Career Advice: Portfolio Development

What is a portfolio?

A portfolio is a collection of any relevant academic and professional projects that showcase the skills and abilities of an individual. It also includes skills, qualifications, training, and experiences to provide insight to people (Clarke, 2022). 

It is important to create a profile that is well organized and contains the most relevant experiences of an individual. The portfolio must be well organized, easy to understand and most importantly communicate with the reader or employer about one’s professional experiences (Clarke, 2022). 

How to make a portfolio?

To make an eye-catching portfolio, one must have a rough idea of what they want it to look like. With the concept locked in, all the individual’s work must be put together. After collecting all the works, the works that best demonstrate an individual’s potential must be chosen and compiled in the portfolio. This is an important task for portfolio development (Clarke, 2022). 

A statement of originality is a paragraph that states that this work belongs to the individual and that the works included are confidential. If there are projects that can not be shared outside, it must be stated in the same paragraph. A work philosophy gives an idea about the individual’s beliefs. A resume is an outline of all the skills and experiences of a person. It also includes certificates, diplomas, degrees, achievements, awards etc. Employers can understand an individual’s potential by reviewing works that showcase their skills and achievements. 

Apart from the work experiences, a list of where the individual is currently working must be attached. A copy of the academic transcript which includes detailed courses and grades must also be included within. A common practice is to submit a list of people to whom the employer can refer to know more about the person. The reference list must include three to five professional or faculty members that the employer can verify to check the individual’s qualifications (Clarke, 2022).  

Maintaining a Career Portfolio

A career portfolio is an important aspect of portfolio development. The above paragraph is for fresh graduates or for someone who has just started. After an individual has worked at several companies a proper career portfolio must be maintained and updated (Indeed). The following must be done : 

1. Drafting a Resume – A resume that highlights all the work experience done by the individual along with their achievements, skills, qualities, and contact details must be maintained. It should be direct and have an easy-to-read format with professional font.
2. Listing out one’s skills in a clear manner is crucial. Identifying skills that work with the job role is important. One can list down the necessary skills required after reading the nature of the job that they are applying to. This helps the employer to easily read and short-list the appealing resumes. The category of skills can be divided into three, such as soft skills, technical skills, and hard skills. An organized resume is most likely to help a person get picked. 
3. A small introduction of oneself allows the employer to get familiar with the applicant. This can be divided into a small section in the portfolio at the beginning of the portfolio. The individual must focus on their goal in this section as it will leave the employer with a good impression. Things like story-telling that demonstrates skills can also be included. The introduction can change as per the job requirements.
4. Adding work samples that best suit the job position to give the right impression is important. These can include several samples. For example photos, sketches, articles, reports, presentations, etc. These will prove an individual’s specific skills. This section allows to highlight various skills and abilities of the candidate. 
5. Highlighting one’s professional accomplishment – a section in a portfolio that focuses only on the individual’s professional achievements, awards and certificates is impressive as it gives the employer an idea about the individual’s organization and determination. This list can also be divided per category depending on the job requirement. It includes the person’s scholarships, career growth, contributions to the previous or current company, ideas developed, and so on. 

1. Adding copies of the individual’s official documents, and degrees can help in increasing the individual’s credibility. It is easier to attach these documents as PDFs along with the digital portfolio.
2. A section with letters of recommendation from past colleagues or supervisors is a must. This shows the positive comments about the individual, their ability, and work progress. Up to five testimonials can be added to the list. Along with the letter, their contact information can also be added so that the employer can verify the details. 
3. The most important step in creating the career portfolio is to organize it in a logical order. The arrangement of the portfolio should be in an easy way. It should allow the employer to easily read through the portfolio. Starting with the brief introduction, the resume must follow after which the candidate can attach his/her work with the latest works in the beginning and the older ones at the end. 
4. Presentation of the portfolio is equally important. It should be eye-catching. Dividing the works and marking them using color codes can help to organize the portfolio better. The physical copy of the portfolio must be well maintained and avoid any physical harm. 
5. Revision and editing of the portfolio is important for its development. Double-checking grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors must be kept in mind. The flow must be there for easy reading. Portfolios can be customized depending on the job title, emphasizing the skills and abilities required for it (Indeed).

What are the benefits of having a portfolio?

Building a strong portfolio can be crucial when it comes to choosing a career path. It not only assists with self-evaluation but also provides a clear picture of one’s career growth, enabling them to set new goals and achieve greater things. Additionally, a well-organized portfolio helps candidates establish a unique identity in their work field while also allowing employers to gain insights into their work history, skills, and abilities. A portfolio can also serve as an essential tool in securing financial resources and creating a professional image in the field (Indeed).

1. What is a portfolio? (2022) Clarke University. Available at: https://www.clarke.edu/academics/careers-internships/student-checklist/resume-writing-and-portfolios/what-is-a-portfolio/ (Accessed: 20 September 2023). 
2. (No date) What is a career portfolio? benefits and steps to make – indeed. Available at: https://in.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/what-is-career-portfolio (Accessed: 22 September 2023). 
3. Narelle Biedermann, T.A. and H.H. (2023) Professional portfolio development: Personally and professionally rewarding and satisfying, ANMJ. Available at: https://anmj.org.au/professional-portfolio-development-personally-and-professionally-rewarding-and-satisfying/ (Accessed: 22 September 2023). 
4. Home (no date) All Saints’ College Portfolios. Available at: https://portfolio.ascollege.wa.edu.au/blog/2021/03/26/types-of-portfolios/ (Accessed: 23 September 2023).