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Creating a Professional Portfolio
         A tool for career exploration
    and marketing your skills + experience
Agenda
 Get to know you
 Some “Take Aways”
 The Career Journey: A 10-year self-
  reflection
 The Career Journey: A 20-year self-
  reflection
 Introduction to Professional Portfolios
    Why create a portfolio?
    What to include in your portfolio
    Dos and Don’ts
 How Effective are Professional Portfolios?
Some “Take Aways”
• Your career path is not a point A to point
  B journey, rather an exploration that will
  take you to multiple destinations.
• Take the time to observe and
  understand the context of where you are
  at.
• Take the time to research and take
  advantage of the opportunities available
  to you.
• Spend the time to reflect on what you
  have learned from your activities,
  coursework, internships, jobs, etc.
  AND document it!
The Career Journey
A 10-year self-reflection
The Career Journey
A 10-year self-reflection
Interests Come From
Your Life Experience
Credentials Come From
     Institutions
“Extras” Come from
      Service
Why Create a Portfolio?
• Personal development
  and self-reflection
• Career exploration
• Job search skills and
  tools
• Promote yourself while
  networking and seeking a
  job or internship
What to include in your
portfolio?
•   Resume*                       •   Featured articles
•   Reference list*               •   Honors, awards,
•   Letters of references*            scholarships,
•   Accomplishments               •   In-class projects
•   Brochures                     •   Licenses or certificates for
•   Conferences, workshops,           specific trainings
    seminars attended             •   Professional affiliations
•   Public                        •   Transcripts
    speaking/presentations or     •   Writing samples
    performances
•   Performance reports,
    appraisals (e.g. internship
    and job evaluations)
•   Description of academic
    study
•   Description of internships
Dos and Don’ts
Do:

      Have extra copies of your portfolio materials.

      Change the contents of your portfolio (except for resume and
      reference list) to show samples of work that are relevant to
      the position you are applying for.

      Ask for written recommendations from each employer or
      supervisor.

Don’t:

      Misrepresent your qualifications. (See article from Boston
      Globe “Harvard missed signs it was being hoodwinked” by
      Tracy Jan on December 28, 2010.)

      Include documents or artifacts that are clearly not your own
      or you do not have permission to put in your portfolio.
How effective are
professional portfolios?
September 20, 2009

Mieko,

I got a new job!!!

I'll be working as a Research Assistant in a position jointly funded by the Parks
Department and the Forest Service.

I can't help but think that your advice on portfolio building really made the
difference. After a meeting with them, where I showed them my previous work,
resume, letters of recommendation (thanks again!), and my transcript, they told
me that my professionalism and organization seemed excellent. Based on that
assessment they created this position for me.

Again, I think the portfolio really made the whole thing happen. And without you,
that wouldn't have been the case. My deepest gratitude is for you.

Dexter Locke, Class of 2009
Questions?

  Contact Info
 Mieko A. Ozeki
mozeki@gmail.com

More Related Content

Creating a Professional Portfolio

  • 1. Creating a Professional Portfolio A tool for career exploration and marketing your skills + experience
  • 2. Agenda  Get to know you  Some “Take Aways”  The Career Journey: A 10-year self- reflection  The Career Journey: A 20-year self- reflection  Introduction to Professional Portfolios  Why create a portfolio?  What to include in your portfolio  Dos and Don’ts  How Effective are Professional Portfolios?
  • 3. Some “Take Aways” • Your career path is not a point A to point B journey, rather an exploration that will take you to multiple destinations. • Take the time to observe and understand the context of where you are at. • Take the time to research and take advantage of the opportunities available to you. • Spend the time to reflect on what you have learned from your activities, coursework, internships, jobs, etc. AND document it!
  • 4. The Career Journey A 10-year self-reflection
  • 5. The Career Journey A 10-year self-reflection
  • 6. Interests Come From Your Life Experience
  • 7. Credentials Come From Institutions
  • 9. Why Create a Portfolio? • Personal development and self-reflection • Career exploration • Job search skills and tools • Promote yourself while networking and seeking a job or internship
  • 10. What to include in your portfolio? • Resume* • Featured articles • Reference list* • Honors, awards, • Letters of references* scholarships, • Accomplishments • In-class projects • Brochures • Licenses or certificates for • Conferences, workshops, specific trainings seminars attended • Professional affiliations • Public • Transcripts speaking/presentations or • Writing samples performances • Performance reports, appraisals (e.g. internship and job evaluations) • Description of academic study • Description of internships
  • 11. Dos and Don’ts Do: Have extra copies of your portfolio materials. Change the contents of your portfolio (except for resume and reference list) to show samples of work that are relevant to the position you are applying for. Ask for written recommendations from each employer or supervisor. Don’t: Misrepresent your qualifications. (See article from Boston Globe “Harvard missed signs it was being hoodwinked” by Tracy Jan on December 28, 2010.) Include documents or artifacts that are clearly not your own or you do not have permission to put in your portfolio.
  • 12. How effective are professional portfolios? September 20, 2009 Mieko, I got a new job!!! I'll be working as a Research Assistant in a position jointly funded by the Parks Department and the Forest Service. I can't help but think that your advice on portfolio building really made the difference. After a meeting with them, where I showed them my previous work, resume, letters of recommendation (thanks again!), and my transcript, they told me that my professionalism and organization seemed excellent. Based on that assessment they created this position for me. Again, I think the portfolio really made the whole thing happen. And without you, that wouldn't have been the case. My deepest gratitude is for you. Dexter Locke, Class of 2009
  • 13. Questions? Contact Info Mieko A. Ozeki [email protected]

Editor's Notes

  • #3: Get to know the class: