Preparing the

LESSON 5 Professional Portfolio

PART III EXPLORING TOOLKIT FOR WORKFORCE

READINESS
Lesson 5
Preparing the Professional Portfolio
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
• discuss the importance of professional portfolio and its elements,
• identify the steps in creating their own professional portfolio
• design a professional portfolio template
•

In past years only the artists and creative

professionals have portfolios where they showcase their
artworks. To this very day, every professional can benefit
from having one. If you wish to become a part of a thriving
industry, whether a freelance business or an agency job, a
Professional Portfolio is a must-have. It provides tangible
proof of your value in the workplace and documents your
Source: https://www.pinclipart.com/pindetail/ professional accomplishments in any way that makes
sense for your gig. This lesson will help you define what a
Professional Portfolio is and how to create one.

Professional Portfolio

The Portfolio is originally from the Latin terms “portare,” which means
‘to carry’ and “folium,” which means ‘document ‘or ‘artifact. ‘It is a collection of
documents that showcases your potential through documented
accomplishments. It helps build your credibility and assures potential clients
what you can do for them. (Woodbury et al., 2009)

Electronic Professional Portfolio

Electronic professional portfolio contents are digitized to be more accessible

for you and your audience. It comes in different types, word-processor/PDF
documents, CD portfolios, and web-hosted portfolios. Its advantage is that it
shows your audience that you are proficient in using high-end software and
have the necessary computer skills needed for many professional writing
careers. (Smith et al., 2007)

© 2022 Caraga State University WC (Workplace Communication)

 Preparing the
LESSON 5 Professional Portfolio

The importance of a Professional Portfolio

As a professional, you are somehow a business of one. The things you

can offer are considered your business’ services, so when a company employs
you, they are purchasing your services. A professional portfolio helps your
target customers and prospects better understand the things you have to offer.
Below are among the other things that made a professional portfolio
necessary, as Woodbury (2009) provided.
1. It is the best way to prepare for an interview.
2. It allows you to see your background areas that need improvement or
lack substance.
3. It serves as a visual resume that communicates a message to your
potential clients that you are credible enough to be a part of their team.
4. It can be a great tool to sell your skills to your future employer.
5. It allows you to tell your professional narrative compellingly.
6. It complements your verbal skills.
7. A professional portfolio is a powerful way to showcase the consistency
of your style and the message you represent.

The elements of a Professional Portfolio

There are many ways to apply for a job you desire, but one of the amazing
ways to compete with the tight job market is to create a professional portfolio.
A hard copy of your career portfolio can provide a powerful visual impact and
back up your skills and accomplishments with real-life examples.
According to Bridges (2020), creating an attention-grabbing career
portfolio must include the following:

A. Career Summary. This section provides a short description of what

you do and what makes you special. Ideally, it must be 5-7 sentences
or bullet points, include numbers and percentages, provides specific
examples that prove your qualifications for the job, and convinces the
reader to read more about the candidate
B. Philosophy statement. It is a statement that describes the things
about your profession that matter most to you. Including this statement
in your career portfolio gives recruiters and potential employers insight
into your value system and what motivates you. This statement is easier
to make if you ask yourself questions such as “Why is my profession
important?”, “What do I think about my industry?” and “Which of my
skills help me thrive in my work?”.

© 2022 Caraga State University WC (Workplace Communication)

