Introduction – Keeping a reflective journal and building a portfolio are essential for personal and professional development – They help you pause and reflect on your experiences, learn from your mistakes, and showcase your accomplishments

Benefits of Keeping a Reflective Journal – Develop self-awareness and emotional intelligence – See the bigger picture emerge from the detail – Identify areas for improvement and set goals – Improve critical thinking and problem-solving skills – Enhance creativity and innovation – Boost confidence and self-esteem

Steps to Keep a Reflective Journal – Set aside scheduled quiet time for reflection – Decide on the format (paper or digital) – Write regularly, openly and honestly – Use prompts to guide your reflection (What did I learn? What could I have done better? What would I avoid next time?) – Review and regularly reflect on your entries (How do they make me feel?)

Reflective Journal Prompts – What makes me or this situation unique? – Who supported me and means a lot to me and why? – Write this to my younger or older self. – How does this help my well-being, development and for those around me? – How does this make me feel, lifted or weighed down? – List 10 things about this that make me smile. – What did I learn most that I’ll use next time?

5Rs of Reflection – Reporting, Responding, Relating, Reasoning, and Reconstructing

Benefits of Building a Portfolio – Showcases your skills, achievements, and experiences – Demonstrates your creativity, innovation, and problem-solving abilities – Provides tangible, real-world evidence of your professional growth and development – Helps you stand out from the crowd in job applications and interviews

Steps to Build a Portfolio – Determine the purpose of your portfolio (job search, personal growth) – Choose the format (physical or digital) – Gather materials (work samples, certificates, testimonials, screen grabs) – Organise your portfolio (by skill, timeline or project) – Continuously update and refine your portfolio – Add your showreel highlights to your CV

Tips for Success – Be honest and authentic in your reflection and portfolio – Seek feedback from others to improve your skills and portfolio – Set career goals and use your reflection and portfolio to track your progress with real examples – Be open to learning and growth opportunities – Take the highlights into your Linkedin profile and keep continuously fresh

Secret Tips – Align your portfolio to support your IKIGAI – Use the technique of manifestation to attract and spot examples of your goals and aspirations becoming reality around you

Conclusion – Keeping a reflective journal and building a portfolio are essential for personal and professional development – They help you pause and reflect on your experiences, learn from your mistakes, and showcase your accomplishments – By following these steps and tips, you can create a powerful tool for your personal and professional growth

This webinar is part of the support that Cambridge Marketing College gives in its apprenticeships programme