The Final Decision

Two questions remain: Do e-portfolios have an effect on the hiring process? Is it worthwhile to make one? 

The answer to the first question is yes, e-portfolios have an effect on the hiring process. It can be used to differentiate applicants from one another and to demonstrate an applicant’s writing ability. In addition, it can be used in many different parts of the hiring process. It can help to pre-screen potential candidates, or it can be used as a differentiator when choosing between two possible applicants. (McMillan, Parker, & Sport, 2014). Therefore, it does have an effect on the hiring process, and this effect may only grow larger in the future. 

The answer to the second question, however, is more complicated. On one hand, an e-portfolio can be a source of competitive advantage for applicants. (McMillan, Parker, & Sport, 2014). However, many employers are not using e-portfolios yet, which means you could put in a lot of work for very little payoff. (Ward & Moser, 2008)

Ultimately, however, it will likely be worthwhile for you to create an e-portfolio. It will give you an edge with the employers who do accept them right now, and it will make sure you are prepared for those who do in the future. With technology always changing, new hiring methods could soon be developed that make e-portfolios easier to access, thereby increasing their importance in the hiring process. 

If you’re already prepared for that, then you will be one step ahead of all the other applicants. 

REFERENCES 

McMillan, L., Parker, F., & Sport, A. (2014). Decisions, decisions! E-portfolio as an effective hiring assessment tool. Nursing Management,45, 52-54. Retrieved October 15, 2015, from

http://journals.lww.com/nursingmanagement/Fulltext/2014/04000/Decisions,_decisions__E_portfolio_as_an_effective.11.aspx

Ward, C., & Moser, C. (2008, November 17). E-Portfolios As A Hiring Tool: Do Employers Really Care? Retrieved October 15, 2015, from http://er.educause.edu/articles/2008/11/eportfolios-as-a-hiring-tool-do-employers-really-care

Image Source: https://blog.plista.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/recommendations.jpg

Making An Effective E-Portfolio

If you are going to make an e-portfolio, then it must be effective. Handing a possible employer a bad e-portfolio could be worse than simply giving them your résumé. Employers will be looking for specific things, and if you don’t have them, then your e-portfolio will be passed over just as easily as another person’s résumé. If you do have them, though, then it could make a very large impact on whether you land that interview or not.

So, what are some things you should include in an e-portfolio? According to Fitchburg State University, there are three critical things: your resume, transcript, and some letters of recommendation (Creating An Effective Portfolio, n.d.).

1. Résumé 

The ultimate purpose of an e-portfolio is to get you a job or at least an interview, so your resume needs to be included. You need to “feature your name in bold or make it stand out in some way. Your address and phone number should be easy to find.” (Creating An Effective Portfolio, n.d.). If an employer doesn’t know who you are or how to contact you, then you won’t be getting a call from them. 

2. Transcript

This may be more important for students just entering the workforce than for those who already have work experience, but good grades can always help you get an interview.

3. Letters of Recommendation

Fitchburg University recommends having between 3 and 7 up-to date letters in your portfolio at a time (Creating An Effective Portfolio, n.d.). This can be a good way to showcase your ability to work with others and give some examples of things you’ve done before even getting the interview. It shows that people are willing to recommend you, and that can give employers a push in the right direction. 

Some other things you can include are: samples from a work experience, classroom assignments, certificates of programs you’ve completed, designations you have, and many more. The versatility of the e-portfolio is probably it's greatest asset. You never know what might grab an employer’s attention and get them to give you a call!

REFERENCES

Creating An Effective Portfolio. (n.d.). Fitchburg State University. Retrieved October 15, 2015, from http://www.fitchburgstate.edu/offices/student-services/career-services/creating-an-effective-portfolio/

Image Source: http://www.careerrocketeer.com/wp-content/uploads/Recommendation-Letters.jpg

A Look Into The Future

Right now, many employers are still not using e-portfolios. After a survey of 5,310 employers, a few reasons were identified to explain why employers are not using e-portfolios. Some of the reasons stated included costs and time constraints, but the overwhelming majority of them said that they simply weren’t familiar with e-portfolios yet! (Ward & Moser, 2008)

E-portfolios are still a relatively new development. They have been used in educational settings for a while, but they have only begun to be used in the hiring process within the last few years. Therefore, many employers may not have encountered them yet. However, they have many great advantages and can help improve the screening process. As more people become aware of them through word of mouth or support from Universities, more employers will begin seeing the importance of them in the hiring process. 

In addition, many companies are still resistant to new technologies and hiring practices, but as time goes on, they may become more accepting of different techniques. As new technologies are developed, especially in the area of human resources management, then the problems of costs and time constraints may diminish as well. “The impact of technology . . . has enabled HR to decrease its involvement in transactional (administrative) activities” (Dessler, Cole, & Chhinzer, 2014, p. 58). If this increasing technological trend continues, then hiring managers may find themselves with even more time to look at e-portfolios. 

In addition to that, if we see “further technical development and subsequent incorporation of e-portfolio related functions into recruitment-systems” (Strohmeier, 2010, p. 277), then we could also see a dramatic increase in e-portfolio acceptance in the future.

REFERENCES

Dessler, G., Cole, N., & Chhinzer, N. (2014). Human Resources Management In Canada (Canadian 12 ed.). Toronto, Ontario: Pearson.

