Final Thoughts on Proof of Performance
[Part 7 of 7 of
Career Portfolios:
Proof of Performance]
There's no question -- both from the current research project as well as other
sources -- of the trend toward career portfolios. Job-seekers can gain more
insight and confidence in themselves by creating the portfolios, and hiring
manager can see/find tangible evidence of previous work and proof of performance.
Just as importantly, as job-hunting continues to move to the Internet,
converting a print career portfolio to an online version gives job-seekers a
greater online presence, strengthening their google-ability, but also providing
access to their "proof of performance" 24/7.
Finally, a career portfolio is also a great exercise for passive job-seekers --
with several benefits. As one participant states, "I see many recruiters valuing
the passive job-seeker over the active seekers, whom the recruiters seem to
see as flawed candidates because they are actively seeking jobs. Thus, the
recruiters seem to be looking for those who are not listed on job boards and
seemingly not marketing themselves, but who are cleverly able to be 'found.'"
Sample online portfolios
Participants in the focus group were asked to review and critique several
online portfolios prepared by professionals who specialize in career portfolios.
Among those they reviewed most favorably were:
Navigation:
Questions about some of the terminology used in this article? Get more information (definitions and links) on key college, career, and job-search
terms by going to our Job-Seeker's Glossary of Job-Hunting Terms.
Katharine Hansen, Ph.D., creative director and associate
publisher of Quintessential Careers, is an educator, author,
and blogger who provides content for Quintessential Careers,
edits QuintZine,
an electronic newsletter for jobseekers, and blogs about storytelling
in the job search at A Storied
Career. Katharine, who earned her PhD in organizational behavior
from Union Institute & University, Cincinnati, OH, is author of Dynamic
Cover Letters for New Graduates and A Foot in the Door: Networking
Your Way into the Hidden Job Market (both published by Ten Speed Press),
as well as Top Notch Executive Resumes (Career Press); and with
Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D., Dynamic Cover Letters, Write Your
Way to a Higher GPA (Ten Speed), and The Complete Idiot's Guide
to Study Skills (Alpha). Visit her
personal Website
or reach her by e-mail at
kathy(at)quintcareers.com.
Dr. Randall S. Hansen is founder of Quintessential Careers,
one of the oldest and most comprehensive career development sites on the Web, as well CEO of
EmpoweringSites.com. He is also founder of
MyCollegeSuccessStory.com and
EnhanceMyVocabulary.com. He is publisher of
Quintessential Careers Press,
including the Quintessential Careers electronic newsletter,
QuintZine. Dr. Hansen is also a
published author, with several books, chapters in books, and hundreds of articles. He's often
quoted in the media and conducts empowering workshops around the country. Finally, Dr. Hansen is
also an educator, having taught at the college level for more than 15 years. Visit his
personal Website or
reach him by email at randall(at)quintcareers.com.
