This document provides guidance on creating effective portfolio components for employment or graduate school applications. It outlines the key sections of a portfolio, including a cover letter, resume, personal statement, and references. It then focuses on creating strong cover letters and personal statements. For cover letters, it emphasizes customizing each letter, including keywords, responsibilities, and knowledge of the target company. For personal statements, it advises relating past experiences to future goals, elaborating on qualifications, explaining fit with the institution, and utilizing formatting techniques. The document concludes by discussing how to develop a theme, order, and introduction/conclusion for the personal statement.

1. Portfolio
Cover Letter / Personal
Statement

2. Portfolio components
Employment or Graduate School section
Employment or Graduate School
Current, accurate, and professional-appearing
Resume: 15 points
Area Points Area Points
BA job search
results
4 Program search
results
4
Cover letter 12 Personal statement 12
3 rec. forms 6 3 rec. forms 6
Interviewing skills 3 Exam prep 3

3. Portfolio components
 Cover letters and resumes
 Career Services
 Personal Statement

4. Cover Letter
• Cover letters are the first chance you have to impress
an employer – they’re not just a protective jacket for
your CV.
• No single cover letter that everyone will love.
• Your cover letter should be designed specifically for
the purpose you are writing and customized for each
position you seek.
• Use samples as inspiration, but do not copy – they
work because they are customized to the writer!

5. Cover Letter
Your letter should include:
• How you learned about the opportunity
• Why you are qualified
• What you can offer the company
• How you will follow-up

6. Cover Letter
• Use keywords
• Focus on activities and responsibilities
• Sell yourself
• Show your knowledge of the company
• Edit, edit, edit

7. How to Send an Email Cover
Letter
• list your name and the job title in the subject line
of the email message.
• Include your contact information in your email
signature.
• Don't list the employer contact information.
• Start your email message with a salutation.

8. Personal Statement
1. Relate your past and present experiences to the
future.
2. Elaborate on your qualifications.
3. Specifically explain why this institution is the
best fit for you.
a. You must tailor your essays to specific programs.
4. Introduce the main idea for each body pargraph
in the topic sentence.

9. Personal Statement
5. Utilize white space.

10. Things to Consider Before
you Begin Writing
• What's special, unique, distinctive, and/or
impressive about you or your life story?
• What are the most compelling reasons you
can give for the admissions committee to be
interested in you?
• Should I account for things like a drop in my
GPA, poor SAT/GRE scores, or lapses in my
work or education history?

11. Putting It All Together
• Find a theme or focus
• Develop a logical order
• Examine details and language to make your essay more
vibrant
– Avoid cliches
• Edit
– Expand ideas or trim and refocus ideas to meet the
expected length
• Create an introduction
– Avoid: “I’ve always wanted to help people.”
• Work on the last sentence
– meaningful and bring closure

12. Final Issues to Avoid
• Lack of Information about the Program to
Which You Are Applying
• Generic
• Too past-focused
• Poor Writing Skills
• Misfired Attempts to Impress