Purpose: Compiling your portfolio prepares you for job or graduate school applications and helps you reflect on your career goals and your CPP experience. Once you submit your portfolio, CPP reviewers (faculty and staff at the University) will review your work and provide valuable feedback, helping you further polish your portfolio.

Part A

Portfolio content

1. Cover page and table of contents

The cover page should contain your full name, contact information, and indicate that you are a CPP Associate. You may add a brief personal statement, like a “one-minute elevator introduction” that highlights your credentials, academics or research, and goals. The table of contents should outline the information within your portfolio.

2. Resume

Include a current version of your resume (1-2 pages). Ensure it reflects your education, work experience, areas of expertise, skills, publications, and awards. For guidance, see the Career Services “Resumes” resource. VMock is available for a quick resume review, and appointments with Career Services are also available for resume help and other career planning needs.

3. Personal statement

The personal statement (1 page) is a common requirement for Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU), fellowships, and graduate school applications. Include information about your academic journey, relevant work experience, and career goals, and highlight your personal characteristics and skills. Consider the program or organization you plan to apply to and their mission and goals: What will you bring to the program? Why should the reviewer choose you? For guidance, see the “Writing Personal Statements” resource from the Center for Fellowship & Scholarship Advising.

4. Career plan

The career plan is a map for your professional future. Identify your career goals and draft an actionable path to achieve them, with specific, clearly defined objectives for each goal and anticipated completion dates. For guidance, see the “Class Year” resource from Career Services and the “Make a Career Plan” resource from MIT Career Advising & Professional Development.

Part B

Reflection

5. Critical reflection on your experience as a CPP Associate

Briefly outline the CPP events you attended (and any additional events outside WiSE that you attended for CPP credit). Discuss which activities you found most useful, as well as any that were not useful and why. Finally, reflect on how your participation in CPP made a difference for you personally, academically, and professionally.

Guidelines

Format and submission

Format and presentation: All portfolio material should conform to your field’s accepted standards for margins, line spacing, fonts, and font sizes. Approach your portfolio with the aim to impress the reader, as if writing a formal paper. Neat, concise, and easy-to-read materials receive more time and attention from reviewers.

Submission: Submit your portfolio as one PDF to suwise@syr.edu with the subject line “CPP Portfolio.” You must submit before the due date and complete at least 5 CPP credits to receive your stipend and certificate.