Career Portfolios and Why we do them.... In the future you will need to get a job, these will aid you in that endeavor.
A career portfolio is a summary of who you are and showcases your best work. It is a collection of samples of your work that demonstrates your best skills and abilities. The portfolio can be used as part of a job interview, college admissions interview or other opportunities where it is important to show your skills and abilities. By completing your portfolio, you will have the opportunity to master important skills and to showcase your best work to potential employers and/or colleges. The following information will help you write your cover letter/personal profile, resume and reference list. Take your time, first impressions are important! Remember: By California Education Code, there can be no references to drugs, alcohol, gang affiliation etc. The Career Portfolio will be viewed by potential employers so this is a good reminder!
What needs to be in the portfolio?
- Title Page (with a work sample and your name or logo)
- Table of Contents (done at end of project)
- Letter of Introduction that describes you! Your special traits, qualities, hobbies, and personal, educational and career goals. List your top 5 skills and abilities. It should consist of at least one page. Make sure to use correct spelling and grammar.
- Resume
- Three references - These need to be different than the letter of recommendation with full name and title, address and phone numbers.
- One letter of recommendation. Cannot be from your ROP teacher or a family member.
- Three (3) work samples or photos, videos, CDs, projects, etc. related to the ROP class(es) you are enrolled in. If you are enrolled in more than one ROP class only submit one portfolio, but include work from all currently enrolled ROP classes.
- Explanation of why the sample is important to your career choice. What skills does this work sample demonstrate? If you are in more than one ROP class, you may submit one portfolio with work samples from each class labeled indicating which class the work is from.
Letter of Introduction: Cover letter
Your Contact Information
Your Name Your Address Your City, State, Zip Code Your Phone Number Your Email Address Date Employer Contact Information Name Title Company Address City, State, Zip Code Salutation Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name: Body of Cover Letter The body of your cover letter lets the employer know what position you are applying for, why the employer should select you for an interview, and how you will follow-up. First Paragraph: The first paragraph of your letter should include information on why you are writing. Mention the position you are applying for. Include the name of a mutual contact, if you have one. Be clear and concise regarding your request. Convince the reader that they should grant the interview or appointment you requested in the first paragraph. Middle Paragraphs: The next section of your cover letter should describe what you have to offer the employer. Make strong connections between your abilities and their needs. Mention specifically how your skills and experience match the job you are applying for. Remember, you are interpreting your resume, not repeating it. Try to support each statement you make with a piece of evidence. Use several shorter paragraphs or bullets rather than one large block of text. Final Paragraph: Conclude your cover letter by thanking the employer for considering you for the position. Include information on how you will follow-up. State that you will do so and indicate when (one week's time is typical). You may want to reduce the time between sending out your resume and follow up if you fax or e-mail it. Complimentary Close: Respectfully yours, Signature: Handwritten Signature (for a mailed letter) Typed Signature |
This is a sample letter-
John Star 242 Crest St. Capitola, CA 95010 (831) 553-2323 [email protected] Date To Whom It May Concern: I am currently attending Soquel High School where I will be graduating this year in June. I have enrolled in ROP classes, which are business-oriented. ROP classes have given me a closer look at the business world and I have learned excellent work skills. My top five work skills are: • Excellent communication skills • Good attention to detail • Strong team player • Good computer skills • Excellent time management skills I have received special acknowledgement from my employers for strong skills and work ethics. I recently was accepted to CalPoly and plan to go there in the Fall and pursue a degree in Agribusiness. After receiving my degree, I plan to work in my family’s strawberry farming business. Eventually, I hope to be the president of the business. I have many hobbies including surfing, skiing and playing baseball but most of all, I enjoy riding my horse up in the hills. It gives me a sense of freedom and independence. My portfolio shows some of the skills and abilities I have acquired in while attending Soquel High School and throughout my work experience. I have always enjoyed landscaping and have enrolled in the Horticulture class for my last semester of high school. From my past experience you will notice that I enjoy working especially when I leave the job better than it was when I first got there. I have been doing tree work for three years and have worked for commercial and residential customers. Thoroughness and safety are some of my favorite qualities. Included in this portfolio, is my resume summarizing my schooling, work experience, and skills. In addition I have a list of references, letters of recommendation, and samples of my work. I hope you enjoy reviewing my portfolio. Sincerely, John Star |
Your Resume-
Writing Your Resume
