Some career opportunities or graduate school applications may require you to submit a personal statement or a diversity statement. A personal statement provides an opportunity to communicate your career goals and vision and to set yourself apart from other candidates; a diversity statement is usually aimed at establishing whether your understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion meshes with that of the organization, and how you would further those ideals in the role.
Consider creating a portfolio of your work to showcase your skills and achievements to potential employers. A portfolio is especially important if you are seeking employment in product design and development, architecture, mechanical engineering, web development, and similar careers.
Build your portfolio from projects you've completed in classes, internships, co-ops, extracurricular activities, and other professional and creative pursuits. When showcasing a project in your portfolio, include elements such as:
Some tools you can use to create a portfolio include:
Developed from O'Brien Center, An In-Depth Look at Searching for Internships