 Preparing the
LESSON 5 Professional Portfolio

C. Short biography. People would love to work with an individual who is

retable and engaging. Do not be afraid to put your flavor in your
Portfolio.
D. Resume. It is necessary to still include it in the Portfolio, even if you
already have submitted one.
E. Marketable skills and abilities. This section will help you prove your
unique value to potential employers. It is best to choose the things you
are most proud of and best promote your brand.
F. Professional accomplishments. This section is one of the most
important portfolio elements as it showcases your value as a potential
employee. It is best to categorize your achievements and use many
details in writing this part.
G. Samples of your work. This section intends to show potential
employers the actual papers, reports, articles, brochures, studies,
presentations, projects, and so on that prove you’re the best person for
the job.
H. Awards and honors. This section highlights the certificates of awards,
scholarships, and other honors so hiring managers would have an idea
of your future performance in their company.
I. Transcripts, degrees, licenses, and certifications. This section
provides proof of your qualification for the job you desire. This section
should contain links to actual documents or photos—not just descriptions
of these items.
J. Professional development activities. This section is included to
showcase your passion for your career and that you are a lifelong
learner. A great way to do this is to include a list of professional
associations you belong to and any notable conferences, seminars,
workshops, or other professional development activities you’ve attended
or participated in.
K. Volunteering/community service. This section contains a list of any
volunteering, pro bono work, or community service activities you have
participated in that relate to your work. Listing every detail will give the
prospective employer the idea of you being well-rounded.
L. References/testimonials. People love positive feedback or review
about a certain product. This section kind of works that way. It
showcases copies of positive employer evaluations or reviews. Make sure
to include a list of three to five people who are willing to speak about
your strengths, abilities, and experience. Include their job titles and
contact information.

© 2022 Caraga State University WC (Workplace Communication)

 Preparing the
LESSON 5 Professional Portfolio

The steps involved in creating a Professional Portfolio

Preparing a Professional Portfolio may require an amount of time, but once

you are done with your first one, you will update it and customize it according
to the desires and needs of your target employer.
Here are a few of the easy steps in creating a professional portfolio. (Ready
reference E-12 creating a professional portfolio)

1. Research the employer or job desired

2. Review your collection
3. Assemble artifacts or work samples
4. Develop a sequence for the artifacts
5. Develop captions and titles
6. Create an introduction & a table of Contents
7. Develop the first draft
8. Evaluate your product, get feedback
9. Revise and develop the finished draft
10. Rehearse using your Portfolio

Reminders in Crafting a Personal Portfolio

There are several ways to design a portfolio. You could either go for a high-
tech alternative in which you are to use multimedia software and develop a
computer portfolio that you can save on a flash drive or go for a low-tech
option. The low-tech option is to create a printed hard copy portfolio. With this,
you are to consider the following as important reminders. (Ready reference E-
12 creating a professional portfolio)

▪ Exterior. It may vary depending on your personality. Your Portfolio can

vary widely, from a sleek black, professional zippered binder to a hand-
made book bound in tarnished, painted aluminum.
▪ Dimensions. It is best to have a professional portfolio that is easy to
handle. Your target employer must feel at ease flipping through your
Portfolio.
▪ The number of pages. Ensure the correct number of pages, not too
many and not too few. Always remember that quality matters more than
quantity.
▪ Organization. It is always best to organize your Portfolio by first
putting in the most recent work. Categorizing your work with the most
recent first in each section will also make sense.
▪ The layout of Pages & Backgrounds. Don’t draw attention away
from your work. Don’t use distracting colors or patterns behind your
Portfolio
pieces.
© 2022 Caraga State University WC (Workplace Communication)
 Preparing the
LESSON 5 Professional Portfolio

References:

Bridges, J. (2020, July 31). 13 things you need to include in your career portfolio [web
log]. Retrieved April 24, 2022, from
https://www.reputationdefender.com/blog/job-seekers/13-things-you-need-to-
include-in-your-career-portfolio.

Council, F. C. (2017, October 19). Council post: Nine advantages of developing your
own professional Portfolio. Forbes. Retrieved April 4, 2022, from
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2017/10/19/nine-
advantages-of-developing-your-own-professional-portfolio/?sh=61855fed2519

Levine, L. (2015, April 15). What to Include in Your Professional Portfolio [web log].
Retrieved April 4, 2022, from https://blog.sparkhire.com/2015/03/16/include-
professional-portfolio/.

Ready reference E-12 creating a professional portfolio. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2022,
from https://ceat.okstate.edu/studentservices/site_files/docs/e-12-creating-a-
professional-portfolio.pdf

Smith, H. J., Haimes-Korn, K., & Oliver, B. (2007). Portfolios for technical and
professional communicators. Pearson Prentice Hall.

Woodbury, D., Addams, L., & Neal, W. (2009). The career portfolio: A practical job
search tool. Journal of College Teaching & Learning (TLC), 6(4).
https://doi.org/10.19030/tlc.v6i4.1148

© 2022 Caraga State University WC (Workplace Communication)