Work samples are a valuable selling tool to take with you to
a job interview. Use them to:
- Provide evidence of work that you have done
- Illustrate your skills and abilities
- Show the quality of your work
Examples of work samples
The work samples that you show in a job interview will depend
on your occupation. Here are some ideas of what to include in your portfolio of work
samples:
| If you are looking for a job as: |
You could include: |
| An artist |
Photographs of your paintings, illustrations,
sculptures, etc. |
| A photographer |
Copies of your photographs. |
| A dancer, actor, musician |
Video and audio tapes of your work. |
| A journalist, reporter,
copywriter, technical writer, or other writer |
Copies of your published works. |
| A chef or baker |
Photographs of your culinary creations. |
| A tailor or seamstress |
Pictures of the clothing that you
have produced (and wear your own creations on the job interview). |
| Office support staff |
Brochures, reports, newsletters,
spreadsheets, and other examples of work that you have completed. |
| Facilitator or trainer |
Copies of presentation or training
materials, participant evaluations, and video tapes of your presentations |
| Multimedia specialist |
Copies of multimedia programs that
you have created |
Source: Creative
Job Search, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic
Development.
Page last updated in May 2004.