Introduction to
Portfolios
Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved
.
1.
2.
3.
4.
A collection of records
showcasing your
accomplishments and
attributes
A demonstration of your
knowledge, skills, and
preferences
A way to document and
understand your career
path
A tool to convince an
employer to hire you
What Is a
Portfolio?
Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved
.
Benefits of a Portfolio
A portfolio can…
1. Exhibit your skills and experience to
employers.
2. Present a more thorough picture of
you than a resume can.
3. Help track your career progress.
4. Help build your self-confidence.
5. Demonstrate your personal and
professional growth.
Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved
.
Portfolios and Goals
1.
2.
Creating a portfolio forces you to
define your goals.
Keeping your portfolio up to date is
one way to measure your progress
toward those goals.
Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved
.
Types of Portfolios
1.
2.
Master Portfolio: A complete
record of all of the essentials of
your background that could be
useful in a job search. Anything you
might need to manage your
career.
Employment Portfolio: A portion of
the documents from your master
portfolio, selected and arranged
for a specific job being sought.
Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved
.
Three Portfolio Approaches
1.
2.
3.
Experienced Approach: For
those with extensive work history.
Includes many examples of
career accomplishments.
Potential Approach: For those
with limited work history.
Emphasizes academic
achievements, community
involvement, and personal
attributes.
Balanced Portfolio: Blends
elements of the other two types.
Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved
.
Using Portfolios in the
Job Search
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
For tracking progress
To fill out job applications
To help in writing resumes and cover
letters
In career exploration
To help answer interview questions
To make a positive impression on an
employer
To emphasize skills, abilities, and
accomplishments
Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved
.
Getting Started
1.
2.
3.
4.
Define yourself
Define your
opportunities
Define a strategy
Define your
approach
Portfolio
Design
Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved
.
Seven Section
Portfolio Model
A common way to organize a portfolio
is by including these seven sections:
 Personal Information
 Personal Goals and History
 Values
 Accomplishments and Job History
 Skills and Attributes
 Education and Training
 Testimonials and Recommendations
Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved
.
Personal Information
This information can be useful when applying
for jobs or filling out forms. This section might
include:
 Birth certificate
 Health records
 Social Security card
 Passport
 Work permit
 Noncitizen status papers
 Test or assessment results
Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved
.
Values
Values define what you want from life and
from your career and motivate your
behaviors. This section might include:
 A statement expressing your values
 Evidence of public or community service
 Church involvement
 Charitable or volunteer work
Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved
.
Personal Goals and
History
Describes your career goals and objectives.
This section might include:
 A detailed action plan
 A timeline for past and future
accomplishments
 A personal mission statement
Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved
.
Accomplishments
and Job History
Highlights work experience and job-related
accomplishments. This section might include:
 Resume
 Complete work history
 Performance evaluations
 Certifications
 Charts, graphs, photos, or brochures as
evidence of your accomplishments
Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved
.
Skills and Attributes
Documents that show your skills in use or
verify that you have those skills and
attributes. This section might include:
 Performance evaluations
 Customer comment cards
 Examples or samples of work
Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved
.
Education and
Training
Your complete education and training
record. This section might include:
 Course descriptions
 Copies of transcripts
 Certificates of completion
 Professional certifications
 Lists of scholarships and awards
Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved
.
Evaluations and
Recommendations
Any positive feedback that you have
received in your career so far. This section
might include:
 Evaluations
 Letters of recommendation
 Honors and awards received
Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved
.
Displaying Your
Portfolio
•
•
•
•
•
•
Make it look professional
Use original documents when possible
Use separators to divide sections
Include graphs, pictures, drawings, and any
other visuals when possible
Use a nice looking binder
Handle it carefully and keep it safe
Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved
.
Electronic Portfolios




Can be put on a CD/DVD or a flash drive or
posted on a website
Makes long distance networking and job
application easier
Ensures that original documents stay safe
Cheaper to update
Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved
.
Electronic Portfolio
Dos and Don'ts
Do
 Include images,
video, or other
visual elements
 Update frequently
 Include contact
information
 Keep it simple and
compact
Don’t
 Say that you are
looking for work
 Put your picture
on your website
 Include too
much personal
information
Copyright © 2015 Texas Education Agency, 2015. All rights reserved
.