A portfolio documents all aspects of your professional and personal growth as you progress through university and your career.
A portfolio can be used to compliment a resume. A resume is only a summary of your education, employment history and achievements, whereas a portfolio enables you to expand on these experiences and provide evidence of achievements.
A portfolio can include:
* explanations of activities and achievements
* birth certificate
* transcripts of academic records
* written references
* official letters
* certificates
* publications
* examples of work.
HOW WILL I USE MY PORTFOLIO?
When science students graduate, most are faced with the daunting task of applying for graduate jobs that require extensive written applications that address a selection criterion. Most students do not begin to document their skills and achievements until the end of their degree by which time relevant achievements are forgotten and the evidence is lost.
Starting a portfolio at the beginning of your degree will help you keep track of what you have achieved. It can also help you focus on your goals and how to attain them.
An old job-hunting tool is making a big comeback. For years, graphic artists, journalists, teachers, and other creative types have used career portfolios while job-hunting, but it is only recently that the idea has caught on for all types of job-seekers.
What is a job skills, job-search, or career portfolio? It is a job-hunting tool that you develop that gives employers a complete picture of who you are -– your experience, your education, your accomplishments, your skill sets -– and what you have the potential to become -– much more than just a cover letter and resume can provide. You can use your career portfolio in job interviews to showcase a point, to illustrate the depth of your skills and experience, or to use as a tool to get a second interview.
This article will show you how to develop your job-search portfolio, key elements to consider in developing your job-search portfolio, and the best resources to explore job-search portfolios in more depth.
Your biggest time commitment will be the initial development of your portfolio, but once you've developed it, keeping it current and up-to-date should be fairly easy. Your two biggest decisions in developing your portfolio are determining the format of the portfolio and the organization of the portfolio.
Most experts agree that the portfolio should be kept in a professional three-ring binder (zipper closure optional). You should include a table of contents and use some kind of system -– such as tabs or dividers -– to separate the various parts of the portfolio.
Besides the traditional portfolio, if you have access to space on a Web site, you should also consider developing an online Web-based portfolio.
Once the development is complete, you then have to gather, write, copy, and assemble the material that goes in the portfolio. This process will not only result in a professional portfolio, but should help you be better prepared for your job search.
So, what types of things go in a portfolio? Here are the basic categories. Don't feel you need to use these exact ones for your portfolio. The key to remember as you contemplate these items is that you want to give reasons for the employer to hire you -- you want to showcase your education and work experience by showing examples and evidence of your work, skills, and accomplishments.
1. Career Summary and Goals: A description of what you stand for (such as work ethic, organizational interests, management philosophy, etc.) and where you see yourself in two to five years.
2. Professional Philosophy/Mission Statement: A short description of the guiding principles that drive you and give you purpose. Read more in our article, Using a Personal Mission Statement to Chart Your Career Course.
3. Traditional Resume: A summary of your education, achievements, and work experience, using a chronological or functional format. If you need help developing a resume, visit Quintessential Careers: Fundamentals of a Good Resume.
4. Scannable/Text-Based Resume: A text-only version of your resume should also be included. More information about this type of resume can be found at: Quintessential Careers: Scannable Resume Fundamentals.
5. Skills, Abilities and Marketable Qualities: A detailed examination of your skills and experience. This section should include the name of the skill area; the performance or behavior, knowledge, or personal traits that contribute to your success in that skill area; your background and specific experiences that demonstrate your application of the skill.
6. List of Accomplishments: A detailed listing that highlights the major accomplishments in your career to date. Accomplishments are one of the most important elements of any good job-search. Read more in our article, For Job-Hunting Success: Track and Leverage Your Accomplishments.
7. Samples of Your Work: A sampling of your best work, including reports, papers, studies, brochures, projects, presentations, etc. Besides print samples, you can also include CD-ROMs, videos, and other multimedia formats.
8. Research, Publications, Reports: A way to showcase multiple skills, including your written communications abilities. Include any published papers and conference proceedings.
9. Testimonials and Letters of Recommendations: A collection of any kudos you have received -– from customers, clients, colleagues, past employers, professors, etc. Some experts even suggest including copies of favorable employer evaluations and reviews.
10. Awards and Honors: A collection of any certificates of awards, honors, and scholarships.
11. Conference and Workshops: A list of conferences, seminars, and workshops you've participated in and/or attended.
12. Transcripts, Degrees, Licenses, and Certifications: A description of relevant courses, degrees, licenses, and certifications.
