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