Scenarios in Which Having a Web-Based Portfolio
Might Work for You
Use of Web-based portfolios presents certain problems, which we will
discuss in a moment, but first note that in certain scenarios having a
Web-based portfolio might make sense. Here are two.You want to impress someone you happen to meet.Let’s say that on
an airplane or at a social function you happen to strike up a conversa-
tion with someone for whom you might like to work. To get this person
more interested in you, rather than just give her a business card and
probably never get a call, you could also give her a Web site address for
your portfolio. The Web site address can be included on your business
card. The person might find your portfolio intriguing and give you a call
to set up an appointment to discuss a job opportunity.
Yo u c a n’t meet face to face. Perhaps you are granted a telephone
interview with a prospective employer with only a few hours’ notice. In
this instance, having a Web-based portfolio might give you the option of
being able to show items from your portfolio even though you can’t
meet face to face. If your interviewer has access to the Internet while
talking with you, and you feel comfortable proceeding in this fashion,
you can give him your portfolio’s Web address and refer him to items in
your portfolio that he would be able to quickly access.
Before you decide to create a Web-based portfolio, we would en-
courage you to consider the possibility that having to deal with one or
more of the following issues might limit the effectiveness of your online
portfolio.Inclusion Issues
Certain items can’t be included because of the public nature of a web
site.Even if your Web site requires a password that restricts its audi-
ence, a Web site has a very public feel to it and is, in effect, a form of
publishing. Anything of an intimate nature that was not originally in-
tended for a public audience should be cleared with the people involved
before making it available on the Internet. You may believe that you
can include personal notes and e-mails you have received that give ev-
idence of your admirable personal qualities. But the senders of these
notes, who would not object to your showing these personal communi-
cations to someone privately, might feel their privacy is being invaded
if you include these on your Web site. Unfortunately, items you have to
drop from your Web site portfolio because of their personal nature
might, in fact, be some of the most powerful documents you have be-
cause they verify personal characteristics that add value.
With a Web-based portfolio, you also have to make an extra effort
to be sure you are not violating any copyright laws by posting, without
written permission, things like newspaper articles in which you are fea-
tured. And you must be very sure that you are not unwittingly pub-
lishing proprietary information. For example, if you post a favorable
performance evaluation you have received, even though you delete pro-
prietary information included therein, you may still be on the wrongChapter 9: Digital Options for Your Portfolio and Resume 129