13. Professional Development Activities: A listing of professional associations and conferences attended -- and any other professional development activities.
14. Military records, awards, and badges: A listing of your military service, if applicable.
15. Volunteering/Community Service: A description of any community service activities, volunteer or pro bono work you have completed, especially as it relates to your career.
16. References List: A list of three to five people (including full names, titles, addresses, and phone/email) who are willing to speak about your strengths, abilities, and experience. At least one reference should be a former manager. Read more in our article: The Keys to Choosing and Using the Best Job References in Your Job Search.
And remember . . . once you've created your job search portfolio, be sure to take it with you to all interviews and use it as a tool to getting job offers.
If you still have some questions, here are additional resources that can help you build your portfolio:
Tuesday, 7 December 2010
Research Skills
Graduates of the Faculty of Science will be able to create new knowledge and understanding
through the process of research and inquiry.
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is accepting nothing at face value, but rather examining the truth and validity of arguments and evaluating the relative importance of ideas. Critical thinking includes evaluating and weighing different sides of an argument, applying reason and logic to determine the merits of arguments, and drawing and evaluating conclusions from logical arguments and data analysis. Critical thinking requires background skills such as imagination and creativity, logic and reasoning, conceptual thinking, reflection and feedback.
Problem Solving
Problem solving is the ability to identify, define and analyze problems, to create solutions and evaluate them, and to choose the best solution for a particular context. It requires imaginative and innovative thinking to find new ways to approach a problem, analytical skills to examine the consequences of a particular solution, and reasoning skills to weigh one solution against another. A common form of problem solving in science is experimentation. Problem solving involves the background skills of imagination and creativity, logic and reasoning, data collection, conceptual thinking, reflection and feedback, and scientific experimentation.
Analysis
Analysis is the ability to gather relevant data and information and apply methods of synthesis, critical thinking and data reduction to locate and understand patterns or connections in that information. Scientific analysis often requires mathematical techniques to manipulate data, such as graphing experimental results or using statistical tests to examine differences between sets of data. Analysis requires the background skills of data collection, data
analysis, reflection and feedback, scientific experimentation.
back
Dissemination
Dissemination is communicating to others the purpose and outcomes of research. It requires the ability to summarise information, explain the aims, motives, results and conclusions of the research, and tailor the communication to the needs and knowledge level of a particular audience. Dissemination requires the background skills of imagination and creativity, logic and reasoning, conceptual thinking, reflection and feedback.
Background Skills
Imagination and Creativity is:
* searching for different approaches to a problem or situation (such as adapting technology for a novel purpose like using medical technology on plants)
* looking for alternatives to common or accepted methods and solutions.
* trying to examine issues from a different point of view (such as seeing an argument from another person's perspective).
back
Logic and reasoning is:
* understanding the structure of logical arguments, including deductive and inductive reasoning
* assessing the logical basis for scientific claims and conclusions (such as deciding whether you agree with the conclusions drawn in a scientific paper, based on the evidence given)
* drawing conclusions from scientific arguments or analyses (for example, making valid generalisations or predictions from experimental data).
Data collection is:
* gathering data (for example through carrying out experiments, surveys, focus groups, interviews, literature reviews)
* designing a data collection tool (for example, planning an experiment or constructing a survey).
back
Data Analysis is:
* identifying an appropriate method (mathematical or otherwise) for interpreting and manipulating data.
* applying techniques of statistical analysis, including using statistics in research and the statistical analysis of surveys (such as identifying and applying an appropriate statistical test of significance)
* awareness of the limitations of analysis techniques (for example, understanding the assumptions behind a statistical analysis, and examining whether your data fit these assumptions)
* forming appropriate conclusions from results of analysis.
Conceptual thinking is:
* breaking a big issue into smaller, manageable parts (for example, breaking an experimental investigation into a series of smaller measurements)
* identifying concepts and ideas relevant to a problem, synthesizing concepts and available data to construct a solution
* making judgements about the value and relevance of ideas and information (for example, deciding to ignore a particular factor because it contributes only a small amount to the overall problem).
Reflection and feedback is:
* thinking about what you have done, what you might have done differently, how you feel about it, and how you might change it to improve your learning (for example, reflecting on the outcomes of a research project and deciding on a different course of action for next time)
* using insight gained through reflection to improve your own or others' work or situation (for example, watching others perform and offering feedback on the way they are tackling a problem).
