your portfolio that are dishonest. And, if you ever get caught using
something that is not authentic, your credibility will be totally de-
stroyed—the very opposite of what you are trying to achieve with your
portfolio.
In addition to going after needed testimonials, you can also use im-
ages as visual props for discussing important accomplishments. For a
few tips on how to do this and some further thoughts on how to create
documents that are based on P.E.A.K.S. you have already developed,
refer to “Strategies for Creating New Documents for Your Collection,”
in Chapter 2.
At the conclusion of Step 9, you should have between eight and
twenty documents filed in your manila folders for inclusion in the Can-
Do Portfolio.Step 10: Assemble Your Can-Do Portfolio
In this final step, your task is to take what you’ve decided to go with
and put it into a presentable format. You will need an appropriate car-
rying case for the documents you have selected, and you will want to
have an attractive way of presenting each of these documents. Consid-
er the following ideas for putting the final touches on your portfolio.Carrying Case
Consider using some form of standard-size, three-ring binder for
your Can-Do Portfolio. Loose items that are stuffed into a briefcase can
get damaged and are hard to find when you are in the middle of an im-
portant conversation. Alternatively, these same items can be readily re-
trieved if they have been filed under headings in a three-ring binder.
Furthermore, a person who is calmly flipping through the pages of a
binder appears to be a lot better organized than someone who is fish-
ing about with head stuck in briefcase.
The style of the binder that you use should support the image that
you are trying to project. A binder that can be zippered shut and looks
like a briefcase can be quite effective because you can also use it as a
briefcase, bringing along a notepad and extra copies of documents you
might want to leave behind. If your portfolio looks like a briefcase, it
will not draw attention at the start of the interview, which means you
can use your portfolio at your discretion.Tabs
The items you bring with you need to be easily retrievable under
pressure. We suggest that you use dividers with tabs that have the
same five P.E.A.K.S. headings that you have used in the steps above. If
a document could be filed under more than one heading, make extra
copies of this document and file it under as many headings as you like,
if that makes it easier for you to retrieve it when you are distracted and
under pressure.
In addition to the five P.E.A.K.S. headings, you might also want to
have a heading labeled “Resume,”since it is a good idea to bring extra
copies of your resume to an interview.150 Part I: Building, Using, and Maintaining Your Career Portfolio
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