Center for LifeWork Imaging

Presents

Your Life Work Portfolio

Adapted from The Life Work Portfolio

Developed by The Maine Occupational Information Coordinating Committee

Under a grant from

The National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee

Stephen D. Thompson, Managing Editor of Web Publications, TheCenter4.com

Greetings from Hallowell, Maine! In a recent telephone conversation with Burt Carlson from NOICC, I expressed my interest in developing a web based version of the Life Work Portfolio for Adults. Burt encouraged me to move forward. The web version of the Life Work Portfolio follows the outline of the NOICC publication. Probably due to my own limitations with HTML editing, I changed some formats to checklist with rated scales. This version was created with Perseus' Survey Solutions for the Web. Individuals who complete this online portfolio should print out each portfolio section before submitting the portfolio to TheCenter4. I will simply return the data in an e-mail. If a person would like me to take this information and format it into reports with comments, e-mail me so that we can discuss a fee for service. Ideally, these forms would be programmed within the context of user accounts and interactive databases. In the near future a generic career to educational institutions data gathering form will be made available to individuals at TheCenter4.com. Enjoy your time reviewing The NOICC Life Work Portfolio for Adults -- Helping Others Create Realistic Alternatives for Tomorrow!

The Life Work Portfolio

The Life Work Portfolio provides a step-by-step process to help you plan your life work. It is also a place to record and store infomration about your values, skills, ideas and dreams, and to set goals and develop plans for your future.

This is your portfolio. You create this ongoing record of your achievements, skills, experiences, and goals. You research career options and set career goals. You commit the time to reflect on yourself and your life and work. It may take a day, a week, or a month to gather together the details of our life work and arrange them in your portfolio. Take the time. It will be a worthwhile investment in your future.

You will probably be changing occupations several times in your lifetime. not only will you be changing, but the world of work will continue to change rapidly. Part of you responsibility is to keep track of the changes that will affect your career. You will want to keep up-to-date information about yourself and your skills so that you will be rady to meet changes as they come.

Your portfolio can help you stay current, get ready to write a resume, complete job applications, write cover letters, and prepare for interviews. You would not give your portfolio to an employer, because it contains personal material. You will be able to use your portfolio as your life changes and you make new decisions. Keep adding new information that will help you each time you need to make a career move.

As you respond to the portfolio sections, your replies should be just as long or short as you see fit. Your answers don't even have to be written! Draw a picture or diagram. Include an audio tape of your thoughts, or include words to a song that has meaning to you. Put in an example of something you have done. Do what makes sense to you as you think about your life and work.

The web-based version of the Life Work Portfolio provides you with data input forms. In concert with the electronic version of your responses, you will also need to keep a physical file in a filing cabinet or notebook.

The NOICC Life Work Portfolio:

Section 1 -- Who I AM

Section 2 -- Exploring

Section 3 -- Deciding

Section 4 -- Planning & Acting

Direct questions to Stephen Thompson -- stevet@thecenter4.com

Developers and advisors of the Life Work Portfolio included Catherine H. Van Dyke, Judith Hoppin, Nancy Perry, Denis Fortier, Dick Mesereau, Theresa Mudgett, Zark Van Vandt, Eloise Vitelli, Eileen McIntire, Ginny Riser, Ernestine Montgomery, and Linda Vandrell. NOICC staff advisors were Burton Carlson and Mary Sue Vickers. Initial concepts for the Life Work Portfolio were developed at the 1993 MOICC Summer Conference. Conference facilitators included Cal Crow, Cynthia S. Johnson, Kay Brawley, William Stone and William Webb.