Many people believe and feel that since they are happy in their current position that a professional portfolio is unnecessary. Portfolios today, especially in the job market are essential; however, there are a number of different reasons to have a portfolio, hence, there are a number of different types of portfolios.

Portfolios do the same thing for teachers as they do for students:

• Many school boards across the province are requiring that teachers maintain portfolios. Most school boards require applicants for supervisory or administrative positions to submit a portfolio.
• Research has shown that portfolios capture the complexities of teaching and learning and are innovative evaluation tools.
• They can be dynamic assessments of teacher performance, based on many sources of evidence collected over time in authentic settings.
• They provide a window into the educator's head and heart.
• They allow educators to present a rich array of information that best represents their professional personas.
• Portfolios allow for self-directed learning and encourage educators to examine and reflect upon their own teaching practices.
• Portfolios foster learning about learning.
• They demonstrate progress towards goals.
• They intersect instruction and assessment.
• Portfolios allow educators to shape readers' perceptions by selecting the types of information that will be included and by presenting the information from their own point of view.
• They can help educators provide a professional image that simply does not come through from more traditional sources of information.