Portfolio Formats

boofredlay · 29 Jan 2008, 00:59

Ok, here is the situation. The firm I work for just laid off 3 people I survived this cut and hopefully there will not be another. However, I always need to keep my options open. This is the first time in 10 years there have been layoffs here.

So, what kind of portfolio formats have you used in the past that were successful? And more importantly, what did not work and why?
Unfortunately I do not have a laptop but that is not to say I cannot or will not get one prior to any job move, if in fact there is one. I also have friends with lappy's and projectors if need be.

What I have done in the past and what got me this job was my resume, 8.5x14 sheets of my best work spiral bound and a kick ass personality.
Thanks for any help.

cheffey · 29 Jan 2008, 00:59

Boo,
that will always get you a job.
I typically assemble mine in InDesign and can create a PDF teaser to send with the inital resume. Then bring a larger printed portfolio in with the sit down interview.
Hey, how are things in H'ville? I thought the base realignment would bring much more work?

boofredlay · 29 Jan 2008, 01:00

It will but we have not seen any of it yet. The economy here is great but we are just slow right now. Other firms in town are slammed while others still are like us, in a bind. It is cyclical and we are in a downswing right now.
Thanks for asking.

lewiswadsworth · 29 Jan 2008, 01:00

@cheffey said:

Boo,
that will always get you a job.
I typically assemble mine in InDesign and can create a PDF teaser to send with the inital resume. Then bring a larger printed portfolio in with the sit down interview.

Exactly my recommendation...no more than a dozen two-page spreads, no project more than five years old (unless it got published). And panorama format, not portrait, for the pages...it's not an obvious gimmick, but the non-typical format seems to encourage the reviewer to open the pages and look at the contents. I bought a cheap spiral binding mechanism and some card stock, so I can make as many of these things as necessary. I also upgraded my cd-drive to a Lightscribe model, so I can make a CDs with an iconic image of one of my projects etched into the surface along with all my contact info. I'd carry around a half-dozen of the CDs with a pdf version of my resume and portfolio on each, and even if someone didn't seem interested in reviewing my portfolio I would leave one of the CDs with them as if it was a business card...eventually, out of curiosity, they'll put in a drive.

I'm going to be going through this drill myself again in the next few months...I've got a project with an Australian architect for now, but eventually I'll have to start beating the pavement here in New England for more CADmonkey work.
Posted by Lewis Wadsworth

Will03 · 29 Jan 2008, 01:00

Boo,

Come to Calgary, you don't need to have a portfolio to get work, you need a pulse and breathing is optional! Seriously though, we need talented people like you to get up here and help decrease the workload on everyone else!

As far as portfolios are concerned though, my preference is to keep them strictly proffessional, with no other flair than the work that you have done. A simple title, and short description of each piece of work. I would not include any text that is more than a short paragraph, after all, they will probably be reading it in front of you, and would rather ask you questions.

Krisidious · 29 Jan 2008, 01:01

I don't have a laptop either, so what I used to do is borrow one and use my MS Power Point Presentation about my experience and some of my work... that way they can sit there and it rolls through the text and the examples...

now though most places have a computer in every office, you could build a flash or swish presentation...

remember that offer I made buddy... it's still stands.

marked001 · 29 Jan 2008, 01:01

way way back when i was graduating.. i sent out my resume and a mini cd with a portfolio in html...that worked 'ok'.. now i think you'd be more successful because of all the great universal formats out there... swf, pdf, etc..

now i just have a pdf portfolio that matches an 8.5x11 physical portfolio i have..

i'm sure youv'e got nothing to worry about..but yeah, always good to be prepared.. friend of mine just got let go..and they made him leave right then and there..he had no time to collect any work or any contacts or anything..so he's pretty stuck..... so always be prepared Wink