New Grad, how many portfolios?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hello, not sure if this is the right area to put this topic in, so sorry if it's not.

I was wondering how many nursing portfolios one should bring to their interview? Is it okay to just bring 1 for the panel of interviewers to look at or is it better to bring at least 2?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

Assuming you mean resumes, I would bring at least 5 if you know you are having a panel interview. I always bring at least three or more.

Annie

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi Annie,

I actually mean nursing portfolios. I have a binder that includes my cover letter, letters of recommendation, certificates/special training/associations, and community service/volunteer information. I'm just wondering if I should only bring 1 portfolio or multiple.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

Not necessary They didn't even want them when I was interviewing to be a teacher. Who had you do a portfolio?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Not necessary They didn't even want them when I was interviewing to be a teacher. Who had you do a portfolio?

I had a lot of my friends from nursing school who landed jobs who brought their nursing portfolio with them.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have a portfolio of sorts that I brought to my last interview. But I didn't hand it over to them, it had all the stuff you talked about but it was more in case they needed any of it or I wanted to reference it. The only things they wanted out of it were a copy of photo ID and my nursing license.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology Home Therapies, Wound Care, Foot Care..

My actual portfolio has EVERYTHING- diplomas (to show highest honors), all certificates, CEUs, vaccine status, etc. I have multiples of each item in the sleeve, including resume and letters of reference, this is in case I need to pull something out usually. But it can be viewed as well. . But to interviews, I bring folders (nice brightly colored or decorative ones), with a copy of my resume on left and usually about 6 hand picked letters of reference on the right. I ask who I'll be meeting with, and then bring extras. I always get lots of comments and thank you- and usually a job offer too. And since you're interviewing, I ask to shadow if I think I'm really interested and am unfamiliar with the organization. It has kept me from making a mistake more than once. Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Nobody wants to see those anymore. You can bring them but I would only bring ONE. To carry in a stack of those silly things will look...silly. Your experience as a new grad is about the same as everyone else's. What they are looking for is teachability and likeability...in other words, are you articulate, do you seem intelligent and motivated, do you want to work there and ultimately do they want to work with you.

Your friends may have brought their portfolios, but I can tell you, they are an out-of-date thing. Your resume would be more appropriate.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

Our applicants go through HR and they make the recs to managers. I am working on a portfolio for my clinical ladder. My advisor just went through mine with me and took all the "fluff" out. They are very minimalist. She took out about 60% of what I had. They don't have time for fancy folders and pretty paper.

If you have been chosen for an interview, your manager has seen what you submitted to HR; they have seen your resume and letters.

Shadowing is a GREAT way to interview. They get to see your personality around patients and how you interact with the other nurses. That is how I got my job. I had been to plenty of interviews, but when I got a chance to shadow, that's when I got offered a job. Very exciting.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment