The point is to show the match between your skills/abilities/knowledge and the job to be done - and to demonstrate that you have those capabilities to do the job effectively.

The examples that demonstrate your capabilities can be actual samples of your work, or even a representation of the experiences you've had. For example, to show your ability to use a spreadsheet program, prepare a page of a spreadsheet that you have developed and be able to explain the steps you followed in developing it.

Going back to the example of the field biologist position, to represent your related abilities in fieldwork and leadership, you might bring a photo of yourself with your friends at a campsite, or hiking on a trail, and you could describe your experiences. If you organized and planned the trip, including supplies, equipment and itinerary, and the others came to depend on your abilities to keep the camp stove functioning, to tie appropriate knots and to use the topographic map to follow a poorly marked trail, you also have just described your abilities to plan and organize field activities, and to be a field team leader, as well as demonstrating your overall competency in the field. That combination of skills may distinguish you from all the other candidates whose resumes show that they have the biology content knowledge equivalent to yours.

Presenting your portfolio

Instead of immediately offering your portfolio to the interviewer, wait for an appropriate moment. Interviewers are accustomed to asking candidates about their experiences that show they can do the job. When the interviewer asks a question that relates to one of the skills and abilities you've chosen to demonstrate in your portfolio, you can say, “I can describe it verbally, and I also have an example that I could show you. Would you like to see it?” When an interviewer has seen an effective example of a relevant skill, they usually ask to see the rest of the portfolio. (Important point: always limit your interview portfolio, displayed in a small binder, six to eight pages, selecting only examples relevant to that job.)

If an interviewer does not want to see your interview portfolio, you still can distinguish yourself from the other candidates by verbally explaining what you would have shown the interviewer. Because the preparation of your interview portfolio has forced you to think through the related skills that will add to your ability to do the job, you will find that you still have an advantage over other candidates. And, at the end of the interview, you can offer to leave a copy of your interview portfolio with the interviewer. (Important point: always take a high-quality copy of your materials to interviews, so you don't have to leave any of your originals, just in case they are not returned.)

Leaving the interview portfolio copy with the interviewer allows you the opportunity to be remembered again when the interviewer reviews it, and for the interviewer to show your materials to the hiring manager, who may be conducting the second round of interviews. It also gives you an opportunity to contact the interviewer again to arrange for the return of the copy. (Note: you may be able to re-use some of the pages when interviewing for other jobs.)

Developing an interview portfolio is the natural next step that comes after you've developed your resume. It takes you to the next step of linking your skills and abilities with a job description. Because few college students have made that link, the interview portfolio can give you a chance to stand out from the other interviewees and demonstrate your value.

As soon as you've done that, you'll be looking for articles that begin, “So, you've landed a job! Now what?”

Dr. Kate Duttro first discovered the concept of career portfolios in the early ‘90s when, as a freelance writer/editor, she edited the Career/Outplacement Newsletter and reviewed Martin Kimeldorf's important book, Portfolio Power . Dr. Duttro now works as a Career Counselor for the Center for Career Resources at the University of Washington, developing web-based career resources and helping students and alumni to more efficiently develop their own career plans - that often include portfolios.

The above is an excerpt from The Last Job Search Guide You'll Ever Need: How to Find and Get the Job or Internship of Your Dreams, which is available for sale for $19.85 in our bookstore or $27.00 at Amazon.com but for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. This hot new book contains job search secrets of the most experienced, most knowledgeable and most respected career experts. Learn career planning, job hunting tools and tactics, interviewing, cover letter and resume writing (lots of samples!), networking, and how to find an internship. Written by 149 career experts. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.

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