Putting together a portfolio

While your resume can make the difference to you getting an interview or not the interviewer will have probably seen hundreds of almost identical ones all claiming to have what’s needed for the position on offer. While your resume might secure you an interview the interviewer will probably regard it with a little skepticism, all resumes claim that the owner of them is the ideal candidate but many fall short of what they actually claim.

If you have done a good job with your resume and have impressed the interviewer enough to secure an interview, then you can include another weapon in your arsenal to back up any claims you made in your resume, a portfolio.

What is a portfolio?

Your portfolio can be as extensive as you want and it can include all your achievements in past work you have done, this could be work in the classroom, volunteer and internships, all neatly combined together and presented in a neat package.

You can then take your portfolio with you when attending the interview and present it to highlight and back up any claims you have made in your resume, or if the interviewer asks you questions relating to your achievements. A portfolio will also help to draw the attention directly from you as you can present it while answering questions which can greatly ease stress during the interview.

What should I include in my portfolio?

You can include any papers, certificates or presentations and DVD material which you have done relating to the type of work in your portfolio, a well-presented portfolio will highlight your organisational skills as well as your written communication skills.

Any brochures or advertising material you have worked on can also be included because your portfolio is only limited by your imagination and it is the perfect way to get a point across as you can include a lot more information in than you could in your resume.

Think of your portfolio as an extension of your resume and the same care and attention should be paid when designing and putting it together as you did with your resume.

While a portfolio is not essential, by taking the time and preparing one it will show that you are willing to go that one step further and put in the time and effort, which the interviewer will favour and it could mean the difference between getting the position and not.