This document provides information and guidance on creating an effective portfolio for employment or graduate school applications. It outlines the key components of a portfolio including search results, qualifications, application materials, recommendation letters, and interview preparation. Tips are provided for each stage of the application process from initial program research to completing exams and submitting final applications.

1. Portfolio
Employment and/or
Graduate School

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
 Grad program or job search results
 Qualifications
 Admission requirements
 Application materials needed
 Cover letters and resumes
 Career Services
 Personal Statement

4. Portfolio components
 3 recommendation letter requests
 Identify programs of interest and why?
 Parallels to info in Goal Statement summarized
 Any other qualities you would like mentioned?
 interviewing skills / exam prep:
 evidence of a plan
 done your homework on what is involved
 dates available & deadlines
 options for workshops or classes to help prep
 2 sample apps

5. Graduate Program Search
• Allow enough time
• Know your industry
• Toss a wide net
• Create a spreadsheet
• Test the admissions office
• Visit the campus
• Talk to current students and alumni

6. Graduate Program Search
• petersons.com/.../find-right-graduate-school
– "Looking for the best graduate schools? Perform a graduate school
search at Petersons.com. Find the best graduate school for you and
apply to one today."
• graduateguide.com/
– "Graduate school search engine allows you to search for graduate
schools by location and degree program."
• naspa.org/.../graduate-program-directory
– "Finding the perfect graduate program to fit your needs does not need
to be a major research project! NASPA has made it easy for you to find
the right school and program to meet your educational goals."
• usnews.com/.../7-critical-steps-to-find-the-right-grad-school
– "Do your research so you can make an informed decision, a former
graduate school admissions dean says."

7. Job Search
• Indeed.com
– "Indeed enables you to search jobs posted on 1,000's of websites.
Employers also post jobs directly on Indeed. No matter where a job is
posted, it will be easy to find when you use Indeed."
• careerbuilder.com
– "Looking for a new job? Get advice or search over 1.6 million jobs on
the largest job site, set alerts to be first in line and have new jobs
emailed to you."
• monster.com
– "Find the job that's right for you. Use Monster's resources to create a
killer resume, search for jobs, prepare for interviews, and launch your
career.”
• simplyhired.com
– "Our advanced personalization technology connects over 30 million
unique job seekers with millions of jobs each month. "

8. https://owl.english.purdue.edu/
– "Job Search Writing: Preparing an application, job
search letters, resumes & vitas“
– "Tailoring employment documents for a specific
audience“
– "Example Employment Documents“
– "Job Skills Checklist"
– "Action verbs in workplace writing“
– Purdue OWL: Personal Statements: youtube video

9. Grad Application Timeline
• February – April
– Research
• May – July
– School visits
• August – October
– Compile materials
– Complete exams
• November – January
– Send completed applications

10. 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!

11. 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

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

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. Personal Statement
5. Utilize white space.

16. 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?

17. 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

18. 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

19. Requesting a Letter of
Recommendation
• Choose well
• Start early
• Provide full information
• Be gracious
• Begin now to create the contacts you
need

20. Interviewing Skills
• Hard Questions
–“What is your greatest weakness?”
• Tricky Interview Questions
–“Tell me about yourself?”
–“What do you have to offer?”
–“Where do you see yourself in five years?”