Information This information can be useful when applying for jobs or filling out forms. This section might include:  Birth certificate  Health records  Social Security card  Passport  Work permit  Noncitizen status papers  Test or assessment results Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Values Values define what you want from life and from your career and motivate your behaviors. This section might include:  A statement expressing your values  Evidence of public or community service  Church involvement  Charitable or volunteer work Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Personal Goals and History Describes your career goals and objectives. This section might include:  A detailed action plan  A timeline for past and future accomplishments  A personal mission statement Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Accomplishments and Job History Highlights work experience and job-related accomplishments. This section might include:  Resume  Complete work history  Performance evaluations  Certifications  Charts, graphs, photos, or brochures as evidence of your accomplishments Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Skills and Attributes Documents that show your skills in use or verify that you have those skills and attributes. This section might include:  Performance evaluations  Customer comment cards  Examples or samples of work Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Education and Training Your complete education and training record. This section might include:  Course descriptions  Copies of transcripts  Certificates of completion  Professional certifications  Lists of scholarships and awards Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Evaluations and Recommendations Any positive feedback that you have received in your career so far. This section might include:  Evaluations  Letters of recommendation  Honors and awards received Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Displaying Your Portfolio Make it look professional Make it look professional Use original documents when possible Use original documents when possible Use separators to divide sections Use separators to divide sections Include graphs, pictures, drawings, and any other visuals when possible Include graphs, pictures, drawings, and any other visuals when possible Use a nice looking binder Use a nice looking binder Handle it carefully and keep it safe Handle it carefully and keep it safe Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Electronic Portfolios  Can be put on a CD/DVD or a flash drive or posted on a website  Makes long distance networking and job application easier  Ensures that original documents stay safe  Cheaper to update Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Electronic Portfolio Dos and Don'ts Do  Include images, video, or other visual elements  Update frequently  Include contact information  Keep it simple and compact Don’t  Say that you are looking for work  Put your picture on your website  Include too much personal information Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.