prepared and presented by Mieko Ozeki and Ralph Stuart at the University of Vermont for campus sustainability class in spring 2011.

1. Creating a Professional Portfolio
A tool for career exploration
and marketing your skills + experience

2. Agenda
 Get to know you
 Some “Take Aways”
 The Career Journey: A 10-year self-
reflection
 The Career Journey: A 20-year self-
reflection
 Introduction to Professional Portfolios
 Why create a portfolio?
 What to include in your portfolio
 Dos and Don’ts
 How Effective are Professional Portfolios?

3. Some “Take Aways”
• Your career path is not a point A to point
B journey, rather an exploration that will
take you to multiple destinations.
• Take the time to observe and
understand the context of where you are
at.
• Take the time to research and take
advantage of the opportunities available
to you.
• Spend the time to reflect on what you
have learned from your activities,
coursework, internships, jobs, etc.
AND document it!

4. The Career Journey
A 10-year self-reflection

5. The Career Journey
A 10-year self-reflection

6. Interests Come From
Your Life Experience

7. Credentials Come From
Institutions

8. “Extras” Come from
Service

9. Why Create a Portfolio?
• Personal development
and self-reflection
• Career exploration
• Job search skills and
tools
• Promote yourself while
networking and seeking a
job or internship

10. What to include in your
portfolio?
• Resume* • Featured articles
• Reference list* • Honors, awards,
• Letters of references* scholarships,
• Accomplishments • In-class projects
• Brochures • Licenses or certificates for
• Conferences, workshops, specific trainings
seminars attended • Professional affiliations
• Public • Transcripts
speaking/presentations or • Writing samples
performances
• Performance reports,
appraisals (e.g. internship
and job evaluations)
• Description of academic
study
• Description of internships

11. Dos and Don’ts
Do:
Have extra copies of your portfolio materials.
Change the contents of your portfolio (except for resume and
reference list) to show samples of work that are relevant to
the position you are applying for.
Ask for written recommendations from each employer or
supervisor.
Don’t:
Misrepresent your qualifications. (See article from Boston
Globe “Harvard missed signs it was being hoodwinked” by
Tracy Jan on December 28, 2010.)
Include documents or artifacts that are clearly not your own
or you do not have permission to put in your portfolio.

12. How effective are
professional portfolios?
September 20, 2009
Mieko,
I got a new job!!!
I'll be working as a Research Assistant in a position jointly funded by the Parks
Department and the Forest Service.
I can't help but think that your advice on portfolio building really made the
difference. After a meeting with them, where I showed them my previous work,
resume, letters of recommendation (thanks again!), and my transcript, they told
me that my professionalism and organization seemed excellent. Based on that
assessment they created this position for me.
Again, I think the portfolio really made the whole thing happen. And without you,
that wouldn't have been the case. My deepest gratitude is for you.
Dexter Locke, Class of 2009

13. Questions?
Contact Info
Mieko A. Ozeki
mozeki@gmail.com