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Cypress College: Go Places!
Career Portfolio
Career Portfolio Overview:
Students completing a certificate or degree in the Aviation & Travel Careers Program are required to prepare a Career Portfolio that you will want to update throughout your program of study (and your career!). The Career Portfolio documents your credentials, qualifications, and skills. In addition to your resume, cover letter, and letters of recommendation, the portfolio should include examples of your certificates, transcripts, volunteer work, awards, ten-year background history, and student learning outcomes (SLOs).
Preparing your Career Portfolio
Students in ATC 102 Career Communications/Portfolio will put together the foundation of their Career Portfolio. All students should, however, continually update their portfolios throughout their program, and instructors may ask to see them in any ATC course.
1.Obtain the following:
•A 1-inch notebook, preferably with a clear cover that you can insert a title page
•Non-glare page protectors (at least 30)
•A set of page-protector dividers (5 sections) with tabs that extend out beyond the other page protectors so that the tabs are visible.
Note: The Career Portfolio notebooks with all of the above can be purchased at the counter in the Cypress College bookstore or you can purchase the items in an office supply store.
Hot tip! You may want to have two notebooks: a large one to keep all of your original coursework and documents and a smaller one that has your best work that you use for employment interviews. Remember: Employers do not want to see everything you have ever done––only your best work.
2. Download the Portfolio Title Pages (see templates at the right)
3. Update the title page with your name and address. You may also want to use color or a border for your title page, but keep the style professional looking. Be sure to include the table of contents pages for each section as well. You may modify the sections, but make it clear where to find information. Be sure to select a professional font that you will use throughout your portfolio (i.e. Arial, New Times Roman, Helvetica).
4.Load the title page in the front of your notebook. Load the main table of contents page into a page protector as it should be the first page you see when you open the notebook. The load the table of contents pages for each section in the divider pager protectors.
5. Gathering copies of your transcripts, diplomas, certificates, and a few quality samples of your work if you have them (can be from school or business). Make copies (color is best) and place the copies in the appropriate sections of your Career Portfolio. Keep the originals in a safe location. Label your work and anything that may not be easily understand (see label samples)
6.Update your resume, cover letter, and ten-year background history. You may use the templates to the right. The cover letter should be in the front pocket of your notebook.
Career Portfolio Checklist and Evaluation
Note: You may elect to organize your Career Portfolio in a different way to better highlight certain skills, but please discuss this change with your instructor to be certain you meet the Student Learning Outcomes required for the course and the program.
Career Checklist: Career Checklist .docx
Portfolio Checklist Print Version: Career Portfolio Checklist.doc
Notebook Presentation
____Title Page with Statement of Originality and Confidentiality
____Cover Letter (inside front pocket of your notebook)
____Table of Contents
____Quality Notebook (about one inch thick)
____Page Protectors and Visible Typed Tabs
Section 1: Credentials
____Resume
____Transcripts
____Educational Plan of Study (Certificate/Degree Checklists)
____Experiential Learning (Service Hour Log, Flight Logs, or Internship Report if applicable)
____Letters of Recommendation or one letter requesting a letter of recommendation
Section 2: Mission Statement, Goals, and Skills
____Personal Mission Statement (a.k.a. Work or Service Philosophy)
____Professional Goals
____Skills (Achievement Verification of Basic Skills / Program Standards) (bonus points)
Section 3: Student Learning Outcomes (Work Samples)
____Educational Work Samples from Cypress College or other college (Labeled)
____Other Work Samples (from job if applicable)
____Course Descriptions / Copy from Cypress College Catalog
Section 4: Awards, Certificates, Degrees, and Diplomas
____Awards (if applicable)
____Certificates / Degrees
____Community Service / Volunteer Work
____Diplomas
____Professional Memberships
____Letters of Appreciation (if applicable)
Section 5: Additional Documentation
____Personal "bio" and career story (typed)
____Ten-Year Background History (detailed employment/residence addresses/contact)
____Interview questions (typed responses to most common interview questions)
Special Instructions for Aviation Students:
These are the items that must be presented at any 135 charter or airline interview (due to the requirements of the 1995 Pilot Information Act) as well as some other suggestions:
1. Cover Letter
2. Resume with flight times
3. Copies of all pilot certificates and medical
4. DMV print out for the last 10 years
5. FAA Record print out (will show any violations, revocations, etc)
6. References
7. College transcripts
8. Maybe copies of the last pages of pilot logbooks (though all logbooks are brought to an interview)
9. Copies of FAA written exam test results
Also recommended:
10. FAA WINGS participation certificates
11. Any other aviation related documents (pictures with the Flight Team, articles about themselves in newspapers, etc.)
For the CFI Students:
(the above plus)
1. Lesson Plan samples
2. PowerPoint presentation samples
3. Student Critiques received
Resume Tip by Joe Turner at careerbuilder.com
You should also have a USP (Unique Selling Proposition) near the top of your resume. Also called a "Personal Branding Statement," this is a short, one-sentence "pitch" that describes who you are in about 15 seconds. You USP should state the single greatest strength you offer and the biggest benefit that you bring to an employer.
