So the question is always presented, when you don’t have much experience, how can you help your chances at an interview to sound credible? Well during my presentation to Barry University’s undergrads last week, Professor Jack Kleban supported one of my arguments by saying that the use of a business portfolio can help tremendously.
And he’s right. It’s almost one of those items that can be used at a job interview to show accomplishments throughout your experience thus far. A business portfolio can carry any of the following:
- Letters of Recommendation
- Copies of Results (Surveys, Feedback, Attendance Reports, etc)
- Project Outlines
- Graphic Work
In essence, a business portfolio should carry anything that can show what you’ve worked on (that shows your experience), and/or the results that it yielded
When to bring up the business portfolio during an interview?
This is a tricky one, and everyone has their own opinion. Every interview has a flow to it, and chances are, even if you leave the portfolio out in the open (hoping that your interviewer might ask you about it). Personally, I wouldn’t stop the interview to just say “I have a business portfolio”. There are two ways you might want to approach this:
- When they are asking about a prior job/internship where you have some documentation on it, you can take a moment to explain with your supporting evidence how you managed to accomplish a certain task/result
- Don’t mention it at all.
“Don’t mention it at all?!?” Yes. Here’s why: a picture is worth a thousand words, and taking the time to display the items in your business portfolio can be longer than most people have (depending on how much time the interview is taking). So unless the interviewer verbally expresses interest in wanting to see it, I’d spare him from it. I personally believe that the fact that the business portfolio is there already speaks wonders. The interviewer will see that and know you came better prepared than some other interviewees.
Mind you, this is something that can go many ways, and others can have different opinions on it. My business portfolio has always been packed and ready to demonstrate at a moment’s notice, but I never felt the need to. Because realistically, you should be able to portray in what you’re saying what’s in it.
So in conclusion: Is it important to have a business portfolio? Yes. Is it important to take your time and put important information in there to back up who you are and what you’ve done? Yes. Should it be brought up in an interview? Maybe, but only as a supporting prop.
Remember, the most important part of an interview is what you say, and how you say it. Show interest, show conviction, show hunger. The rest will just be proof that you’re ready to back up everything you say.