Tips In Creating Career-Enhancing Digital Portfolios

If a picture speaks a thousand words, how many words are spoken of your credentials if they are communicated digitally in pictures, videos, and other artifacts? A portfolio is a “goal-driven, organized collection of artifacts that demonstrates a person’s expansion of knowledge and skill overtime.” Digital portfolios, sometimes called multimedia portfolios or electronic portfolios, contain much of the content of traditional portfolios but present the materials in digital format.

The career-enhancing character of personal websites is indisputable. It’s accessibility is a boom to jobseekers and employed professionals alike. It’s many benefits include the opportunity to market their own competence to practically the whole world while you express your feelings freely. But this freedom comes with a responsibility. Here’s some tips to build a high impact web portfolio :

1. Never upload contents that can jeopardize your career potential. Career-busting contents to avoid: online boss-bashing, lewd photos, profane language, scandalous videos, and links to porn sites.

2. Provide value-adding content such as tips and how-to’s, publish an e-zine, upload your “in action” photos and videos, update regularly, feature your accomplishments, and include a feedback mechanism for your visitors.

3. Strategic networking. Join e-groups. E groups are ideal resources of useful information, leads and contacts.

4. Practice “netiquette,”

5. Regulate your online time with discipline to avoid aimless web surfing.

6. Never apply for a job using the office internet account.

7. Never peruse cyberporn sites. The people in your IT department know what you do everyday and can be summoned to present evidence of questionable Internet use.

Your web image can either strengthen or sabotage your professional life. Be it in the virtual or physical realm, always present your self in the best light possible.