24 Purposes of a Career Portfolio

A portfolio reinforces your personal brand and sets you apart.

• Your portfolio demonstrates evidence of your qualifications and showcases your accomplishments in an organized and interesting way that reflects your personal brand. Showing pieces of your portfolio to a hiring committee in an interview can set you apart from other candidates.
• Using a portfolio item to help answer an interview question is far more impressive and memorable than just a verbal answer. For example, if the interviewer asks you about your experience with MS Excel, you could show them a spreadsheet you created to manage your family budget.

A portfolio helps you to prepare for an interview.

• Reviewing the documents you have included in your portfolio can be a good way to prepare for an interview. Reading over your portfolio and referencing your many accomplishments will help identify supportive examples when answering interview questions.
• A portfolio builds confidence.
  Seeing everything you’ve achieved will make you feel proud and more aware of your strengths. Your sense of accomplishment will translate into positivity and confidence when interacting in an interview and networking setting.
• A portfolio keeps you organized. Having all your documentation in one convenient place allows you to easily and promptly reference or provide employers with the information they seek before, during, or after your interview.