Career Development and Employment Centre

What is a Portfolio?

A portfolio is a collection of artifacts that demonstrate your skills, personal characteristics, and accomplishments. They are most commonly used in creative fields such as graphic design and fashion but more and more people are using portfolios from every field of work.

A Portfolio:

• Demonstrates or "proves" your skills to an employer during an interview
• Starts interesting conversations that allow you to stand out from the crowd
• Allows you to use all your life experiences, such as work, education, community service, extra-curriculars, travel, etc., to show an employer that you have the skills they are looking for

A Portfolio includes:

• Awards and achievements you have earned, reference letters, goals for your future, as well as your vision and beliefs of the future of your industry
• Examples of your school projects, feedback from professors, presentation outlines, photos, and copies of awards you have received

A portfolio can impress an employer by not only speaking of the candidates success but also showing proof of those successes.