Employers always consider the bottom line. Your goal is to present your skills in such a way that they can quickly recognize the value that you can bring to their team. Your portfolio is a marketing tool. Once it is organized and presented well, your portfolio should stand up to any interview.

We have already mentioned that a portfolio has been used for a long time for creative pursuits (art) and teaching and that it can be presented in a binder with a picture holder on the front if desired.

Essential sections for the portfolio will vary depending on the type of job and industry that you are working in. Only include the sections for which you have content. Any information you include should enhance your opportunity to market yourself.

Career Summary

This is a description of who you are through what you have done. You can include elements that are not in your resume (such as your work ethic, professional interests, philosophy about life and work, etc.).

Goals

Talk about where you see yourself professionally in one, two, and five years.

Personal Philosophy and Mission Statement

This is a personal statement about your guiding principles that define your purpose. Consider this your personal executive summary.

Resume

Include a good, clean copy of your resume; have an extra copy in case someone in the interview panel needs one.

Know the company; if they would like a copy that can be scanned, simply format your resume as a plain text document (usually Times New Roman, font size 12) without any fancy formatting (bullets are replaced by dashes, letters all of uniform size, etc.).

Accomplishments

Include a detailed list of all your major career accomplishments to date. This is an important element in your portfolio.

This section should be branded to match your resume. Include a list of examples that you can refer to easily during your interview. Depending on the type of work you do, this section may be a paper or multimedia presentation. You can include comprehensive examples in this section.

Work Samples

These are often printed copies of the work that you have done, although they could be in a multimedia format. Include reports, papers, studies, brochures, projects, presentations, and so on. Make sure that they are crisp, clean copies. It’s a good idea to use a plastic sleeve to protect your samples.

Research, Publications, and Reports

This is an area where you can highlight your writing, research, and conference submissions, for example.

Testimonials and Letters of Recommendation

Collect any compliments and testimonials and place them in this section. This section can also include copies of your performance evaluations and reviews.

Awards and Honors

This section includes your certificates, scholarships, and so on.

Conferences and Workshops

Include a list of conferences, seminars, training sessions, and workshops that you have participated in or attended. This can include completion certificates, a copy of the program highlights, or agenda.

Transcripts, Degrees, Licenses, and Certifications

It is rare for an employer to ask for your transcripts, but copies of degrees or other documents are often required.

Professional Development Activities

This is a list of professional associations to which you belong or for which you volunteer.

Military Records and Awards

You can detail your military service, if applicable.

Volunteering/Community Service

Describe these activities as they relate to your career.

References

Your references should be a list of three people who are willing to speak about your strengths, abilities, and experience. At least one of your references should be a former manager.