COURSE DOCUMENTS | EPORTFOLIO | Writing Your Introduction

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This is where you introduce yourself to the people who are viewing your site. You should tell a little bit about your past, your present and your future. Identity one or two important events, activities or achievements that have influenced your career goals. Remember your audience and keep your information professional at all times.

It is important in writing material for use in your ePortfolio to make your writing convincing to employers and/or graduate or professional schools.

It is best if you clearly separate the descriptions of important achievements, experiences and opportunities in your life from the reflections on the meanings of these experiences. The greatest good comes when you write about the impacts of these activities on your life and especially on your career. If you only describe what you've done, no matter how earthshaking it is, it leaves the reader to guess at its importance to you and your career. Your writing must be convincing, in that the reader has to see how your experiences directly relate to preparing you for the position or admission to graduate/professional school.

A good place to look at Professional introduction and Job Seeker profiles is at the AIGA website.

Here is a good example:

I recently graduated from George Mason University earning a Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Graphic Design. I am excited to utilize my education and experience to create in a client-based atmosphere. I am proficient in Photoshop, Illustrator, QuarkXPress, InDesign, and Flash MX.

I am a self-motivated person who enjoys challenge. I work exceptionally well in a team and do not fear having to formulate an opinion, ask a question or take the lead. I am very enthusiastic about learning new approaches to design and thrive on the dynamic nature of creative expression.

I have an exceptional eye for aesthetic beauty, simplicity, and functionality. Having lived half my life in Peru and half in the United States has broadened my understanding of culture. I believe this understanding to be a great asset in the art of visual communication.

MORE:

The Introduction is an exercise in self-reflection. To do this well requires many drafts, revisions, and false starts. Self-reflection is the first step. Ask yourself, "What am I looking for?" and "What do I want to do?", and think about your answers in ideal terms. "What is the connection between my academic work and my interests outside of classes?" Such questions are fundamental yet too often forgotten. Perhaps you already have found your life's passion, but if you are like most people, you are taking the courses and projects that you like, in a major that you hope will help you to find a good job, and thinking vaguely about a career that will bring you wealth and happiness. So, ask yourself questions like these:

Ask yourself to put your deepest convictions into words, to step outside yourself, to think about where you came from, where you are standing now, and what your ultimate destination might be. You will be challenged to justify yourself by making connections between your academic and other interests. Simply put, who are you, and who do you want to be? While this is a personal process the final paragraph(s) should be professional.

Here are some do's and don'ts to help you write your introduction.