If it’s true that a picture is worth 1,000 words, why don’t jobseekers come to job interviews prepared to show and tell? One of the best ways to do this is with a portfolio, leave-behind, or interview presentation binder.
While portfolios are expected in certain “creative” professions, jobseekers in many more “traditional” fields could benefit from using one in an interview. They support your qualifications as a candidate. The purpose of the portfolio is to substantiate the information contained in your career documents and on your LinkedIn profile.
Here are 5 ways a jobseeker can use a portfolio:
1.  Interview enhancement. Putting together a portfolio is also an excellent way to prepare for a job interview, as it can be used to reflect on what knowledge, skills, and abilities will be most relevant for the targeted position.
2.  Useful in a job search to:
•    Tangibly showcase your accomplishments
•    Document the breadth/depth of your educational credentials, training, and professional development
•    Set you apart from other candidates who are interviewed for the job
•    Give you a “prop” to make you more comfortable answering questions in the interview
•    Allow you to provide greater depth and detail about your qualifications than you can on the resume alone
3.  Excellent confidence booster. There’s just something about seeing all of your accomplishments in print that boosts your confidence and self-esteem.
4.  Online presence. Posting a portfolio online can help set you apart from other candidates in a competitive job market. You can link to your digital portfolio on your LinkedIn profile as well as provide a link to the portfolio on your resume.
5.  Current job. Presenting a portfolio for a performance evaluation meeting or when requesting a raise and/or promotion to verify your achievements can be very beneficial to the process and outcome.
Creating a portfolio may take some time, but you can start small and improve it over time. Keep it updated and when an opportunity presents itself, you’ll be ready with a professional portfolio that highlights the key achievements in your career.