A Few Dos and Don’ts of a Talent Portfolio
DO - Showcase your best/most impressive piece first. Remember that your portfolio is how potential employers first judge your creativity, skills and potential. Therefore, be sure to put your best work forward. Start off with your proudest piece.
DO - Go digital. Online Portfolios are the quickest and easiest way to market yourself.
DO - Be Organized. Make sure to incite some order by organizing your book or website into sections (advertising, logos/identity, brochures, etc.) or group by company or campaign.
DO - Check the quality. Photo quality that is. Make sure images are optimized and printed at the best resolution possible.
DO NOT - Overload your book/site with every bit of work you’ve done over the years. Keep your portfolio concise . A well-organized portfolio with 10-15 pieces of your best samples will always shine.
DO - Explain your work. Including a brief synopsis of project details - outlining the client, project objective, your role and programs used.
DO NOT - Be outdated. Keep your book or website up to date with fresh and relevant work. If the work is more than 5 years old, it’s probably a good idea to leave it out.
DO NOT - Be Sloppy. Make sure that your book is clean, complete and free from torn, frayed or yellowing pages.
DO - Test out your links. For online portfolios, make sure that your url links are working and the work is still yours and hasn’t changed.
DO - Assume that everyone heading to your site is technically challenged and impatient. Create a site that is easy to navigate and quick to load. A simple CSS style is a great way to go.
DO NOT - Be generic. Let some of your personal style peek through. Brand yourself by creating a logo, color palette and look that represents you. Use it throughout your book or site.
DO NOT - Forget your credentials. Make sure to include a copy of your up-to-date resume.
Written by Jamie Grossman, Artisan Recruiter
November 2009
