RACHEAL ALVSTAD/ Scroll Illustration

E-portfoilos: the wave of the future

by Allison Walker WAL04015@BYUI.EDU Special Section

It’s coming. The big race. The athlete has been training for months, in fact years, to go out and establish himself in his field. Excitement builds, the runner take his place, the gun sounds and the runner explode off the blocks.

Our runner starts with energy, but soon finds himself being passed by almost every other athlete. He’s confused — he’d trained as long and hard as everyone else, he’s in good shape — better than some of the others — but the other runners are passing his best efforts. However, the puzzlement ends when he looks down and finds he is wearing clogs.

Leaping into the career world is truly a race. Even the most qualified job candidates can end up jobless. In such a technology-driven society, certain things -—previously beyond imagination --—are becoming the norm, even a requirement. One of these is electronic portfolios.

Formally, stacks of carefully placed and handled papers sit in a large stack on a desk, now present themselves online or on a sleek compact disc.

Why bother with the extra work if one already has a traditional paper portfolio?

There are several reasons e-portfolios make one stand out.

First, “an electronic portfolio allows you to showcase more material and larger documents than your paper portfolio and the time constraints of an interview might allow,” Diane Moore, of the Toronto Star, said.

Second, e-portfolios prove to the employer that the applicant is technologically competent and familiar with the current trends in technology and communication.

Third, e-portfolios have no bulk — they don’t have to be carried, stored and maintained like a paper portfolio. Plus, they are more widely distributable and cheap to reproduce.

Fourth, they allow original digital documents such as Web pages, computer art, etc., to be presented in their original forms.

“They are the very best way [for the students] to sell themselves to businesses and grad school,” Eric Embree, of the communication faculty, said. “Many students write back and tell me that their employers loved their portfolios.”

Some employers go through countless applications and portfolios, and it can be difficult for them to find out the information they need on a certain candidate in shuffling through reams of paper. However, with a portfolio online or on a CD, potential employers can pick and choose the information relevant to their criteria and also view it at their own leisure.

As opposed to traditional résumés, electronic portfolios can tell so much more about the applicant.

It’s a “chance to showcase not only academic achievements but also extracurricular activities, work related experiences, outstanding projects and professional work,” Embree said.

However, “the technology should be utilized to expand on the traditional résumé and not just provide it in a digital format with music,” Kirsten Dixson, of the Career Planning and Adult Development Network, said. It should also be user-friendly and self-contained with as few extra plug-ins as possible.

In preparing to compile such a portfolio, there are a few things to keep in mind. “Save everything you do!” Delaina Scholes, a registrar secretary, said. She recently compiled her own e-portfolio and had to re-create much of her work because she didn’t receive this advice previously. Obviously not all of one’s work can go into the portfolio, but it’s easier to find the pieces that most represent the student when there are more options to choose from.

Still wondering if e-portfolios are the way to go? While the emphasis for e-portfolios is on communication majors, “any major can benefit [from compiling an e-portfolio],” Embree said. “I think it’s endless,” Scholes agreed.

Embree just suggested that students “run their e-portfolio by a professional mentor.” A teacher can help with content, tone and design decisions for s a specific field.

While the process of creating an e-portfolio has its inherent technological difficulties and requires careful planning and selection of pieces with overall design and presentation, “it gives you another tool to gain the employer’s attention, and another opportunity to market yourself and showcase your skills,” Moore said.

Unlike a traditional résumé, a well-done e-portfolio “doesn’t just say ‘who I am,’ but ‘this is what I’ve done and this is what I’m capable of’,” Embree said.