Call for Submissions

ERAU Student ePortfolio Call for Submissions

Showcase your best work, demonstrate hands-on experience, and prepare for interviews by creating an online portfolio geared toward employers!

ERAU’s Student ePortfolio Contest is described below.

What is an ePortfolio?

A professional ePortfolio is an online collection of academic, extracurricular, and professional projects and activities. When used for networking purposes, it can function as a résumé with evidence.

Who is eligible to submit an ePortfolio?

All students are eligible. First and second prizes valued at $100 and $50, respectively, will be awarded to students in each of the following groups:

  • Worldwide undergraduate students
  • Daytona Beach undergraduate students
  • Prescott undergraduate students
  • Graduate students from all campuses

When is the deadline?

Submit your ePortfolio by 11:59 PM Eastern time on Friday, April 5.

Where can I submit my ePortfolio?

You can submit your ePortfolio here between February 12 and the April 5 deadline.

How do I create my ePortfolio?

Create your ePortfolio in Portfolium. Portfolium is Embry-Riddle’s new ePortfolio tool. You can access it through your Canvas account, add to it throughout your time at Embry-Riddle, and continue to use it after you graduate. See the Portfolium User Guide for step-by-step instructions.

What does a successful ePortfolio look like?

Effective ePortfolios can take a variety of forms depending on their audience and purpose. Three examples of effective ePortfolios are linked below. You can find additional examples by clicking “Discover” in Portfolium.

How will my ePortfolio be evaluated?

Your ePortfolio will be evaluated based on content and delivery. Because effective content and delivery vary according to one’s industry, audience, and purpose, you’ll need to provide some background information about your professional goals and intended audience when you submit the ePortfolio.

Evaluation criteria and suggestions for satisfying those criteria are below. All suggestions for content and delivery were drawn from conversations with employers in a variety of fields at the Fall 2023 Career Expo on ERAU’s Daytona Beach Campus.

The three criteria are listed below with suggestions for how to fulfill each criterion.

1. Background: The submitter provides sufficient background information about the writer’s target industry, audience, and purpose.

The form you will complete to submit your ePortfolio will prompt you to provide the following information: 

  • What is your major?
  • What kind of work do you want to do in the future?
  • Is there a particular industry you would like to work in?
  • Are there certain companies you want to work for?
  • Where or with whom might you share your ePortfolio?

2. Content: The portfolio provides readers with relevant information and excludes irrelevant information.

Below are some things employers want to see in job materials. Keep in mind that these are only suggestions. Depending on your industry, audience, and purpose, some of these may not be relevant to you. Similarly, this is not an exhaustive list, so you may include other content that fits your purpose.

  • Introduction: Include a brief introduction in the profile section that describes your career experience and interests.
  • Project Work Experience: Employers want candidates who can apply what they learned in class to real-world projects. Here are some ways to demonstrate that ability:

    • Describe or show hands-on projects completed in clubs, organizations, competition teams, on your own, in class (group or individual), or on the job.
    • Show projects with photos and videos. Show corrections made to projects even after grade has been awarded (if applicable).
    • Eliminate irrelevant work experience.
    • Write about, document, or showcase a journey with an academic competition team
    • List or show presentations given at national conferences.
    • Provide relevant licenses and security clearances.
  • Teamwork: Employers want to know that employees can communicate well face-to-face and work in a team. Here are some ways to demonstrate those skills:
  • Identify team projects you’ve worked on.
  • Note if you have served as a project leader.
  • Talk about the importance of your role on teams where you did not serve as a leader. What did you bring to the team? All roles are important, and employers want to see what you learned and if you can communicate growth and learning.
  • Provide team member evaluations of your performance if they are available.
  • Practical Work Experience (Co-ops and Internships/Other (job shadowing):
    • You can demonstrate this with an internship final report, performance evaluations, letters of recommendation, videos of final presentations, and/ or team member evaluations.
  • Career objective: To find the best placement for you, employers need to understand what roles best fit your personality. One way to provide that information is to identify not only the job you’re interested in but what aspects of it interest you. For example, are you interested in gaining deep knowledge or leading teams? Do you want to design engine parts or analyze them?
  • Extracurricular interests
    • For aspiring airline pilots: Airline recruiters would like to see candidates list their non-flight-related, non-leadership activities and interests because cabin crews need to spend a lot of time together, and they need to be well-rounded people who can talk about things other than flight. One way to provide that information is to identify interests outside of aviation so that your potential co-workers can get to know you.
    • For other entry-level candidates: Similarly, employers want candidates to be themselves and want to get to know your interests outside of your academic discipline. Include extra-curricular activities that show a well-rounded person.
  • Publications, if applicable: Include the information below:
    • Where was it published?
    • Date of publication
    • Publication title
    • How many downloads (if available)

    • 3. Delivery. The portfolio delivers information in a way that is suitable for the audience and purpose. 

    Effective delivery varies according to the audience, their industry, and your purpose. Here are a few qualities employers said they look for in job materials’ delivery of information:

    • Everyone
      • Organize your profile into sections with headings
        • In each section, include links to relevant projects
      • List work experience in reverse chronological order
      • Make sure the portfolio and all materials in it are easy to navigate
      • Use proper punctuation and spelling
      • Use correct terminology
      • Make your profile section visually appealing with carefully selected images
    • Aspiring pilots
      • Always list flight hours and/or technical skills at the top of the resume
      • List flight simulator hours separately as well as in total hours

    Show who you are through your unique e-portfolio!  Be creative and mostly, be yourself!

    Submit your ePortfolio