CAREER
Portfolio
Welcome to the Career Portfolio. This document is designed to make it easy for you to display
your best work and accomplishments. Employers and college admissions staff will use your
completed portfolio to judge your academic ability, maturity, and motivation. Your portfolio,
along with a personal interview, will help determine your future employment or your acceptance
into a two- or four-year college.
You may wonder what a portfolio is supposed to contain. You will include in your portfolio all
of your accomplishments—most recent ones are best, but anything you think is still relevant is
appropriate. The standards for acceptance into a business or college are high, so be certain to
include your best work, and display it carefully. Follow the instructions inside and check with
your teachers or a guidance counselor if you have questions on specific items. Below, in order,
are the items you need to include in your portfolio. Please check these items off as you complete
each section.
• An appropriate three-ring notebook/binder
• Typed letter of introduction
• Typed resume
• Three (3) letters of recommendation
• Three (3) samples of your work
• Any official school transcripts
• Copies/photos of your work, personal interests and achievements
The portfolio will stay with you for your entire career. You will add to it regularly as you master
certain skills relevant to your career objectives. Ask your teachers, parents, and friends for
advice and feedback to help you develop an outstanding portfolio, one that provides a
comprehensive profile of you and your abilities.
Good luck!
[Remove this page once the portfolio is complete.]
Contents
I.
Letter of Introduction
II.
Career-Pursuit Information
Resume, Letters of Recommendation
III.
Samples of Work
IV.
Personal Interests & Achievements
Transcript and additional information
I. Letter of Introduction
I. LETTER OF INTRODUCTION
A well-written introduction is an important requirement of the Career Portfolio. This letter
introduces you to prospective employers and colleges. It should be both personal and
informative and spotlight your best work. A letter of introduction serves as a first impression. It
is critical that you address—
• Why you are interested in this position/business/college (if you do not have a particular
position/business/college in mind, choose one that might interest you).
• Your career aspirations and goals.
• The skills and abilities that would make you successful in a particular career or at a
particular college.
• Why this business or college should select you.
This letter should be no longer than one (1) single-spaced, typewritten page. Be sure that it is
typed neatly and is both grammatically correct and free of spelling errors. If you are unclear
about the proper format for a business letter, please ask your English teacher.
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II. Career-Pursuit Information
II. CAREER-PURSUIT INFORMATION
This part of the portfolio gives businesses/colleges important information about you.
• Resume
If you already have a resume, transfer the information it contains into the format
presented here.
• Letters of Recommendation
You should include at least three letters of recommendation—one of each kind
described below.
(1) Employment-related: A letter from a past employer evaluating your work
performance.
(2) Character-related: A letter from a person who has known you for more
than one year and can testify to your personal and/or academic attributes.
It is important that you be recommended as a good citizen and a
responsible person.
If you have not been employed in any way, then use three character-related letters.
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Preparing a Resume
A resume is a summary of a person’s qualifications. Effective resumes use short statements to
inform potential interviewers about important facts regarding the applicant and to catch their
attention. The important facts:
• Who you are.
• How you may be contacted (mail, telephone, e-mail).
• Your experiences, skills, and abilities for the position.
Think about yourself. What skills do you have? What should a potential interviewer know about
you? What achievement(s) could you highlight to help you get the interview?
Draft a resume. Each resume should be personal and reflect your individual strengths. Basic
guidelines for an effective resume:
• Type and spell-check it.
• Have another person proofread it.
• Make it look professional.
• Make it short--one page if possible.
• Omit personal pronouns.
• Use action verbs when describing your job responsibilities.
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Letters of Recommendation
You will need to formally ask for a letter—by phone, in writing, or face-to-face—from each
person from whom you want a letter of recommendation. This is common courtesy.
Although the content of the letter is normally left to the writer, here are some points to suggest:
• Your personal character.
• Your work ethic (including punctuality, use of sick time, working with others).
• Your motivation.
• Your enthusiasm for learning.
• Your relevant technical or career-related skills.
• Your relevant academic experience.
You should explain to the writer that you will include the letter in your portfolio, which you will
use as you conduct your job search.
Also explain the time frame for completing the portfolio and ask each writer to complete the
letter by a specific date. Finally, either make arrangements with each person to pick up the letter
yourself or provide a self-addressed, stamped envelope. This courtesy will help ensure that you
have your letters on time.
Once you have received a letter, you should thank the writer, either in person or by writing a
thank-you note.
On the next page is a Recommendation Request Form. Fill it in, make three copies, and give one
to each of the people you have asked for a letter of recommendation. These people may be your
teacher, guidance counselor, coach, advisor, employer (past or present), or an adult friend.
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Recommendation Request Form
Thank you for agreeing to write a letter of recommendation for me. My full name is
____________________________________ and my phone number is __________________.
Please contact me if you have any questions. I plan to use this letter for—
Employment
Other: _______________________
My current career/academic goals:
When writing your recommendation, please consider the items below and how they relate to the
plans/goals I have outlined for you.
• Personal character
• Work ethic (including punctuality, use of sick time, working with others, etc.)
• Motivation
• Enthusiasm for learning
• Relevant technical or career-related skills
• Relevant academic experience
I would appreciate it if you could complete the letter by this date: ______________________
I will pick the letter up when it is completed.
I have enclosed a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
Thank you for your help!
[Give a copy of this form to the people from whom you would like a recommendation.]
III. Samples of Work
III. SAMPLES OF WORK
Your portfolio should include samples of your work. You are responsible for selecting and
gathering these samples. Choose samples of which you are proud—work that shows care and
planning. This section of the portfolio demonstrates what you can do and how well you can do it.
Wherever possible, choose samples that display skills appropriate to the position for which you
are applying.
Samples of work that are three-dimensional and cannot be placed in the binder may accompany
the portfolio. However, instead of the sample itself, your portfolio can include a photograph and
a note explaining the physical item. Please also include notes where necessary to explain a little
about when, why, and for whom a project was completed. If you were responsible for only part
of the project, explain your contribution.
Possible examples of work:
• School reports, essays
• Photos of products you have worked on in jobs or job training
• Photos of you working in various environments
• Certificates that show achievement
Other samples of work:
• Pictures, projects, descriptions of activities relating to personal interests and hobbies (i.e.,
photography, poetry, cooking, woodworking, etc.)
• Pictures, projects, descriptions of activities relating to community involvement within
the community (i.e., Scouts, religious organizations, 4-H, etc.)
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IV. Personal Interests & Achievements
IV. PERSONAL INTERESTS & ACHIEVEMENTS
In this section of the portfolio include your current documents and other examples of your personal
interests and abilities.
You must present:
• Official Diplomas or Transcripts
Potential additional information:
• Attendance Award(s)
• Citizenship Award(s)
• Honors Award(s)
• Sports Award(s)
• Certificate of participation in a club(s)
• Driver’s License or permit
• Other certificates (CPR, First Aid, etc.)
• Other examples of your personal interests and abilities
[Remove this page once the section is complete.]
