Creating Your Portfolio

A portfolio is a physical file or digital space (website, blog, social media, etc.) containing a collection of sample achievements. It is designed to demonstrate your skills as they relate to your career goals or the job you're interested in. Interviews are a good time to present a portfolio.

Although it's mostly used in the arts, graphic arts and infographics, a portfolio can also be a useful tool in other fields.

The achievements presented in your portfolio can be related to

• your work
• your internships
• volunteer work
• personal activities (such as recreational activities).

Putting together a portfolio can be quite time-consuming as it means going back over all your achievements and selecting the ones that are most relevant.

Here is one way on how to proceed:

1. Make a list of your skills that best match your career goals. A good knowledge of the job you're interested in will make it easier to choose your most relevant achievements.
2. Gather together the documents (texts, posters, reports, photos, etc.) that best showcase the skills you’ve listed and illustrate your achievements.
3. Arrange your documents in an organized manner.
4. Show your portfolio to someone you trust to get their opinion.
5. Be sure to update your portfolio before each interview.

Your portfolio should contain (in the following order):

• a cover page (name, address, telephone number, email address, date, etc.)
• a table of contents
• a statement summarizing your career objective
• a description of your skills as they pertain to the job you’re applying for
• the description of an achievement or a situation in which you used these skills
• appendices including the documents that illustrate your achievements (photos, computer graphics, texts, etc.).

Types of achievements

The documents that illustrate your achievements may include:

• texts, reports, computer graphics or photographs of your achievements
• your diplomas, certificates and other attestations
• positive reviews of your work
• letters of thanks or congratulations
• a list of the awards you have received
• a description of the projects you have worked on
• documents in which your name is mentioned.

If you need help or advice to help you to produce or improve your portfolio, contact an employability services organizations in your region or contact your local Services Québec office.