|
How to Use a Portfolio in Job Hunting |
|
|
|
What is a portfolio?
A portfolio is a collection of your
relevant information to support a job application. It contains everything you
think can help sell yourself to a job interviewer, such as certificates of work,
academic achievements, work samples, recommendation letters, and more.
An improved way to use portfolios
Many people use their portfolios during an interview only. While this is
a great way to demonstrate your value as a potential employee using physical samples
interviewer can review while the
interview is taking place, you can turn your portfolio into an even more
valuable selling tool when you prepare the materials in such a way that they
can also be left with your prospective employers after you leave.
Why?
Job interviews always involve the
constraints of time, place, and people involved. A portfolio can help you break
away from these limitations if you can leave it with your prospective employers
after the interview. This way, your portfolio can become an even better selling
tool by providing the following additional benefits:
·
The person who interviewed you
can review your portfolio again and again during his or her hiring process.
This keeps you "on the radar" more effectively.
·
The specifics in your portfolio
serve as a reminder of the positive aspects you, specifically, can bring to the
job...long after the interview is over. (This is especially beneficial if the
interviewer is meeting with a large number of applicants, which can cause the
specifics of your interview to fade in his or her memory.)
·
Your portfolio can be passed
along to other stakeholders and decision makers who were not present at the
interview.
How?
·
Follow these steps to use your
portfolio effectively during (and after!) your interview:
·
Design two versions of your portfolio.
The first version is the one you will present during your interview. It can be
in the form of binder containing all genuine copies of your materials. (You
keep this version.)
·
The second, more condensed
version is designed to be reproducible. This is the version that you will leave
with your employers. Make this version as a handy booklet format. Let's call
this your personal brochure.
·
Scan the second condensed
version to produce an electronic version. Save it as a readable e-book format such
as an Adobe PDF. There are many other free software applications that will help
you do this. If you have no idea how, use Cute PDF Writer available here: http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp
·
Make two copies of your
personal brochure to bring with you to your interview.
·
Present the original portfolio
during your interview. When you present, deliberately skip some of the details
of the portfolio, and then invite the interviewer to take copies of your
personal brochure so it can be reviewed later. In this way, your personal
brochure can be used to supplement some of the details not covered in the
interview.
·
If there are three people
interviewing you, give the two copies to two of them. Promise the third one
that you will send him/her the electronic version of the same brochure (even if
they do not ask for this). If there are only two people interviewing you, then
just give one and promise the second on that you will send a copy to him or
her.
·
Always proactively ask your
interviewer(s) if there is anyone else that they think should receive your
portfolio information, such as Human Resources (HR) people, or others.
·
Telephone the interviewer
several days after the interview to ask about the review of your portfolio, and
whether you need to provide any further information about your background and
experience. Offer again to send them an electronic version of your brochure.
This serves as an excuse to follow up on the interview progress and your chances
of proceeding further in the recruitment process with the interviewer.
·
If your interview was not with
HR professionals, you should contact the HR Department and offer them an
electronic version of your brochure. Explain that you have provided a hard copy
of your portfolio to the interviewers, and you'd like to send them the same booklet
because you think HR Department should receive the same information. Again,
take this opportunity to ask for the progress of your application status.
By following
these steps, you will make full use of your portfolio as a selling tool to
communicate your strengths and accomplishments to your potential employers, and
help you sell to important stakeholders and decision makers who may not have
even been involved in the interview. These tactics give you more control over
the hiring process, taking full advantage of every opportunity to contact your
interviewer for an update on your application progress.
Learn More!
This is one just
of the tactics in the third edition of the e-book A Better Job Interview - Questions and Techniques, scheduled to be
published soon. The second edition of this e-book is still available at our
website. Take advantage of this limited offer:
order the second edition now at the current price and you'll be entitled
to a free upgrade to the latest edition when it is published. Take a look here:
http://www.a-better-job-interview.com.
(Now offered with bonus reading
materials!)
|
Career Articles 
