Education Employment Portfolio
Broadly, a portfolio is a collection of works used to show one’s capabilities to others. Thus, from the perspective of the beginning teacher, the portfolio is a tool one can use to market oneself. However, from the perspective of the prospective employer, a portfolio serves as an evaluation tool for identifying the best candidate for a given position. For specific information on how to set up your portfolio, please refer to the Student Education Handbook, in the Education Department.
Interviewing Advice
- Some administrators may not want to see portfolios
- Employers typically request and consider most useful the typical screening devices (application, transcript, resume, credential file [letters of recommendation])
- Portfolios are better received if offered by the prospective teacher (employers rarely request to see them)
- Optimal time to present portfolio to hiring committee is during follow-up, rather than during the initial interview
- Portfolios developed through pre-service years is not the one presented as a professional portfolio
- Pre-service portfolios document professional growth
- Professional portfolios demonstrate professional competencies
- Undergraduate portfolios need to be transformed into marketing portfolios (for job search)
- The amount of time a hiring committee can give to a review of a portfolio is limited
- Be HIGHLY selective of what is included
- Provide captions identifying the significance of program when including classroom activities or products
- Try to tailor your portfolio to the type of school or environment (multi-age classroom, non-graded
schools, etc.)
Additional Information
Frequently Asked Interview Questions
Preparing your Credential Files