See yourself, sell yourself

May 2008
Career | Web Exclusive
See yourself, sell yourself

Building a professional portfolio.

by Maria Perno Goldie

How does one assemble years of experience into a book or presentation that can serve you well in job interviews and applying for awards? Do you need a cover letter, and what information should go into such a manuscript? The answer is a professional portfolio, which allows you to become reflective about who you are and what you do.

Portfolios allow you to document the practices you would like to preserve and even pass on to others, and allow you to turn “ordinary” tasks into extraordinary testaments to your talents. Here, we’ll outline the basic benefits behind organizing your professional accomplishments and the tools you need to make it happen.

The Benefits

	REMEMBER “Contained within the covers of your portfolio is a treasure trove: The record of your artistic life, the footprint of your personality and work habits, and your own crystal ball image of potential. Your portfolio is, quite simply, the single record that not only foretells but also essentially produces your future.” - Geoffrey Gorman, New York Foundation for the Arts

There are many steps in conducting a successful job search, or applying for a coveted award. When doing so, you need to make yourself stand out from other applicants. Creating a professional portfolio is one of the ways that you can differentiate yourself from other applicants.

The idea of using a portfolio to promote yourself is fairly new for most dental hygienists, but it is an idea that people in academia and creative fields have used for many years. As well, when applying to a college for an accelerated degree that takes into account life experience, portfolios are not only desired, but required. Many dental hygienists go into a job or award interview and just describe jobs they have had, or tasks they can perform. If you have a professional portfolio in your briefcase, all you need do is open it and show the tangible evidence of your talents and accomplishments—a picture is worth a thousand words.

There are a variety of advantages to compiling a portfolio. It may be the deciding factor of you prevailing over someone who has nothing to show for their skills and achievements. It can showcase your achievements and talents in one place, in a tangible manner, and allow you to expand on your résumé in a more comprehensive manner. As not very many dental hygienists take the time to compile a portfolio, you will no doubt stand out in a potential employer or judge’s mind.

The Types

A portfolio is a showcase for your successes and aptitudes, which can be used to show samples of your licenses, diplomas, awards, letters of commendation, and other items pertinent to your desired goal(s).

	*TIP:* Never send or leave original copies of a document! Make sure to make copies of everything to include in portfolios you plan to leave behind.

There several types of portfolio you can compile. For example, a comprehensive portfolio contains a representative sampling of your work and experiences. A targeted portfolio contains samples that focus on a particular subject or application, such as clinical practice or community service, and shows the depth of your experience in that area. Send ahead or leave behind portfolios contain copies of your samples that can be sent ahead of your interview or left behind if your interviewer requests copies of your work.

The appearance of a portfolio is critical, and being professional is the most important characteristic. A traditional portfolio should be in an attractive, high-quality binder with sheet protectors, tabs, and a cover page for each sample—consider it a sophisticated scrapbook.

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