IDS 290: JOB PACKAGE ASSIGNMENT

PERSONAL PORTFOLIO, RESUME, JOB LETTER

To be able to create your best resume and job application letters, you first need to collect information about yourself and examine your strengths and weaknesses for the jobs you hope to get when you graduate. Your personal Personal Portfolio is a report on yourself NOW—a report prepared primarily for your use. You can use it as a reference when filling out applications for jobs and graduate school, as a source of information for your resume and application letter, as a source of information for an interview, and as a continuous record of your activities for later use. It is arranged chronologically, not in the reverse chronology you would use on a resume.

Your resume and application letter reflect your record near graduation, so you may need to add internships and course experiences you hope to add in the next two years.

IMPORTANT DOCUMENT DESIGN TIP: Place all material in a pocket folder so you can add material over time. LEAVE SPACE on pages for additions, starting each section on a new page. Use at least Arial 11 or Times Roman 12 and 1 inch margins all around.

Put your NAME and SECTION on the outside of the folder. Be sure to list the headings and categories so the information makes sense without the handout. Put your name on each page.

Section 1: Education

Schools Attended

Beginning with high school, list all schools, giving

• Name and location of school
• Dates attended
• Diploma or degree
• Major field

(leave space for additions)

Course Work

List in order course numbers and descriptive titles of courses taken at each school    (you may attach transcripts here instead, but make sure course titles are included, since numbers will not mean much to you later, or to an employer)

(leave space for additions)

Additional Education Information

• Office Skills (typing speed, shorthand, 10 key, computer hardware and software skills)
• Foreign Languages (speak, read)
• Technical or other skills
• Honors or Awards (scholarships, elections to honorary groups)
• Give title and describe briefly any outstanding reports or papers you have prepared in your college courses.

(leave space for addtions)

Section 2: Work Experience

• Jobs Held (again, list in chronological order—include military, all summer jobs, and jobs while in school)
• Type of job, Duties
• Company, Location
• Supervisor’s Name
• Salary
• Dates of Employment
• Reason for Leaving

(leave space for additions)

Section 3: Affiliations and Co-Curricular Activities

School, community—give organization name, any offices held, dates of involvement.

• Pre-College Activities
• College Activities (leave space for additions at the end)
• Community Activities (leave space for additions at the end)
• Hobbies (leave space for additions at the end)

Section 4: References

List at least three; no more than five for now. At least one professor in your major field when you get closer to graduation. Give correct name, title, and school address for mailing. Give telephone number of each..

(leave space for additions)

Section 5: Goals and Qualifications

1. Discuss three main accomplishments so far—what you learned, why they were significant, etc.
2. Give examples to show you can lead, follow, express yourself, adapt.
3. Describe your strongest and weakest personal qualities.
4. Name the type of firm you want to work for and explain why.
5. Describe your short-term and long-term career goals.

Assignment Grading Points

Personal Portfolio—parts 1-4: Completeness, clear document design, spaces for additions, following instructions.

Part 5: thoughtful answers to typical interview questions

Resume: Professional proofreading, use of appropriate examples for layout and order help, thoughtful arrangement of YOUR job qualifications. Good use of space on the page (include references to fill space).

Application letter: Professional proofreading, thoughtful adaptation to a specific job.