1. GSLIS Continuing Education Portfolios for Job-Hunting Laura Saunders Fall 2003

2. Portfolio: What Is It? A portfolio is a compilation of documents that demonstrate the qualifications and skills that are listed on your resume. Traditionally, portfolios are printed documents that are organized by skill set or other topical area, and presented in a binder. Portfolios can also be electronic- they could be documents burned on a CD-ROM or set up as a web page.

3. Portfolio: What Is It? Portfolios are made up of documents that illustrate particular skills. In general, you should identify the skills that are most important to the jobs you are applying for, and build your portfolio around those skills.

4. Portfolio: What Is It? Almost any kind of document can be used in a portfolio, and the documents you choose will depend on the skills you want to highlight. Some examples are: –Communication Skills Policy Manuals Articles for internal or external publications Marketing Materials- flyers, brochures, ads, etc.

5. Portfolio: What Is It? –Instruction/ Teaching Skills Lesson plans Powerpoint presentations, overheads, etc. Evaluation/ assessment forms –Technology Skills Web pages Advanced spreadsheets, databases, etc. Other documents produced with specific software

6. Portfolio: What Is It? Consider including any other documents that you personally have produced- you may include class projects as well as work done professionally: –Collection Development Policies –Procedure Manuals –Budgets –Cataloging Projects

7. Portfolio: Why Use One? Portfolios can be a great asset to any job hunt. While resumes merely describe skills to employers, portfolios offer concrete illustrations of your skills and qualifications. Furthermore, the use of portfolios in library interviews is still relatively new, so having a portfolio can help separate you from the rest of the candidates.

8. Portfolio: How to Organize Begin by gathering together any documents and papers that could potentially be added to your portfolio. Using job descriptions of your ideal jobs, identify the skills and qualifications that will be most important in those jobs. Begin sorting your documents into categories based on those skill areas.

9. Portfolio: How to Organize Begin assembling your portfolio. Include a resume at the front of the binder. You may also want to keep some business cards with it. Also include a table of contents that outlines the topic areas of your portfolio. Separate each topic area with a tab or other document separator.

10. Portfolio: How to Organize As with resumes and cover letters, it is a good idea to let someone review your portfolio before taking it on a job interview. Ask a friend, faculty member or career counselor to browse your portfolio and make recommendations about what is included or how it is organized.

11. Portfolio: How to Use Bring your portfolio on all job interviews. If possible, try to work the portfolio into the interview. For instance, if an interviewer asks about your instruction experience, you can describe the instruction you’ve done, and then offer to show them the lesson plans in your portfolio.

12. Portfolio: How to Use If, by the end of the interview, you have not had a chance to display your portfolio, simply let the employer know that you brought a portfolio along, and ask them if they would like to review it before you leave.

13. Portfolio Summary Portfolios can give job-hunters an edge over the competition by giving the interviewer concrete examples of the job-hunters skills. Remember that a portfolio is a living document- do not abandon it once you land a job, but update it continuously. Return to this week’s web page to learn more about portfolios