With running errands for tasks for your University, there comes the need for certain documents on a day-to-day basis. Having them ready at hand can save you a million times, and yes I'm not joking. It does work great for me, to be honest. When I didn't have them ready, I ended up cursing myself. I regard them as a necessity and you should too! (PS Keep them updated or just don't keep them)

Documents to Always Keep Ready

1. Oh so handy portfolio

While by mentioning portfolio, I do recommend your 'official' curated one, but having a sample of your work saved in your phone or tablet (preference depends on the frequency of usability and ease of use) can end you up with some of your future beloved projects. Okay, not necessarily, but they would surely end up to be a steep learning curve, which is great! This is because, most of our networking happens in social places or.. messaging, to say the least, and most boring. These portfolios can then act as a "friend in need is a friend indeed".

2. Resume or CV

So, having a professionally written document mentioning your experience, skills, most valuable activities, projects, and interests is never a bad idea. Hackathons, internships, scholarships... wherever you apply, these are definitely asked for. Some people also create one resume for each major skill. All of it depends on your preference, and ore than that the preference of where you are applying. The key is to only include the relevant and the worthful stuff. Quality over quantity.

3. Personal website

Websites are great to brand yourself or your work (again, preference!), especially when exhibiting professionalism. Everything is at a single place and all your social links to help stay in contact and online portfolio is accessible from your website. An email associated with your personal domain is a bonus as it does not contain unnecessary characters.

4. Blogging

Keeping aside those blogging to earn money, blogging is a great way to express your interests and activities to your readers. Blogging helps to keep track of your achievements and downfalls in a task at work, and how it was overcome. These not only help the beginners in your field of interest but you as well if stumbled upon the same problem again.

5. Transcripts

Starting to maintain your transcripts from grade 9 till present day in University will prove to be a great idea. You never know when you might end up needing it. Trying to arrange them at the last moment is a nightmare and those who need these give official transcripts more preference over mark-sheets.

6. Letter of Recommendation

After working for an internship or doing some work like research under a professor, you can receive a letter of recommendation on request made at least a month before. It is great to present as an approval of your work and can also shed some light on your personality while sending to the next person you will be working under. These are written voluntarily by your senior, only if willing to recommend, and is illegal to pay for to any person.

7. Passport and Government documents along with their copy

Government documents such as Aadhar card (or at times University ID card is enough) helps to enter a certain venue for attending meetups and hackathons or any similar event. Passports are just as there can be an opportunity to travel for a competition like international hackathons, conferences and alike. It's better to avoid last minute hustles.

8. Passport-size photographs

These tiny photographs are needed for official documents on a regular basis and carrying some in your wallet would save you from delaying your work. Now, who wants to repeat the task or just travel all way again just for forgetting to carry those tiny sized photos.

9. One black. One Blue. ..pens and a Blank sheet of paper

There are a lot of demands while doing an official work. Keeping a pen of both blue and black inks avoids the problems of preferences. Blank sheet of paper is a saviour when needed to write official letters in the last moment.