Chapter 6: Your Professional DNA
Building a Portfolio You're Proud Of—Before You Need It
Build evidence AS you work, not when you need it.
The Camera They Wouldn't Buy Me
The library wouldn't purchase a camera for their Communications Coordinator.
So I used my personal phone.
Every event. Every partnership visit. Every community moment. Every success. Documented on my device.
When I left, I walked away with 2+ years of portfolio content they essentially paid me to create.
Jokes on them.
But here's the deeper truth: I didn't realize how much I would rely on that content already being built so I could make swift actions that are real and true and honest and of value to me throughout the entire job search process.
Build evidence AS you work, not when you need it.
You can't manufacture authenticity in a crisis. When you need to prove your value during a job search, you don't want to be scrambling to remember what you did, exaggerating or embellishing, creating fake case studies, or wishing you had documentation.
You want it ready. Real. True. Honest.
The Portfolio Timeline (How This Actually Works)
I started building my portfolio in 2023, not because I was job searching, but because I completed Google's UX Certification and they taught me that a portfolio is how you keep your work and showcase your skills. I didn't know I'd need it for applications two years later. I just believed in the work I was doing and wanted to document it.
That's the key: Build the portfolio while you're doing work you're proud of, not when you're desperate to prove yourself.
Here's how it unfolded:
December 2023: Whiteboard planning (I still have the photo)
2023-2024: Built mariagaluppoportfolio.com while employed
August 2025: Job search began with portfolio READY
Result: 14% interview rate on aligned roles
When I finally needed it for job applications, I had 2+ years of documented results. I wasn't inventing evidence—I was sharing work I'd been building all along.
The Brag Bag Method
Before you can build a portfolio, you need raw material. That's where the brag bag comes in.
Monthly Practice:
Set a recurring reminder (I do mine on the 1st of each month)
Write down EVERYTHING you accomplished
Save it somewhere accessible
Use it for performance reviews, applications, portfolio updates
Why it works:
You're not scrambling to remember achievements when you need them
You're documenting in real-time when details are fresh
You're building evidence AS you work, not after
This was something I do once a month—I have a reminder set to write down everything I did the past month, all of my accomplishments, so I could easily have it saved for my performance reviews and beyond.
And then I would say start to have fun with the opportunities you have in front of you! Life is all about making the most out of what you have and continuing to grow.
Your Unique Combination IS the Value
What makes someone hireable isn't one thing—it's the unique COMBINATION of:
Technical skills + Soft skills
Industry experience + Transferable insights
Personal values + Professional approach
My combination:
Virgo Sun: Analytical precision, attention to detail
Cancer Rising: Nurturing approach, making people feel cared for
Pisces Midheaven: Visionary career path, creative expression
Scorpio Moon: Emotional depth, transformation
You don't have to use astrology. But you DO need a framework for understanding what makes YOU different—and how to position that difference as value.
The key insight: I only applied to jobs if Claude said that I not only qualify but it also matches my cosmic blueprint.
The 9 Signature Stories
Every professional has signature stories—moments where their unique combination showed up in action. Here are mine:
The Crisis Communicator — Pride Month controversy → 10,000+ positive engagements
The Data Whisperer — Email transformation 31% → 52%
The Systems Builder — 100% voluntary Canva adoption across 150+ staff
The Partnership Architect — 30+ businesses, 100% retention
The Community Catalyst — 100-year anniversary, 95,000+ engaged
The Foundation — Rolling Green Turf Care, 25 years of family values
The Collaborative Designer — Wellness/Figma, 85% participation
The Behind-the-Camera Leader — Building frameworks where others shine
The Creative Consultant — Feeding screen work with real-world inspiration
I had so many stories to tell. And I knew they would be relevant for different roles. I really do have a lot of skills, and I wanted to showcase them effectively to the right people.
I don't like to be in the spotlight but I am more than happy and proud to put my work out there because I always try my best in everything I do and that does translate into my work.
How to Find the Stories You Don't Know You Have
"But Maria, I don't have 9 stories."
Yes you do. You just haven't named them yet.
Step 1: The "People Always Ask Me" Exercise
Write down the answers to these questions:
What do coworkers always come to you for help with?
What problems do people assume you can solve?
What do you do that others say "I could never do that"?