Scientific Experimentation is:
* identifying and designing an appropriate experimental procedure understanding the limitations and scope of an experimental design (for example, sample sizes and measurement uncertainties).
You’re going to need good research skills to deal with all sorts of questions and assignments. These tips are designed to help you develop the research skills you already have and to share some good ideas you might not yet have come across.
through the process of research and inquiry.
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is accepting nothing at face value, but rather examining the truth and validity of arguments and evaluating the relative importance of ideas. Critical thinking includes evaluating and weighing different sides of an argument, applying reason and logic to determine the merits of arguments, and drawing and evaluating conclusions from logical arguments and data analysis. Critical thinking requires background skills such as imagination and creativity, logic and reasoning, conceptual thinking, reflection and feedback.
Problem Solving
Problem solving is the ability to identify, define and analyze problems, to create solutions and evaluate them, and to choose the best solution for a particular context. It requires imaginative and innovative thinking to find new ways to approach a problem, analytical skills to examine the consequences of a particular solution, and reasoning skills to weigh one solution against another. A common form of problem solving in science is experimentation. Problem solving involves the background skills of imagination and creativity, logic and reasoning, data collection, conceptual thinking, reflection and feedback, and scientific experimentation.
Analysis
Analysis is the ability to gather relevant data and information and apply methods of synthesis, critical thinking and data reduction to locate and understand patterns or connections in that information. Scientific analysis often requires mathematical techniques to manipulate data, such as graphing experimental results or using statistical tests to examine differences between sets of data. Analysis requires the background skills of data collection, data
analysis, reflection and feedback, scientific experimentation.
back
Dissemination
Dissemination is communicating to others the purpose and outcomes of research. It requires the ability to summarise information, explain the aims, motives, results and conclusions of the research, and tailor the communication to the needs and knowledge level of a particular audience. Dissemination requires the background skills of imagination and creativity, logic and reasoning, conceptual thinking, reflection and feedback.
Background Skills
Imagination and Creativity is:
* searching for different approaches to a problem or situation (such as adapting technology for a novel purpose like using medical technology on plants)
* looking for alternatives to common or accepted methods and solutions.
* trying to examine issues from a different point of view (such as seeing an argument from another person's perspective).
back
Logic and reasoning is:
* understanding the structure of logical arguments, including deductive and inductive reasoning
* assessing the logical basis for scientific claims and conclusions (such as deciding whether you agree with the conclusions drawn in a scientific paper, based on the evidence given)
* drawing conclusions from scientific arguments or analyses (for example, making valid generalisations or predictions from experimental data).
Data collection is:
* gathering data (for example through carrying out experiments, surveys, focus groups, interviews, literature reviews)
* designing a data collection tool (for example, planning an experiment or constructing a survey).
back
Data Analysis is:
* identifying an appropriate method (mathematical or otherwise) for interpreting and manipulating data.
* applying techniques of statistical analysis, including using statistics in research and the statistical analysis of surveys (such as identifying and applying an appropriate statistical test of significance)
* awareness of the limitations of analysis techniques (for example, understanding the assumptions behind a statistical analysis, and examining whether your data fit these assumptions)
* forming appropriate conclusions from results of analysis.
Conceptual thinking is:
* breaking a big issue into smaller, manageable parts (for example, breaking an experimental investigation into a series of smaller measurements)
* identifying concepts and ideas relevant to a problem, synthesizing concepts and available data to construct a solution
* making judgements about the value and relevance of ideas and information (for example, deciding to ignore a particular factor because it contributes only a small amount to the overall problem).
Reflection and feedback is:
* thinking about what you have done, what you might have done differently, how you feel about it, and how you might change it to improve your learning (for example, reflecting on the outcomes of a research project and deciding on a different course of action for next time)
* using insight gained through reflection to improve your own or others' work or situation (for example, watching others perform and offering feedback on the way they are tackling a problem).
Scientific Experimentation is:
* identifying and designing an appropriate experimental procedure understanding the limitations and scope of an experimental design (for example, sample sizes and measurement uncertainties).
You’re going to need good research skills to deal with all sorts of questions and assignments. These tips are designed to help you develop the research skills you already have and to share some good ideas you might not yet have come across.
All observations have been collected from real people who have experience of research themselves and know the best ways of going about it. The tips come from the same people and should make your research easier and better. And who knows - before long, someone might be asking you for tips too!
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