So you are close to graduating. You are getting ready for interviews and NCLEX studying. You are planning family time to celebrate pinning and graduation ceremonies. Then you are asked if you are bringing your portfolio to your interview?!
What portfolio? What should I include? What’s too much?
Where do you start? Here’s some tips:
- Have a clean, edited resume. Have the career center review it, and give feedback. Be sure to include education, certifications, immunizations, employment history, honors or awards, and skills that may be important to the position you are seeking. Include references or reference letters if you have gotten permission from those contacts. Consider what information (including personal contact information) you want public and what information you may want protected.
- Write a little about yourself and include an image. This may be the first thing people see. Welcome them to your page and tell a little about yourself. You might include what can be found on your ePortfolio and how should they navigate the site?
- Consider your nursing philosophy and career goals. It is helpful to make a statement about the core values that guide your work. Do you want to say anything about your commitment to patients, community, and profession? You make have short term and long term career goals.
- Include the field experiences or clinical rotations you have participated in during the course of your program. Describe the units and/or patients you have been working with, the out-rotations you have experienced, and the electronic record systems you have been oriented to.
- Examples of work you have done should be included. You can decide what you want to include and how you design the order or layout of content. Be sure if you have completed something as a group you get permission from all group members to share the materials online. Consider how the examples demonstrate your knowledge, skills, or attitudes within the profession.
- Consider lifelong learning. The academic foundation you are acquiring now is a basis for training for your professional practice and commitment to lifelong learning. You may want to consider future plans for certifications, training, participation in conferences or workshops, and other professional development you may consider. Do you have interest in obtaining an advanced degree in nursing? Do you have a plan?