What is Included in a Portfolio?

Before you can assemble your portfolio, you need to collect the items (evidence) that you will include. You may want to start collecting items as you go and store them all in a working portfolio. To create a professional portfolio (which you will share with employers), you will need to identify and choose appropriate items from your working portfolio. For each job you plan to apply for, you can select and display the items that are most related to the position.

As you start identifying items you want to include, it is best to also write a description of each one. This may include the skill it represents, what goal was accomplished, as well as where, when, and why. By cataloging each sample this way, you will not have to be concerned with remembering the details when you choose to use one in your portfolio. Listed below are some things you may want to consider for your portfolio:

• Certificates of honor or awards
• Newspaper articles: volunteer work, project organization, community involvement, athletics
• Writing samples: papers, articles, stories, poetry
• Music
• Teaching or coaching experience: lessons/work-out plans, tutoring plans
• Brochures/PR items
• Procedure or form development
• Pictures of bulletin boards, artwork, volunteer work/activities
• Audio or video tapes of performances
• Computing skills (hard copy and/or disks): programs, Web sites
• Research skills: description of research project, research papers (copy), lab reports
• Licenses or certifications such as: life-guard, CPR, insurance, real estate, actuarial, CPA
• Publications: stories, poetry, research
• Miscellaneous:

  -Reference letters

  -Recommendations

  -Thank-you notes

  -Letters of acknowledgment