Job candidates using portfolios gain a significant advantage over other people in the job market. Here's how to begin putting your best work together to showcase your skills.

1. | Jobs| Jobs
| Life Skills| Life Skills
| Stability| Stability
Empowering people to change their lives

2. What to say about
us…
I made a yearlong commitment to
StepUp Ministry. They are an interfaith
organization that empowersempowers peop
who are ready
and willing to make
POSITIVEPOSITIVE CHANGES in their lives
I set and met goals. II
learned…learned…

3. What is a Professional
Development
Portfolio?
• Organized evidence that qualify
you for the job for which you are
applying.
• Supporting evidence of why you
are the best candidate for the
job.
• Demonstration that you possess
the work ethic and matching
skills employers are seeking.

4. Overview
Other Uses?Other Uses?
Provides
documentation when
seeking a mentor or for
applying and interviewing
for educational
opportunities such as
internships and scholarships.
Format?Format?
File on a flash drive
or compiled as
paper documents
or created on-line
such as a LinkedIn profile
presented
effectively
and
professionally.
A portfolio demonstrates initiative!

5. Your Unique SellingYour Unique Selling
Tool is KnowledgeTool is Knowledge
FACTIOD: Job candidates using portfolios gain an
advantage over otheradvantage over other
peoplepeople in the JOB market.

6. What should a
portfolio
accomplish?
Be targeted to the job and
audience
Its contents should match what you are
selling to the potential employer -- skills,
talents, expertise, experience, values,
passion and potential for growth.
Work your strengths! Find a way.
Show only your best work in a style and
format that is attractive to the employer.
Open and close with your best
work. Bookend your best work. Don’t
show anything you feel uncomfortable
with, need to explain or apologize for --
these could result in a red flag to the
interviewer.
Got chocolate?

7. Formal and Informal Education and Training:
• Diplomas • Certificates • Brochures from
workshops and other training events •
Academic work samples: your best report,
lab, research abstracts• Internship
documentation • Professional development
training such as conferences • Scholarship
documentation • Second language evidence
•
What should be included?

8. Skills, Technology, Tools and
Equipment:
• Presentations • Multi-media presentations •
Photos in action • Items that you can handle •
Non-Proprietary work-related reports •
Technology demonstrations • Copies of
PowerPoint presentations • On-Line class
records
Me@Work

9. Overview
• Letters of Reference •
Military Service
documentation • Public
mention in the news or
newsletters • • LinkedIn
Profile • Transcript• Extra
copies of your resume•
Licensure Papers •
Letters of commendation
• Job performance
evaluations
Other portfolio content ideas?

10. Quick TipsQuick Tips
HIGH TECH
• Scan and create PowerPoint or SlideShare
presentation
with ten to twelve slides using powerful graphics.
• Build your own free website to display your
talents.
Link, tag and index to raise your visibility.
LOWER TECH
• Fill ten powerful pages in a presentation binder.
• Type brief descriptions, use captions.

11. Portfolio Checklist
• Does the portfolio show your best and most recent work?
• Are your skills impeccable?
• Have you included samples to match all required
competencies/skills for the job which are a match those you
possess?
• Are all exhibits properly labeled, self-explanatory and spell
checked?
• Does your portfolio show that you can work in this field at a
professional level?
• Does the portfolio predict that you will grow on the job?
• Have you conducted a practice interview (test run) using
your portfolio?
• Did you obtain objective professional advice for what to
include in your portfolio from people in the field, your
mentors or references?
• Have you (or a helper) created an online or digital version of

12. Professional
Development
Portfolio
There is an art to using a portfolio during the
interview and it can be thought of as a
balancing act.
Most face-to-face interviews average 25
minutes— and during that time you must
convince the prospective employer that you
are the best candidate.
Your portfolio is part of your toolbox.
Having both a printed and online portfolio
opens up your options to communicate
your value.

13. Once employed you are HOT NOW!
Intentionally begin
collecting
work related materials for a portfolio
that will document your growth
and accomplishments as a
career professional.

14. | Jobs| Jobs
| Life Skills| Life Skills
| Stability| Stability
Got Questions? Contact Mary Jane Clark,
Alumni Coordinator
Email: mjclark@stepupministry.org