statements of the employer or agency. You are now part of the organization and expected to move the mission of the organization forward.

As you develop professionally in these three tracks, your self and professional images will grow. Do not let these behavioral tracks become static.

Who should be hired? Is it the most knowledgeable or the most qualified? It is easy when knowledge and qualifications work hand in hand. If the most knowledgeable is based on learning capacity and the most qualified is based on experience, the candidate must show desire and ability. This leads us to a visual documentation of past work. A portfolio is the best tool to use when documenting past work. The artist uses paintings and drawings to fill the portfolio. The writer will use prose and poetry; the good student will use examples of work from their educational and volunteer experiences to record past performance. A summary and/or table of contents from a risk management plan, a graphic flyer, a web site story board, a printed copy of a power point presentation can all fit nicely into a portfolio and aid in an upcoming interview.

A good portfolio may contain the following divisions:

1. An updated resume with examples of letters (inquiry, acceptance, thank you, etc.);

2. Past projects and accomplishments;

3. Professional and personal goals;

4. Questions from past interviews; and

5. Professional business cards. The business cards will start your networking process that many times will lead you to new positions.

The resume can be either experience or functionally based. The experienced-based resume will list, in chronological order, the past positions one has held. A good resume will list the date, position, titles and responsibilities one has had with past employment. The functionally based resume may fit graduating student's needs. It will list the accomplishments and specialties gained in education first and the work experience later. It is more important for the future employer to know what you can do and have accomplished than it is to know what you did to work your way through school. There is an ongoing debate as to the inclusion of the statement “references available upon request.” My recommendation is to include at least two with the primary resume. These represent the academic progress and the professional ability in the field. These will allow the prospective employer an immediate follow up to your resume. The traditional statement could then say “additional references available upon request.”

A good exercise and inclusion into the portfolio is the personal and professional goal writing. When these are based on a time line, there will be direction as one makes his/her way through their professional career. A good exercise is to list your individual strengths and weakness associated with the goals. This will give focus to your career direction.

The business card section is to start your networking process. The back of the card could hold notes of an interview, questions and response requests, or referrals someone gives you. Networking will happen with you or without you. It is up to you to establish your role in the process. Some time in the future you will be seeking a position and other times you will be offering positions. Networking can make things happen in either situation.

The question section of the portfolio is for your use and practice. Questions usually follow a process. First the background questions. These are easily answered and will help set ease to the interview. The second type is the short answer type questions that many times are based on academic background. Third is to test your ability to think on the spot. These are usually situational questions. The base of these questions will be circumstances you may encounter during your working time to see how you would react to difficult situations. The final question format is the, “do you have any questions?” Never say “no” to this opportunity. After researching the company, observing the operations of the company, or talking with other employees of the organization, formalize questions that show thought and consideration. Record past difficult interview questions so you can look in the mirror and rehearse them for the next interview.

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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