Build a Powerful Portfolio 

1.  How a professional portfolio can help you

• A professional portfolio containing organized samples of your work, accomplishments, awards and certificates is a valuable marketing tool.
• A portfolio allows you to present documentation of your credentials to prospective employers or consulting clients during interviews.
• A portfolio can give you a competitive advantage over other candidates by projecting a very professional business image.

2.  Packaging your materials

• Package your documents in something that is easy to carry and will allow you to add or remove material as needed.
• A three-ring binder large enough to hold all of your material but compact enough to fit in a briefcase is a good choice.
• Try using plastic page holders for each insert to keep the material clean and neat and to allow easy removal of pages without having to open the binder posts.
• Be sure to keep your binder clean and organized, and remember to update it on a regular basis.
• Consider bringing along a laptop to showcase Web sites or applications you have developed.

3.  Choosing portfolio contents

• Begin with your current resume.
• Follow with a nicely formatted one-page list of all of your significant accomplishments on the job.
• Provide reference letters from past employers or colleagues.
• Incorporate hard copy samples of programs, LAN designs, database designs, architectures, business plans, project documentation, etc.
• Prepare soft copy samples or live demos of your programs on diskettes that you can leave behind with the interviewer.
• Add articles, write-ups, or newsletters you have been featured in or written yourself.
• Insert educational or training certificates, if possible.