I've recently saw somebody else ask this question "Do you have a Business Analyst portfolio?"
Given the current economic conditions this is a great question since now is the time for all of us to build our brands and to distinguish ourselves from the rest of the bunch.
So what would a "Business Analyst Portfolio" look like, here are some thoughts:
What do you guys think?
- Adrian
(Crickets chirping...)
Actually, this sounds like a very effective way to represent yourself before, during, and between interviews. Given that a resume so rarely is able to capture a candidates true value, it seems to me that a tool like this would be a great way to really expand the static information that is available to other parties who are interested in what you do.
I wish I had though to be building a portfolio of my best work throughout the years. The thought of building one now for a job search that I'm trying to manage concurrently with 2 part-time jobs is almost overwhelming.
I'd like to hear from recruiter-types to see if they think a pared down resume plus an addendum (such as a link to a website) to the candidates portfolio would be useful and effective.
Today, as soon as a resume hit's my inbox I check them out on linkedin. I look to see if they know anyone I know and scan the feedback they've received. I'll also check out their websites if they have any.
My experience with resumes that pass through recruiters is that they can often have the applicant's pesonality filterred out (by changing the content and format of the application to a generic standard. So it is great to be able to see past what gets 'sold' to me.
Adrian,
Good and timely suggestion. I'm paranoid enough about my memory, never knowing when I'll forget what projects I worked on or what my role in a certain project was, that I've always maintained a list of work done in the organizations I've worked for. Some of this has slowly found its way into my resume under the Achievements section following a brief profile for each role, but its impossible to do your own work justice. A lot gets eaten up or simply never stated and its impossible to remember every project you've done.
Putting it on paper for me serves as a reminder, and essentially, this is my porfolio. I'm not sure if publishing this on a blog would be a good idea - you may offend former employess perhaps? Not sure.
Craig, excellent point about Linkedin. I have found it to be an invaluable tool. In the same way that would look at a candidates online profile after viewing their resume, I would also review the profile of the person I'm due to interview with. On occassion this has helped me ask the right kind of question and set a good impression.
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