Setting yourself apart in a positive way can help a busy interviewer remember your skills and experience, especially in a competitive job market. A portfolio binder, resume folder, or career portfolio binder for a job interview is more than just a holder for your resume or notepad. ‌The right contents inside your portfolio binder can help you showcase your business skills to a potential employer during the interview process.‌

Benefits

‌Using a portfolio during your job interview allows you to present yourself to the hiring manager in a cohesive, organized manner.‌ Rather than fumbling through a pile of papers, promising to email a requested document to the interviewer or looking unprepared during interview questions, recruiters will gain a favorable first impression of your organizational skills and interest in the job.

Taking time to put together all the materials you wish to include in your portfolio also gives you a chance to review your previous job responsibilities, refresh your memory of past accomplishments and practice answering questions about gaps in employment or periods of self-employment.

Types

‌The type of portfolio binder you use depends on your field of work.‌ If you work in the graphic design industry, you should use a portfolio large enough to easily hold and display your artwork. A 16-inch-by-20-inch 3 ring binder with clear plastic sleeves makes it easy for you and the job interviewer to review your work together.

If your interview is for a business position, use a portfolio designed to hold loose papers in file folders or clear plastic sleeves so you can easily pull out a work sample or reference list to hand to the interviewer. As for a business portfolio, a leather portfolio or leather padfolio will look very stylish and professional.

Materials to Include

Sit down and make a list of the documents and exhibits you would like a potential employer to review for a new job. I‌n addition to your resume, a professional portfolio should include an extra copy of your resume and references, a table of contents, samples of your work, letters of recommendation, cover letter, college or high school transcripts, licenses you hold, contact information, a supply of business cards and a copy of your completed application, if applicable.‌

Put each item in a separate, labeled file folder or plastic sleeve within your portfolio to make it easy to retrieve. If you have been featured in newspapers or magazines, place copies of the articles in your portfolio. Make a list of any awards you won or skills you possess that you have not included on your resume, and give it to the interviewer when appropriate. A graphic artist needs to include drawings, published works and awards won.

Strategies

Job seekers will make a lasting impression during the interview if they take time to practice explaining each of the materials in their portfolio. If you choose a portfolio with clear plastic sleeves, practice flipping through the pages and explaining what you want the prospective employer to focus on for each different article or display. Analyze what you have in your portfolio before each interview you attend. ‌Targeting the materials in your portfolio to a specific job will enable the interviewer to better see how your specific skill set fit within his organization.‌