AOT 255 SENIOR PRACTICUM

THE CAREER PORTFOLIO

What is a Portfolio?

The career portfolio is a professionally assembled binder containing:

• Statement of Originality – A paragraph stating this is your work and asking them to keep it confidential.

• Work Philosophy – A brief description of your beliefs about yourself and the industry.

• Career Goals – Your professional goals for the next two to five years.

• Resume – A brief summary of your education and experiences.

• Skill Areas – Tabbed sections containing information on the different types of skills you want to promote such as Management, Marketing, Training, Technology, Communications, etc.

Each skill area may contain:

· Work Samples – Physical examples of your work. Projects, reports, documents, pictures, etc. Work samples show your skills in this area.

· Letters of Recommendation – Letters of support or reference from people who can verify your abilities in this skill area.

· Skill Sets – Checklists of critical skills related to this area. As you attain different levels of competency with each skill, an instructor or employer can sign off on your ability to perform the skill. These are usually pre-existing checklists of skills standardized by an organization.

• Works in Progress – A brief list of work, activities, projects, or efforts you are in the process of completing.

• Certifications, Diplomas, Degrees, and Awards – Copies of certifications, diplomas, and degrees earned. Copies of special awards and recognitions you have received. Include documentation used to track skills attained for certification.

• Community Service – Work samples, letters of recognition, photos of projects completed, programs and brochures relating to community service projects.

• Professional Memberships and Certifications – Membership cards, citations, and letters related to professional organizations.

• Academic Plan of Study – A copy of your plan of study that lists courses you have taken to fulfill your degree.

• Faculty and Employer Biographies – Brief descriptions of the people whose names appear throughout the portfolio (who they are and what they do).

• References – A list of people who can verify your character, academic record, or employment history.

What Supplies Do I Need to Get Started?

Here is a list of supplies that will help you begin the process of collecting and assembling your portfolio:

ü Plastic file tote box – (1 to 2 boxes) Used to store work samples, materials, etc. Should be able to hold hanging file folders.

ü Hanging file folders – 20 to 30 folders.

ü Zippered 3-ring notebook – Cloth, leather, or vinyl with 1-1/2” to 2” rings. Cloth is the cheapest. All are available at local office supply stores.

ü Sheet protectors – Clear, plastic, 3-hole punched pockets that hold documents and work samples. They protect your portfolio and give it a professional look. Avoid the non-glare variety because they are harder to read.

ü Connected sheet protectors – Three to five sets of sheet protectors, bound together in sets of 5 or 10 sheets. These are great for keeping projects and work samples neatly together in your file box. This makes it easier to swap work samples in and out of the portfolio.

ü Extra-wide 3-ring tabs with labels – Page protectors are wider than ordinary 3-ring tabs. You need to find extra-wide tabs made for use with page protectors.

ü Paper – Use a high quality paper.

ü Business cards – Blank sheets of cards are used to create overview cards for work samples. You don’t have to use plain white cards – select something that shows your style.

ü Photo sheet holders – Plastic sheets that can hold vertical and/or horizontal pictures.

ü Nameplate or vinyl card holder – Used on the cover of the portfolio to identify it as your property.

ü Zippered pouch – (optional) Holds videos.

ü Diskette holders – (optional) Holds project diskettes.

Take this list with you to the office supply store. You can also find these items on the Internet at http://www.officemax.com/, http://www.officedepot.com/, or http://www.staples.com/.

Have Access to This Equipment

• Computer – You should have access to current versions of word processor, graphic presentation and spreadsheet packages.

• Printer – Laser or high-quality ink jet.

• Color flatbed scanner – Used to scan certificates, work samples, etc.

• Color copier or color printer – Used to reproduce work samples, certificates, awards, etc.

• Film camera or digital camera – Used for photographing work samples and documenting other activities.

• Video camera – Videotape yourself in action when necessary.

Things You Don’t Need

• Ink pens – Do everything on a computer.
• 3-hole paper punch – Use page protectors instead of punching holes. Your work will look more professional.
• Paper clips, staples, and tape – If you want to connect several pages or display a work sample, use a set of connected sheet protectors.