Brag Book

What is a Brag Book?

A Brag Book is a portfolio, leave-behind, or interview presentation binder that job seekers use to showcase their accomplishments, document their educational credentials, training, and professional development, set themselves apart from other candidates, provide a prop for comfort during interviews, and allow for greater depth and detail about their qualifications than a resume alone.

Crafting Your Outstanding Brag Book

Creating a brag book involves gathering materials, organizing content, designing pages, and personalizing it for specific job applications. A digital version can be created for ease of sharing and updating. Items to include in a brag book can be categorized into education/training, work-related documentation, awards and honors, feedback/testimonials/endorsements, community or organizational involvement, and other documentation.

Essential Components of a Brag Book

• Education and training: Include transcripts, diplomas, certificates, and licenses.
• Work-related documentation: Showcase performance evaluations, work samples, authored papers, and sales information.
• Awards and honors: Add copies of awards, photos of events, and scholarships received.
• Feedback and endorsements: Incorporate thank you letters, recommendations, and LinkedIn endorsements.
• Community involvement: Highlight professional affiliations, clubs, and event organization.
• Additional documentation: Feature personal statements, resumes, career overviews, and presentation photos.

Brag Book vs. Resume: Unveiling the Differences

A resume is a concise, formal document that summarizes your education, work experience, skills, and achievements, typically limited to one or two pages. It is often the first impression you make on potential employers and is used to screen candidates for interviews.

On the other hand, a brag book is a more comprehensive and visual collection of your accomplishments, providing tangible evidence of your skills and impact. It can include various types of documentation, such as work samples, awards, and endorsements, and can be presented in both physical and digital formats.

Maximizing Impact: What Belongs in Your Brag Book?

To maximize the impact of your brag book, focus on including content that highlights your most significant achievements and showcases your skills. Consider the following categories:

1. Education and training: Include transcripts, certificates, diplomas, and licenses.
2. Work-related documentation: Add performance evaluations, work samples, authored papers, and sales information.
3. Awards and honors: Feature copies of awards, photos of events, and scholarships received.
4. Feedback and endorsements: Incorporate thank you letters, recommendations, and LinkedIn endorsements.
5. Community involvement: Emphasize professional affiliations, clubs, and event organization.
6. Additional documentation: Include personal statements, resumes, career overviews, and presentation photos.