by Becky Cole

 Regardless of the type of work you have done or want to do, a work portfolio will help you to show you are the right person for your next job. Having real examples of what you can do will help you stand out in an interview.

I have letters and examples of my work in plastic sleeves. This helps me to customize the information to be a little more specific to the type of job for which I am interviewing. I can pick what better suits that interview and just take that with me in a three-ring binder.

What is a Work Portfolio?

A portfolio is what I call the illustrated version of your resume because it contains examples of what you can do, as well as letters from people who have knowledge of your work. No matter what line of work you are in, it is a useful tool. For example,

* if you are a bookkeeper, you can include a list of the software systems you use, example pages of the types of accounting reports you prepare, and any other information that may be relevant.

* if you work in a customer service job, you can include examples of the forms you had to fill out, training certificates, letters of commendation, and employee of the month awards.

If you have been written about in the company newsletter, include a copy of that article. If you organize community events, include copies of the flyers or other marketing materials that were used.

I also will ask people who were involved with me in a project to write a letter documenting that I was involved in the project. It doesn’t have to be long or involved, just something along the lines of, "thanks for helping with the ABC account in 2007. It was a lot of work, but we saved the company over $10,000. Mary Smith."

The Benefits of Creating A Portfolio

It helps you to have your information in one place. It also gives you an opportunity to assess what is important to you in looking for your next job.
For the employer, it gives credibility to your resume.

For the interview, when you are asked, "what are your accomplishments," you can pull out the book and show what you did. But even if you never show your portfolio in an interview, it is still a good idea. Creating it means you are very prepared to answer any interview question about your experience, skills or past work.

What You Put In A Portfolio

1 - A copy of your resume.

2 - Real examples or representative samples of your work.

3 - Performance reviews

4 - Training certificates

5 - Award certificates or other company recognitions

6 - A brief list of your accomplishments and what you did to benefit the company or a customer

7 - A list of questions you want to ask your employer during the interview

8 - A list of references with complete contact information

For my list of references, I use a two-column page. In the left column, I list people who can be called for additional information. In the right column, I list quotes from people who have commented on my work I find that this provides additional support to the information I have in the rest of the portfolio.

Take it with you

Take the portfolio with you to the interview. Set it on the table when you get there so you have it in front of you. However, you will need to gauge from the interviewer how much and when to use it.

Don’t put anything in it that you are not willing to let them see.
It’s about showcasing why you are the best person for the job, and it is a surefire way to kill the interview if you have to tell the interviewer you brought material that isn’t appropriate for the job you are discussing.

The next time someone asks you, "why should I hire you," the portfolio will allow you to respond, "let me show you..."

Becky Cole is a consultant for non-profit organizations specializing in capacity building for both individuals and corporations throughout the Twin Cities.  She has an Education Specialist Degree from Indiana University. Becky Cole can be reached at: bcole@employmentnewsmn.com