Portfolio vs. Resume

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Hello, I have an interview coming up and was thinking about putting together a portfolio instead of the traditional resume. I was looking online for info specific to a nurse portfolio but only found limited information.

Have anyone of you ever put together a portfolio to bring to an interview before? If so what kind of infomation did you include? How did it look? Did it work for you?

Thanks

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Specializes in ICU, M/S,Nurse Supervisor, CNS.

I had to put together a portfolio for one of my current jobs for our yearly evaluation (it was mandatory of everyone). While that was more creative in that we used stickers and different crafty items to make it look all "pretty", I did use this idea to make a more professional one to use when I started looking for another job recently. I used a small binder and those laminent sleeves to protect the documents. I included my resume, a copy of my license and certifications, some publications from a previous job of a couple of awards I received, a summary of my professional accomplishments, and my future goals. I did plan on adding a cover letter that was specific to each position for which I applied, but honestly just forgot. I made a cover page with my name and title and put that on the front of the binder. All documents I used were printed on that professional resume paper and I also used a thin cardboard type of paper I got from the craft store to make the pages more sturdy and to paste the smaller documents to as a background. I just didn't use any stickers or stuff like that.

I only applied at two places and had two interviews, but did bring my portfolio to both. One job is still interviewing applicants, but I already got an offer from the second job and am now negotiating salary. I don't know if the portfolio made any difference, but I did see that the interviewers in both cases were very impressed by the extra work I had done to "sell" myself.

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No. Had to make one in Nursing School. Never been asked for it, nor would I show it. Resume is sufficient.

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Specializes in Women's Services, School Nursing.

Are you a new grad or an experienced RN? With today's saturated market of new grads, I thought it best to make myself as marketable as possible. I included a cover letter, resume, copies of diplomas, certificates, documentation of experience, and letters of recommendation. I created a unique, professional-looking header to match my folder in MS Word for the cover letter/resume, and I printed all of my documents on matching "fine parchment paper," which I got from Wal-mart (just to make it look a little more professional). I bound the whole thing in a presentation folder. The interview was today, and the effect was great.

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Specializes in Emergency, Cardiac, PAT/SPU, Urgent Care.

I never used one as an RN, but I did just recently put one together for my NP job search, especially since one of my interviews is going to be with a doctor who has never had an NP work for him. I put in a title page (name, credentials), my CV, my licenses and certifications, a copy of my , an example of a collaborative agreement/prescriptive authority document, a journal article I authored, professional awards, CEUs, as well as info from the AANP on NP's scope of practice. I also copied my state BON's NP regs and put them in there, also - in case the doc has any questions about certain things we can do in the state.

I put it all in a plain black 3-ring binder and used clear plastic page protectors as well as labelled dividers.

Oh, I also have past job evals in there, background clearances and my college diploma.

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DeepSouth I have 2 years experience in Peds but I'm interviewing on Monday for Ortho Neuro.

Thanks everyone for all your info its soooo informative. I just went to Office Depot to pick up my supplies for the portfolio.

I plan on including:

Personal statement of goals

Resume

Recommendation letters

License and certifications

Patient thank you notes

What do you think?

Also, how do you show the interviewer or nurse manager your portfolio? Is it at the beginning of the interview? Are you supposed to leave it with them?

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Frankly, there is nothing out of the ordinary about me that I feel would warrant a portfolio. If I were a published NP with awards and several certfications beyond basic ACLS, etc., or if I were going for a job where one was requested, I would make one. Otherwise, I carry my information with me and present it if the interview calls for it. Interviewers work off my job application and I have to practically force my resume on them as it is.

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DeepSouth I have 2 years experience in Peds but I'm interviewing on Monday for Ortho Neuro.

Thanks everyone for all your info its soooo informative. I just went to Office Depot to pick up my supplies for the portfolio.

I plan on including:

Personal statement of goals

Resume

Recommendation letters

License and certifications

Patient thank you notes

What do you think?

Also, how do you show the interviewer or nurse manager your portfolio? Is it at the beginning of the interview? Are you supposed to leave it with them?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Frankly, there is nothing out of the ordinary about me that I feel would warrant a portfolio. If I were a published NP with awards and several certfications beyond basic ACLS, etc., or if I were going for a job where one was requested, I would make one. Otherwise, I carry my information with me and present it if the interview calls for it. Interviewers work off my job application and I have to practically force my resume on them as it is.

I agree. I think it's a bit overkill for a staff RN position. Perhaps a bit "brown-nosey" too. As a staff nurse what do you really have to put in there?! Most places don't ask for a copy of your degree/diploma or even your nursing license. It's all verified online. In fact, in this day and age of identity theft, I'm not sure I'd be willing to just hand over copies of these documents. Call me paranoid. :cool:

I just carry a small plastic expanding file that contains copies of my resume, cover letter, references and I always carry my other certifications, BLS, NRP, etc in my wallet. Most interviewers already have your application and resume but I always walk in and pull out a copy of my resume and hand it to them at the beginning of the interview.

I know sometimes these fancy resumes printed on such and such special weight paper and fancy parchment are impressive. I printed mine off using a hotel lobby laser printer. I have a job. :smokin:

:twocents:

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Cali- I know what you are saying, and when I re-entered the nursing job market in 2005- I was like 'they want a resume??' What happened to that all you needed was a pulse and a license thing? So my 15 year old daughter made the document up for me. "Mom, don't you know what a bullet point is?" :uhoh3:

Fast forward, people are talking about bringing in home baked cookies to their interview, fancy stationary thank you notes, on and on. The point being, the ground has shifted, and it continues as we speak. The very fact that people here are saying their interviewers didn't think it was goofy for a nursing applicant to put their scrapbooking skills to good use, I say if it works go for it!!

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For some reason I convinced myself to make up my first resume because I thought I would need it. Now, years later, I am still filling out job applications, and the people interviewing me have no interest in my resume. But I suppose the first time I walk into an interview without a resume, bingo, I will be asked for one.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

No doubt. And I did figure out pretty quickly that the online resume submission to monster and careerfinder didn't seem to do a darn thing, either.

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