Dossiers & Portfolios: Compiling your Awesomeness

Searching for a job can be a daunting task, and in today's job market, you need anything that gives you a one-up on others looking for jobs! Two great ways to give yourself such a head start are by compiling two different collections of information. The first is a DOSSIER--which is just a fancy word for a file of information created by others (but compiled by you) containing information relevant to you and your job search, like letters of recommendation, transcripts, and letters praising your work. The second is a CAREER PORTFOLIO--which is a binder of information created and produced by you, like personal statements, a copy of your resume, pertinent examples of graphic works, copies of awards, examples of written works, newspaper articles about your work, promotion letters, etc. I'll risk stating the obvious by defining a webfolio as a portfolio on the web. Essentially, both a dossier and a career portfolio should be full of evidence of your awesomeness and reasons to hire you!

According to the textbook, letters of recommendation are a very important part of any dossier, so choosing the right people as references is essential. The book advises asking previous employers, professors, community leaders, or military supervisors (if it applies to you), but it doesn't specify how to use them effectively. I found a great site to supplement the information in the book that shows the importance of references and how to use them strategically. It even gives examples of the types of questions that a potential employer would ask a reference. The book and the website both agree that the most important thing to remember when dealing with references is to ask permission before using someone as a reference!

In conjunction with the general information provided in the book (pages 246-51), eHow was very helpful with the basics of sending either a hard copy or electronic copy of a job search dossier. It breaks down the construction of a dossier into 4 simple steps, for a mail or an electronic submittal. However, eHow is not as informative as the book when advising which documents to include. One good piece of advice that it offers-that the book does not- is to begin work on a dossier months before you think that you'll need it.

A really good resource for Career Portfolios that I found was QuintCareers.com. It provides a lot of extra guidance on the types of documents to include in a portfolio. Just like the book, it advises compiling all of your documents in a traditional 3-ring binder and using traditional tabs to divide it into sections. The bottom line for anything that you include in your portfolio is that it should give a potential employer a reason to hire you!

YouTube has a whole series of informational videos by Street School Network 1 about different ways to build a portfolio. Another good resource I found for both dossiers and career portfolios is Interfolio. Additionally, Interfolio has a great blog full of resources and advice for every part of your job search preparation- from tips for writing a personal statement to how to write an email.

The thing to remember when compiling information for a dossier or a portfolio is that this your chance to set yourself above the competition. Show off your accomplishment! Include documents that display your achievements, excellence, and professionalism, and leave out anything too personal (like family photographs or unrelated document) or unprofessional (like a Facebook page). Good luck getting started!