The resume is a key piece to a successful job search. It should clearly describe who you are, your skills and abilities, educational and extra-curricular background and work experience. The more concise and neatly written your resume is the better chance of you being asked in for an interview. The resume has three major purposes: 1. To help you get a personal interview; 2. To provide the employer with information during the interview; 3. To remind the employer of you after the interview. Steps to Writing Your Resume Examples follow for your use as a resource. 1. Your personal information; name, address, phone number and e-mail address if you have one. Make it clear and centered at the top of the page. 2. Your job objective; the work you want to do. Be specific. 3. Special skills – identify those skills that would be important to the job objective. 4. Your educations – list the high school you are attending, the city and state and note what grade you have completed. List courses you have completed that might be useful for the job you are applying for. 5. Your work experiences – include both paid and volunteer work. Use reverse chronological order. Start with your current or most recent job and work backwards to your first job. Use action verbs to describe your work like “Managed the shop; Assisted in the development of…..” 6. Extracurricular Activities – write those special activities that you participated in or are currently involved in either at school or in the community. Indicate name of organization and dates. 7. Awards & Achievements– Recognition or awards you have received. 8. References – “Available Upon Request” Talk to those people who know your work and ask them if they will be a reference for you. Then on a separate sheet make a reference list. Include the person’s name, address, phone number and how they know you. Tips for a Great Resume • A resume is a summary of your abilities, education and work experience. It introduces who you are and what you have to offer the employer. A resume gives you an opportunity to present yourself in the best possible way. Therefore, it is important: • It is typed neatly and printed on a high quality paper. Save it on a computer disk so you can make changes when necessary. • It is only one page long. • Use action verbs to showcase your skills and accomplishments. • Margins are even and there is appropriate spacing between sections. Santa Cruz County ROP Career Portfolio 2012_13 4 • It looks professional. • There are NO misspellings or grammatical errors. Always have someone else check it over for you. • All information is up-to-date and correct. Writing Job Objectives There are two reasons for including an objective on your resume: 1. To show that there is a match between the kind of work you are seeking and the position being offered. 2. To clearly state your job target for the employer who needs assurance that you have clear goals. Potential employers may be hesitant to take a risk on a candidate who is unsure of his or her career direction. The ideal resume and objective are tailored to a specific position and employer. The savvy job seeker modifies a resume to emphasize different skills and experience for different opportunities. The myth that one resume will do for all positions is just that, a myth. Remember you can change your job objective to more closely align with the position for which you are applying. Remember, the job objective is in the top third of your resume and will be carefully read by the employer so be specific and concise. |
Sample Job Objectives
• A responsible position in retail sales. • Seeking a position as a hostess and food server using customer service and cashiering skills. • Seeking an entry level Office Assistant position, offering excellent computer skills. • Seeking an internship position as a Health Aide helping other medical personnel assist patients and provide quality health care. • Obtain a challenging, entry-level position in Broadcast Journalism, with a special interest in reporting, anchoring, and producing with a commercial television station. • A web design position, using background in graphic arts and desktop publishing. • Management Trainee, eventually qualifying for a position in sales management based upon performance and strong communication skills. • An entry position in the media utilizing highly developed written and oral communication skills. • Seeking a position as a preschool aide in a childcare facility. Santa Cruz County ROP Career Portfolio 2012_13 5 Suggested Statements for Special Skills, Strengths and Abilities • Excellent oral and written communication skills • Excellent ability to solve problems creatively • Outstanding leadership skills • Ability to work well under pressure • Detail oriented and well organized • Enthusiastic team member • Get along well with others • Good time management skills • Experience working with children • Strong mechanical ability Examples of Volunteer Job Experience • Blood Drive Worker • Camp Counselor • Candy Striper • Choir Leader • Church School Aide • Coach • Fund Raising Worker • Junior Achiever • Library Aide • Life Guard • Nursing Home Assistant • Recreational Aide • Recycle Helper • Teacher’s Aide • Telethon Helper • Time keeper • Voter Registrar • Wildlife Rescuer • Youth Group Leader Possible Extracurricular Activities • Girl or Boy Scouts • High School Sports • Church Choir / Church Group • School Clubs • School Honor Societies • Mock Trial • Speech and debate team • Yearbook • Community Sports • Regional Occupation Program Courses |
Microsoft Word and Google Drive also have resume templates for you to fill out. Go to File-New-Templates-Resumes
Resume Template
Use the following template to plan your resume. See the sample resumes for assistance.
Name
Address
Phone #
E-Mail
OBJECTIVE:
SPECIAL SKILLS:
• _
• _
• _
EDUCATION:
School
Courses
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Where When
What you do/did. Use action verbs
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:
• _ When
• _ When
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
• _
• _
Use the following template to plan your resume. See the sample resumes for assistance.
Name
Address
Phone #
OBJECTIVE:
SPECIAL SKILLS:
• _
• _
• _
EDUCATION:
School
Courses
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Where When
What you do/did. Use action verbs
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:
• _ When
• _ When
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
• _
• _