Step 2: The "Before & After" Audit
List every project where something CHANGED because of you:
What was broken/missing/struggling BEFORE you got involved?
What was different AFTER?
What specific numbers can you attach?
Format: "I took [thing] from [before state] to [after state]"
Step 3: The "Crisis Moment" Inventory
Think about times when things went WRONG and you helped fix them:
A PR situation that could have been bad
A project that was failing before you stepped in
A team conflict you helped resolve
A deadline that seemed impossible
These are often your most powerful stories because they show how you think under pressure.
Step 4: The "I Did This Without Being Asked" List
What have you built, fixed, or improved that wasn't technically your job?
Systems you created because you saw a gap
Processes you streamlined because inefficiency bothered you
Relationships you built because you believed in collaboration
These show INITIATIVE—one of the most valuable qualities employers look for.
Step 5: Name Them
Once you have your list, give each story a 2-3 word title:
"The [Role You Played]" — The Crisis Communicator, The Systems Builder
"The [Transformation You Created]" — The Data Whisperer, The Community Catalyst
"The [Philosophy You Embody]" — The Partnership Architect, The Behind-the-Camera Leader
Naming makes them REAL. Once a story has a title, you can reference it, remember it, and deploy it strategically.
The Video Case Study Breakthrough
After sending my elevator pitch to countless potential employers, I realized something:
I was telling them about my results but not showing them the journey.
That's when everything changed.
I created a video case study series—nine 60-second videos, each showcasing a different facet of my work. Not to brag. To prove.
Here's what most people miss: I didn't create NEW content for the job search. I REPACKAGED content I'd already built. The portfolio case studies became video scripts. Same stories. Different format. Exponentially more impact.
"You don't need to invent achievements for your job search. You need to MARKET the achievements you've already earned."
Most people think: "I need to DO more to be hireable."
My system proves: "I need to SHOW what I've already done—in formats that land."
That was intentional from the start! The videos were pretty easy for me to make because I have experience in it, I had Claude write the script in my job hunt project chat, and I already had the content ready to throw together! The voice over took time to record and edit it all together but I could throw one together in probably 4 hours total.
The Bridge to Chapter 7
Now you have your stories. You have your portfolio. You have evidence of who you are and what you've accomplished.
But how do you actually PACKAGE it all for each application?
That's what Chapter 7 is about: the tactical how-to of creating application materials that get responses. How to tailor a resume without starting from scratch every time. How to write cover letters that actually sound like you. How to choose which story to lead with for each role.
Chapter 5 gave you the system. This chapter gave you the foundation. Chapter 7 gives you the execution.
The Mindset Underneath the System
All because I know what I'm capable of and have always known—I just need one person to trust me and to take a chance on me because I know I can do it! And when I trust myself, there is no failing.
I learned that in my time at the library. Anytime an issue would come up, I immediately was always calm because I always trusted my work. I know I have good intentions and I work hard and meticulously. And all humans make mistakes.
So I continued to build everything to get me to this point—not only being recognized by industry leaders globally but being taken seriously for who I am and what I bring to this world and the impact I'm capable of making.
"I always believe in leaving a place better than when I found it."
That philosophy drove everything—the sustainable systems I built at the library, the frameworks I created that empowered others, and now the workbook I'm writing to help my 8 people avoid the pain I went through.
YOUR TURN
AI Prompt to Use:
"Help me identify my signature stories. Based on what I've shared about my experience—the projects I've worked on, the problems I've solved, the transformations I've created—what patterns do you see? What would you name my top 5-7 signature stories?"
Your Professional DNA Map:
My Core Strengths (the skills that feel effortless):
1. _________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________
My Natural Communication Style:
I explain complex things by: _________________________________
People describe my communication as: _________________________
My Professional Presence:
First impressions I create: __________________________________
What people come to me for: ________________________________
My Signature Stories:
1. _________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________
4. _________________________________________________
5. _________________________________________________
My Professional DNA Statement:
"I am a _______________ who helps _______________ by _______________. I thrive in environments that value _______________ and _______________. My unique combination is _______________."
Remember: You don't need to invent achievements. You need to MARKET the achievements you've already earned. Document your work AS you do it, not when you need to sell it. Your stories are already there. You just need to name them.
