Portfolio Medleys (or how a professional portfolio can work for you)

By Lisa Trudel, Career Practitioner

Before finding the world of career and employment counselling, I knew the world of theatre and music. Despite an enthusiastic interest in classical music, I harboured a secret passion for cocktail medleys – those soft, sweet, soothing songs that personify the meaning of medley, and conjure up the smoky-blue image of a piano lounge making music for the after 5 crowd. It was at one of these cocktail hours that I was first introduced to another medley. The professional scrapbook we in the career counselling business call the portfolio.

For musicians and actors, portfolios are as necessary as resumes and cover letters. They are the collection of images that provide tempo, whether softly or with gusto. Like a piece of music, some possess a crescendo, swelling and increasing in volume as the performers’ talents jump out from a seemingly mundane binder of sheet protectors. The portfolio has the power to provide that extra special dynamic that might just be the selling point at an audition or interview.

The mentor and teacher I chatted with at that cocktail hour years ago shared a portfolio with me, and as a visual learner I was left with an impression that has remained long after changing careers. As a career practitioner, I have continued the tradition of sharing a sample of a “real” portfolio when advising or teaching students/clients about the value of a skill-based portfolio. What I have gained, is an invaluable collection of memories, through the smiles of people who suddenly see an attainable technique that can help to rebuild confidence and self-worth. When people are faced with dramatic transition, the first casualty is often their sense of confidence and hope. By developing a portfolio, which means acknowledging achievements, that personal hopefulness and belief in oneself can slowly return. A final binder portfolio, complete with a coloured cover page, and crisp new index dividers displaying skills and talents, inevitably can lead to a sense of purpose and power. It can crescendo just like the show-and-tell scrapbook that it is.

Most of us know the checklist about portfolios, and the bravado cheer of “remember your portfolio and employers will remember you”. But since more portfolios are being put on websites, on disks, and on videos, portfolios can take more time to compile. So whether it is a file box or that unusual empty space on your crowded bookshelf, start to fill those spaces with every little item that might catch the eye of a potential employer. Collecting as soon as you complete projects and earn recognition allows you to quickly replace old items with new ones. These may include:

• flyers promoting workshops you have facilitated
• evaluations and feedback forms from those workshops (the positive ones!)
• letters and notes of appreciation from clients/students
• samples of work search materials you have created or designed
• agendas or programs featuring your name
• articles or web pages in which your name appears
• brochures, reports or proposals you have planned and completed
• resume additions such as lists of speaking engagements, published writing, and professional development courses
• copies of career assessment certifications, diplomas and degrees
• letters of reference from employers, or volunteer committee colleagues

The list is endless, just like the creativity of our students and clients. My favorite client thank you notes proudly displayed in my own portfolio, include a photograph of a wall autographed by dozens of clients at the First Anniversary and Appreciation Party at the Office Workers Career Centre where I worked from 1997 to 2000. Another is the actual bakery box top of a cheesecake given to me by a thankful client. Scribbled on the cake box was a delightful note of gratitude and recognition which I couldn’t resist including in my portfolio.

The key to portfolio success is to create it with personal style, and by using the rule of “changing it as you change“. As career practitioners, the focus of our work can shift quickly and accenting new skills refined through new experiences is essential. Another key to portfolio success, is portfolio management or carefully choosing what to include for specific job interviews. Use the approach of collect, select and reflect.

Collect items that tell a story about something important you have done or items that are a record of an accomplishment. Select those that will highlight your capabilities for a specific reason. Reflect is the process of asking questions about the learning connected to each portfolio item. What have I learned and what would I do differently next time? What skills does this item demonstrate and why do I want to show this item? Knowing the answers to these questions can help in your interview as you use the portfolio to bring another dimension to your expertise and abilities.

Be organized and edit if necessary, just as you do with resumes. Identify the skills you are focussing on, and then find evidence to support each one. Limit the number of examples in your portfolio to a maximum of 12 if possible. Remember that it is only a snapshot, not the total saga of your professional life. For career practitioners, it might be worthwhile to select a variety of items that illustrate:

• creativity
• diversity
• accuracy
• thoughtfulness
• progress and persistence toward goals
• knowledge and resourcefulness

Your portfolio can be more than just a scrapbook of professional memories. It can be an excellent visual aid during your interview. Interviews are teaching and learning experiences. With a portfolio, you get to be the teacher, while the hiring committee is the student, as you describe the skills and talents that comprise your life. Your portfolio is your medley and your collection of images. Create an assortment that conjures up the career practitioner you truly are. It can work for you in many ways whether teaching employers or advising students/clients. Provide your own tempo, and like a piece of music, develop it into a crescendo so your talents jump off the page. Like a medley of cocktail tunes your portfolio should showcase the best of you with the anticipation of applause and the demand for an encore.

Lisa Trudel has worked at George Brown College in Toronto, Ontario since 1988. As a Career Practitioner she conducts Career Planning and True Colors workshops for the college’s Marketing and Continuing Education Department on Monday evenings. Lisa is currently completing her Bachelor of Adult Education degree through Brock University.