Do you have a career portfolio?
I believe everyone should develop and utilize a portfolio to effectively manage one’s career. A portfolio is a tool that can be used as a guide to track and proactively manage throughout your career journey.
Your portfolio should reflect the shifts, ever changing and evolving, professionally we are never stagnate. It should be a living document!
How you present all aspects of you and your career will be unique and personal – whether a hard copy binder, a digital format or using the latest applications; how you design this tool should reflect your personality and it should tell your story. Once the foundation is completed, you can then begin to manage your career.
First and foremost, it is for you, used as a guide to make career decisions, build development plans that allow you to grow, improve or shift, assess and reflect on opportunities in front of you. Secondly, it can be used when meeting key individuals when you are having career conversations about your goals, plans and needs - to obtain feedback and insight as you work toward your goals and finally, it can be used when in active job search mode, when preparing for interviews – whether you choose to use it in the interview process or just use it to reflect on your stories prior to the interview – a portfolio is a critical tool in managing your career throughout your journey!
o Who you are – you are constantly growing, changing and adapting
o What you do, accomplishments to date, gaps that need to be addressed? Improvements?
o What is happening in your external environment? How does that impact you?
o Planning your future, preparing for the unexpected, keep it relevant
o Gives you power, confidence and minimizes stress.
Consider when designing how you want to present your information. Step back, reflect on how you want to build your portfolio, what you would include and how you will use it to assist you as you grow, shift and adapt throughout your career journey.
Collect Reflect Select Manage
