portfolio

Why use a portfolio? They are not just for art students! I use a portfolio for job interviews, even when they are not asked for. It is so much easier to **show not tell** interviewers about your previous work, skills and abilities. Therefore in my portfolio, apart from qualifications, awards and certificate I also include samples of projects, fliers of promotional material I have made or organised etc. It is much easier to show, for example, a flier of an event you helped to organise than to rabbit on about team work, organisational skills etc. It also helps to take the pressure off. As the interviewer looks through your portfolio they may ask you questions and help draw out further information. That is with a portfolio as a tool you will become an active participant in the interview rather than passively answering each question asked. A good portfolio demonstrates the breadth and extent of your skills, abilities and experiences. It demonstrates that your abilities have been dynamic and progressive It is also now becoming the trend for students to hand in a portfolio of evidence rather than individual assignments. Equally if you wish to get credit (RPL) to show your competence in a subject, a portfolio of your work/ evidence is necessary. That is many courses require some type of communication unit. For example you may have completed a unit in communication with customers for a retail course and you are now studying community services in which there is a unit communicating with clients. A portfolio of your work, evidence of the material you covered, may give you credit/ exemption form the unit. There are many types of portfolios. I recommend you create 2. one for jobs, employment & a second as evidence of learning & skills or a combination of the 2. See the links for example contents pages. Combination job & course work (studies) portfolio suggested Career portfolio contents page