Strohmeier, S. (2010). Electronic Portfolios In Recruiting: A Conceptual Analysis Of Usage. Electronic Commerce Research,11, 268-280. Retrieved October 15, 2015, from http://web.csulb.edu/journals/jecr/issues/20104/Paper2.pdf

Ward, C., & Moser, C. (2008, November 17). E-Portfolios As A Hiring Tool: Do Employers Really Care? Retrieved October 15, 2015, from http://er.educause.edu/articles/2008/11/eportfolios-as-a-hiring-tool-do-employers-really-care

Limitations Of E-Portfolios

Despite the advantages that e-portfolios give to both employers and job seekers, there are still many limitations to their use. For example, according to Stefan Strohmeier, a “portfolio should be customized towards the specific organizational information needs”, but the “information requirements distinctly differ depending on specific jobs, organizations, and even recruiters” (2010, p. 271). 

This means that developing an e-portfolio may not be as easy as it appears at first, and it can be difficult to customize it, especially if you don’t have a lot of time and are applying for many different jobs. However, if you are applying to different organizations for a very specific job, then the process may be easier to standardize. 

Another issue that many employers might encounter while dealing with e-portfolios is the problem of authentication. Despite many laws and policies governing plagiarism, companies could still encounter “artifact fakes, artifact plagiarism, or artifact ‘ghost-writing’” (Strohmeier, 2010, p. 271). It can be difficult for employers to determine if what is in your e-portfolio is authentic and if they were truly your own work or accomplishments. This could make many employers hesitant to accept e-portfolios. However, changes in technology are making it easier than ever to check for things like plagiarism. 

Another limitation to e-portfolios is that they may never be seen by a hiring manager. In large organizations where a single job posting receives hundreds, or even thousands, of applicants, specific screening technology may be used. This technology may not take in to account the existence of an e-portfolio, and it may never even be seen. Situations like these make the actual application, cover letter, and résumé just as important as the e-portfolio. 

REFERENCES

Strohmeier, S. (2010). Electronic Portfolios In Recruiting: A Conceptual Analysis Of Usage. Electronic Commerce Research,11, 268-280. Retrieved October 15, 2015, from http://web.csulb.edu/journals/jecr/issues/20104/Paper2.pdf

Image Source: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/s3/s3_uploaded/ww_images/iStock_000017093886XSmall.jpg

Advantages Of An E-Portfolio

E-portfolios have many advantages for both employers and users. According to McMillan, Parker, and Sport, “a student-developed website clearly demonstrates web writing skills” (2014). It also demonstrates a good grasp of technology and can demonstrate significant marketing skills as well. While this may be more important in some industries rather than others, a demonstration of good writing skills is never a bad thing.

They also state that an e-portfolio can be used in multiple stages of the hiring process, such as to “prescreen candidates” or to use it closer to the final decision between candidates in order to help demonstrate “a job applicant’s characteristics and potential for career development” (McMillan, Parker, & Sport, 2014). There are many different spots in the hiring process that an e-portfolio can be used, making it extremely versatile. One could even argue that it is becoming more versatile and relevant than the résumé itself!

The e-portfolio also offers many advantages to the students using them. In a world where competition for jobs is fierce, “including the e-portfolio URL on business cards, a résumé, or a cover letter becomes a point of distinction for students and often a competitive advantage” (McMillan, Parker, & Sport, 2014). Even if employers don’t look for e-portfolios or don’t have time to look fully through all your work, simply having one available could show them that you’ve put in a lot of effort and truly want the job. It is something that could make you stick out from the hundreds of other résumés and cover letters that a hiring manager must look through.

REFERENCES

McMillan, L., Parker, F., & Sport, A. (2014). Decisions, decisions! E-portfolio as an effective hiring assessment tool. Nursing Management,45, 52-54. Retrieved October 15, 2015, from  http://journals.lww.com/nursingmanagement/Fulltext/2014/04000/Decisions,_decisions__E_portfolio_as_an_effective.11.aspx

Image Source: http://www.chitkara.edu.in/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/sample1.jpg

An Introduction To E-Portfolios

With today’s jobs becoming harder and harder to acquire, everyone is looking for a way to make their job applications stand out from everyone else’s. Recently, the rise of social media and other web-based recruitment technology has significantly changed the way people apply for jobs and the way companies hire new employees. However, in a world where there’s so many things to choose from and not enough time to commit to all of them, people are searching for different ways to stick out from the crowd.

One increasingly popular way to do so is an electronic portfolio, or e-portfolio. “An e-portfolio is a digitized collection of artifacts including demonstrations, resources, and accomplishments that represent an individual” (Lorenzo & Ittelson, 2005, p. 1). For students entering the workforce, some things that can be put into an e-portfolio include an online résumé, examples of their writing assignments or projects as well as samples of their previous work.

However, this doesn’t mean that an e-portfolio is the best option for everyone, or that it is even an effective way of applying for jobs. It can take a considerable amount of time to build an e-portfolio, and the effort required may not pay off. Depending on which industry you want to work in, building an e-portfolio may bring a greater payoff.

For the next few posts, I will explore whether or not e-portfolios actually have an effect on the hiring process, and whether it’s worthwhile for you to invest time in to making one. 

REFERENCES

Lorenzo, G., & Ittelson, J. (2005, July 1). An Overview Of E-Portfolios. Retrieved October 15, 2015 from https://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI3001.pdf 

Image Source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNe2-RAfkJ_Opjz1rd6tdqB-AHeMQGGevlMOAgl-crZtOvG2jFD1Q_vWIoaLHqh5d8q0Lg2RaHPGxuwFT9jYRw4K93uGKyPPvbzZkJigk9igoRyUdO0twPrKKM1Yh_9BQWNlFqo8Y6Wq4/s1600/Picture+4.png