TY - JOUR
T1 - Enhancing graduate employability through targeting ePortfolios to employer expectations
T2 - A systematic scoping review
AU - Mitchell, Lana
AU - Campbell, Chris
AU - Somerville, Mari
AU - Cardell, Elizabeth
AU - Williams, Lauren T.
N1 - Includes bibliographical references
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Electronic portfolios (ePortfolios) are increasingly being used in university degrees to showcase graduate employability. However, evidence on employers’ views and use of ePortfolios has not been synthesised. This study aimed to systematically review the evidence on employer, industry representative and university educator views on the use of ePortfolios in recruiting graduates, including recommended ePortfolio content. Six databases were searched to identify original research on views and utilisation of ePortfolios published since 2000. Studies were screened in duplicate, and the full texts of 163 articles reviewed. Included studies were synthesised to reveal common themes. The 17 included studies represented a range of industries and most were conducted in the USA (n=10). Awareness of ePortfolios was low, as was use within recruitment. Perceived advantages of ePortfolios in recruitment included showcasing key skills/work; ability to comprehensively assess and differentiate between candidates quickly; and accessibility. The main disadvantages were the time taken to review, excessive information and establishing authenticity. Recommended ePortfolios content included samples of professional work, reflections, videos and photos. Inclusion of typical resume content, work experience, skills, transcripts, certificates, references, supervisor evaluations were important, as was a clear and concise structure.
AB - Electronic portfolios (ePortfolios) are increasingly being used in university degrees to showcase graduate employability. However, evidence on employers’ views and use of ePortfolios has not been synthesised. This study aimed to systematically review the evidence on employer, industry representative and university educator views on the use of ePortfolios in recruiting graduates, including recommended ePortfolio content. Six databases were searched to identify original research on views and utilisation of ePortfolios published since 2000. Studies were screened in duplicate, and the full texts of 163 articles reviewed. Included studies were synthesised to reveal common themes. The 17 included studies represented a range of industries and most were conducted in the USA (n=10). Awareness of ePortfolios was low, as was use within recruitment. Perceived advantages of ePortfolios in recruitment included showcasing key skills/work; ability to comprehensively assess and differentiate between candidates quickly; and accessibility. The main disadvantages were the time taken to review, excessive information and establishing authenticity. Recommended ePortfolios content included samples of professional work, reflections, videos and photos. Inclusion of typical resume content, work experience, skills, transcripts, certificates, references, supervisor evaluations were important, as was a clear and concise structure.
KW - employability
KW - employers
KW - ePortfolio
KW - graduate
KW - recruitment
KW - resume
UR - https://ojs.deakin.edu.au/index.php/jtlge/about
U2 - 10.21153/JTLGE2021VOL12NO2ART1003
DO - 10.21153/JTLGE2021VOL12NO2ART1003
M3 - Article
SN - 1838-3815
VL - 12
SP - 82
EP - 98
JO - Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability
JF - Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability
IS - 2
ER -