A portfolio provides supplemental materials to be used in the application process. The exact nature of the material depends upon your area of specialization (group exercise instructor vs. health club manager vs. exercise physiologist at a cardiac rehab) and your job search objective. Traditionally, portfolios have been used by artists, but they are now being employed by a variety of occupations. They allow you the chance to showcase and prove your talent and qualification for a job. Many items can be included in your portfolio. It is important to remember that quality is more important than quantity, so include samples of your best work. You can maintain your portfolio in a professional binder, album, or traditional portfolio holder found at art or office supply stores (again, remember to keep professional looking; resist the temptation to have it look like a personal scrapbook). Your portfolio is a living dynamic document so remember to keep it fresh and to routinely add to it throughout the course of your career.

What to include in your professional portfolio:

• Documentation of education and training
• Brochures describing training events, workshops, etc.
• Certificates
• Transcripts and evaluations from professors
• Samples of work produced (ie. papers, projects, sample medical record documentation)
• Group exercise class description
• YouTube link to a class you have taught
• Samples of education materials developed
• Samples of professional articles written
• Professional journal articles published
• Evidence of general work performance
• List of community service projects
• Job descriptions
• Performance evaluations/review
• Resume
• Honors and awards
• Letters of reference
• Evidence of participation in professional organizations
• Evidence of customer/client satisfaction or testimonials
• Evidence of written communication skills, public speaking skills, leadership and team building skills, and problem solving skills