Portfolio
A portfolio is a compilation of your best work. During your training, you will have an opportunity to examine your work and build your portfolio from those items of which you are most proud. Your portfolio will be an excellent source for documenting your accomplishments to show potential employers.
When pursuing a job, most employers will request a Cover Letter, Resume, and Letter of Recommendation. Each document serves a purpose. You will be expected to create each of these documents and include them in your portfolio.
A draft each of these will be expected in the first weeks of training. Specific dates and parameters will be given. You will revisit and revise these halfway through training, and turn in polished versions with your final portfolio on June 5th, 2009.
Portfolio Contents
The contents of your portfolio will vary according to individual preferences. Certain documents are required:
- Cover Letter
- Resume
- Letter of Recommendation
- Product Business Plan
- Pre-/Post-exam
- One (1) "Perfect Problem"
Cover Letter
A Cover Letter is your first introduction of yourself to your employer. Here you have the opportunity to speak for yourself in your own voice.
Sample letter to come.
Resume
A resume is a summary of your accomplishments. These are largely facts about your education, training, and skills. The goal here is to give as much information as possible in a format that can be scanned by the reader. Often employers will decide whether or not to interview you based on what they read in one minute or less.
Even if you are young, with minimal work experience, there are ways of showing an abundance of skills. Throughout your training period, you will be learning how to identify and describe your accomplishments. You will be provided with written resources to help you in this task.
Sample resume to come.
Letter of Recommendation
A Letter of Recommendation is written about you by someone who knows you well. This often includes information about your training, but the focus is usually more about you as a person. The person can tell about what great motivation you have, what a hard worker you are, and what a great team player you are.
For the purposes of this training program, you will write the first draft of the Letter of Recommendation you would like your trainer/teacher to write about you at the end of the year. Essentially, you will be telling your trainer/teacher what you want her to think about you. (See below for an example of what student interns have written in the past.) Remember to write it as if your trainer/teacher were writing it about you.
Sample letter to come.
