Creating a-job-interview-portfolio
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The document provides guidance on creating an effective job portfolio to use during interviews. It recommends including resume, cover letter, transcripts, certificates, references, letters of recommendation, evidence of projects and skills. The portfolio should be organized neatly and brought to the interview along with other materials like a pen and notepad. The document outlines best practices for interview preparation including arriving on time but not too early, dressing professionally, being polite and respectful to all, and having knowledge of the company and questions prepared.
Creating a-job-interview-portfolio
- 1. What is a portfolio? A portfolio is a personalized collection of materials.
- 2. Importance of a Portfolio In today's competitive job market, effectively showcasing relevant knowledge and skills to an employer is critical in seeking and sustaining employment. Along with a tailored resume, a portfolio can help provide further evidence of professional qualifications and abilities. The purpose of this guide is to assist you in organizing your own professional portfolio and using it as a tool in your career development.
- 3. Why create a job portfolio? • To provide the employer with information that does the selling for you in job interviews • To show samples of your work to the employer • To showcase your accomplishments, training and experiences • To add visual impact to your answers
- 4. Portfolio Contents • Resume • Cover letter • Transcripts • Certificates and other records • Certificates of awards, honors and other recognitions • Past employment evaluation • Job descriptions
- 5. • Reference page • Letters of recommendation/references • List of special skills • Description of projects • Evidence of professional affiliations Three copies of each of the above documents must be kept in the portfolio.
- 6. What to bring to the interview • A portfolio or a brief case with necessary materials mentioned above • Pen • Notebook for taking notes • List of about 10 questions to ask • Complete employment application form (if any)
- 7. First Impression Tips Arrive on Time, but Not Too Early Enter the Interview Room Confidently Dress for the Job You Want Carry a Portfolio with all necessary documents Be Nice to the Receptionist/everyone Turn off your mobile phone Have Everything Neat, Organized, and Accessible
- 8. Practice Good Posture -- Before and During the Interview. Greet the Interviewer(s) Warmly and Confidently. Be Prepared to Talk About the Company and Yourself Know the Answer to "Why Are You Here?" Know the basics about the courses that you have pursued.
- 9. • Try to avoid using words such as "like", or "um". Those are filler words, and they basically tell the interviewer straight up that you're nervous.
- 10. Arrive on Time, but Not Too Early • Ideally, you should arrive about 10-15 minutes before your interview. • Being late for an interview sends the signal that you are unreliable and inattentive to details. Showing up too early makes you seem over-eager. • Demonstrate promptness without seeming like you have nothing better to do than wait around for a prospective employer. To get the timing right, visit the interview location and determine the appropriate travel time before your meeting day.
- 11. Enter the Interview Room Confidently Your entrance is a key to making a positive impression. Keep your head up, acknowledge those in the room or reception area, smile, and greet.
- 12. Dress for the Job You Want • Dress in professional attire. • Make sure your clothes are not too tight, too revealing, or too baggy. • Also avoid wearing too much jewelry, perfume, or aftershave lotion. • Determining the exact clothing to wear can be tricky as dress codes vary. In many office settings, a suit is the recommended attire. For others, the dress depends on the targeted position, so research to decide what to wear, leaning toward classic rather than trendy colors and patterns.
- 13. Carry a Portfolio with all necessary documents • You'll want to bring hard copies of your resume, references, and other materials to the interview. Carry these in a portfolio for a polished look.
- 14. Be Nice to the Receptionist/everyone • Show respect/kindness to everyone you meet. You want to make a good first impression in all encounters, not only for kindness' sake but also because those on the front lines may share their perceptions about you with hiring decision- makers. • Be gracious to each and every person including parking lot attendants, security officers, receptionists, executive assistants, human resources team members, potential co-workers, and hiring managers.
- 15. Turn off your mobile phone • Turn off your mobile phone before entering the interview room. Treat the interviewers with respect and give them your undivided attention
- 16. Have Everything Neat, Organized, and Accessible • You can be certain that, within the first few minutes of your meeting, your interviewer will ask for a copy of your updated resume • To make the best first impression, everything you need should be neatly organized and readily accessible: You should be able to pull out your resume, references, and even a pen on command. The less you have to rifle through your bag, the better.
- 17. Practice Good Posture -- Before and During the Interview. Your posture says a lot about your confidence and interest in the position -- at least in the eyes of the employer. Both while waiting and in the interview sit straight in your chair leaning in slightly toward the interviewer. No slouching! Eye contact should be dominant, as it portrays that you are aware of your audience.
- 18. Greet the Interviewer(s) Warmly and Confidently The keys to making a great first impression at the very beginning of the job interview are to stand up (straight), make strong eye contact, smile confidently and greet warmly. Don’t forget to take permission before entering the room.
- 19. Be Prepared to Talk About the Company and Yourself Be ready for conversation with knowledge about the company, responses to common interview question, and questions of your own. Read the organization's website and relevant news so you can talk intelligently about the company. Practice your responses to typical questions and prepare stories about your recent accomplishments, particularly ones that illustrate how you make you a great fit for the organization. Finally, put together a list of questions to pose when the interviewer asks if you have questions.
- 20. Know the Answer to "Why Are You Here?" To start your interview well, prepare your response to the question, "Why are you here?" Note that the response should be more substantial and insightful than "to interview for a job." Tell the interviewer why you are excited about the prospect of joining this particular organization. Briefly explain how your expertise could contribute to the company's success.
- 21. Know the basics about the courses that you have pursued This will help you counter all the possible questions that will be hurled at you during the interview. Usually for the graduates who have come out of their university, the questions will be based on the learning in university and also related to the course. So it is better to revise those things before the interview.
- 22. Stay confident, polite and pleasant all the way out of that building. Cameras and microphones are everywhere these days, as are other employees. Punching the air and yelling "I aced that", or frowning and saying "What a dinosaur that interviewer was!" will be noticed by someone somewhere, so refrain from these actions until well out of sight of the building. Decorum and professionalism come first; nobody should try to "be yourself" in an interview situation.