Example:
"Hospitality business development professional with a strength in creative sales and marketing techniques that generated $500,000 in new revenue for my employer in 12 months."
You can outweigh the formal education by showing exactly how your specific work has benefited your previous employer. The bottom line is that employers today more than ever, want to have problem solvers on board. Though you may have no degree, you can prove yourself a resource that fits into their larger profit and loss picture. If you can demonstrate that, you can get hired.
Sell Results Instead
While these employers may have different requirements for equivalent experience, a good rule of thumb is to demonstrate past performance and proven results in your previous work. To accomplish this, your goal is to show how you either make money or save money for your employer. From your past work experience, develop as many specific instances when you actually have done so. If you can attach a dollar-value to several of those, so much the better. Put these in your resume.
Here are some actual examples:
"Responsible for generating 13 new accounts by creating database and mailing piece"
"Booked $150,000 in new business for 2007 by contracting with 2 major groups for the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2007."
"Increased revenue by 38% from new social market bookings."
"Chaired meetings and headed the negotiation discussion that resulted in the settlement of a long protracted contractual and legal issue with the subcontractor and client."
"Improved cash collection and debt aging from average 100 days to a more manageable 30 days and realized savings of about $276,000."
"Reduced turnover by 45% over previous management within 15 months through my training program and development plans."
"Won the Leadership and Excellence award in 2007 for outstanding achievements during my project management role."
"Increased our customer satisfaction survey scores by 32% on average by training my team on the proper way to provide a great customer experience."
"Reduced non-beneficial spending costs by 40% by effectively researching and analyzing accounts payable data."
View a sample portfolio:
Samples you can use!
(Download Sample Templates)
Portfolio Checklist:
Career Portfolio Checklist.doc
Portfolio Title Pages:
Tabs for Career Portfolio:
Resume and Cover Letter:
Pilots also see special instructions
below for your Career Portfolio.
Hot tip! Remember, most companies use automated tracking systems (ATS) to review your resume, so avoid fancy fonts, formatting, underlining, etc. Instead use key words from the job description, so your resume "matches" the automated job search. For more, on how to get your resume past the ATS, read: ATS.pdf
Recommendation Letters:
Request for Recommendation Letter F2014.docx
Work (Project) Sample Labels:
Work sample overview cards.doc
New labels:
Special Projects Documentation
SampleSpecialProjectsSummary.doc
Mission Statement+Goals:
SampleMissionStatement+Goals.doc
To develop your personal mission statement:. For free assistance, try this link (sample statement below):
http://www.nightingale.com/tMission_PersonalStatement.asp
Goal Worksheet:
Ten Year Background History:
http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs16-bck.htm
This guide explains the why and how of background checks which the federal government requires of airline employees.
Job Seeker Background Check
Students interested in conducting their own background check can pay for a report:
http://www.mybackgroundcheck.com/
More on your Work Philosophy or Personal Mission Statement
Write your work philosophy and goals You may use this website to create you mission statement; they will email it to you for free after you answer a few questions.
http://www.nightingale.com/mission_select.aspx?
Sample Mission Statement:
My goal is to convey my initiative, determination, and commitment to the travel industry by seeking opportunities to improve my skills through activities such as enrolling in the Cypress College Airline & Travel Careers Program, by participating in extra-curricular activities for self-improvement such as the Disney College Program, and by volunteering for an active role in the Travel Club to complete the Advanced Flight Attendant Certificate.
Career Portfolio Testimonial
"When I went to the second and last interview with United Airlines in Chicago, I gave the recruiter one thing that nobody else did––a career portfolio. This portfolio contains everything about me, such as my resume, transcripts, diplomas, and everything essential. At the end of the day, the recruiter told me, 'Well, we would definitely consider your educational background and your work experience in the airline industry for the position, but I have never seen any candidate that is so organized, so well-prepared, and so dedicated. Because of your portfolio, we would like to make a conditional offer to you today to be one of our finest flight attendants!' At that time, I felt like I was the king of the day!! Thank you Kathleen and Jane for making me create my portfolio!!"
Tony Wong, UA FA
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