5 Ways to Get More Mileage Out of
Your Career Portfolio

The tangible prize you take home from your feedback session is an information-rich Career Vision Portfolio, a binder loaded with information customized just for you.

1. In conjunction with your personalized consulting session, this reference tool supports a much deeper understanding of what makes each of you unique. Not only does it contain the assessment results and a list of college majors that support careers that are a good "fit", it also includes planning and specific career information to help you easily investigate the recommendations.

Here are four more ways to use your Portfolio:

2. High school students, please consider showing your Portfolio to your school guidance counselor. Their expertise in college admissions and financial aid and our expertise in career and college major planning dovetail perfectly. By taking the initiative with your guidance counselor, you can help them quickly see your college major and career direction. This will make it easier for them to help you select schools that are appropriate and craft the best applications. Your information may also provide insights into volunteer activities, internships and summer jobs.

3. College students benefit by discussing their portfolio with their faculty advisor and career services staff. The results can trigger insights for course selections, internships, and volunteer or leadership opportunities on campus. Share your information with campus career services staff, so you can ensure that you prepare yourself to be the best candidate for potential employers prior to graduation.

4. Some families report that the Portfolio provides a central location for transcripts, reference letters, copies of applications and other career-related papers. We strongly encourage students to establish a practice of storing and revisiting documents that support their educational and career aspirations while in high school and college. The Portfolio offers a great place to start.

5. For adults, information from your Career Portfolio can serve as a tool for career development discussions with managers or mentors. Clients have reported that they consult their Portfolio information prior to updating their resume or interviewing for a new position or project. Use it also as a place to keep your performance reviews and current career goals and action plans.

And as a bonus, one of our favorite uses is reported by a number of our clients. They tell us they go back and review the information to remind themselves of all the great potential they have!

© Copyright 2007, Career Vision. Article may be reprinted with permission.

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