11 Portfolio Development

What is a Professional Portfolio?

A professional portfolio is a collection of work samples, accomplishments, and other relevant materials that showcase your skills, experiences, and qualifications to potential employers or clients. It serves as a visual representation of your abilities and helps demonstrate your suitability for a specific role or project. Portfolios are particularly common in fields like art, design, writing, and technology, where work samples are crucial for evaluating candidates. Educators, however, have turned to using portfolios for entry level positins as well as career and pay advancements.

Professional Portfolio Requirements

• Organization: An organized collection of relevant documents and artifacts that present evidence of what the person has learned and accomplished.
  • Employment Records
    • Application
    • Cover letter
    • Resume
  • Academic Accomplishments
    • • Transcripts (can be unofficial)
      • Major course list
  • Philosophy
    • Professional/educational philosophy
    • Professional goals statement
  • Letters of Recommendation
    • Previous employers or educators
    • Character references
    • Employer assessments
  • Work samples
    • Permits, licenses, or work verification
    • Certificates
    • Photos of environmental set-ups
    • Examples of documentation
    • Exemplary student work
    • Recognitions (thank you notes, awards)
• Purpose: The professional portfolio extends beyond the professional resume by offering evidence of work ethic, professional qualifications, education, and experience.
• Collecting Data: This is a continuous process, and the product reflects the professional’s accomplishments including: activities, courses, pictures in workplace, school projects, training, certificates, papers, volunteer work, transcripts, résumé, formal evaluations, hobbies, training, lesson plans, community service projects, recommendations, and the like.
• To Assemble: Consider creating an e-portfolio. Many professionals compile online portfolios to share with current and potential employers. There are a variety of tools professional use including Google Sites/Slides, Portfolium, Canva, Weebly, and many other.

Remember: The portfolio is an extension of the professional and is to be used as an enhancement tool. The goal is to compile a product to show off with pride! Portfolium ePortfolio information can be found on Palomar’s website.