Looking for a freelancer Job? You have a project? post it here
Wanted 5 Lucky Persons To Get Free Make Over By Fashion Blogger. C'Mon
Online Tests, Quizzes and Surveys On Various Subjects. Sign Up now!
Trying to put together your first design portfolio can be a daunting task. The very first thing you should do, before attempting anything, is take a deep breath. Seriously, your first portfolio is not a life or death situation. In fact, you should be prepared to modify your portfolio for each job interview, tailoring it to the specific parameters of each company and each position. Before you know it, you'll be a pro!
Creating your first portfolio is like summing up your career as a student - it's about taking all of the projects you have worked on as part of the curriculum and what you worked on in your time, and putting them together in a nice neat package that a potential employer can understand. If you're feeling lost or overwhelmed at the thought of even attempting to do so, hopefully this article will help break things down into a few easier to manage steps.
With a calm, clear head (remember that deep breath?), you should take a few moments to think about where you're going. Even before you start to think about your portfolio, consider what you'll be using it for. What positions are you applying for? What kinds of skills will they be looking for and what unique qualities about yourself do you want to highlight? I can't stress enough how much guess work this first step eliminates as you physically start to put things together. Knowing what result you want (i.e. getting a certain job) means that you already know what steps to take to get there - you've just got to show them that you can do what the position requires.
Take a few minutes to make note of your thoughts in writing, too. You'll be grateful for the quick reference later on.
Next, gather together ALL of your work from school, as well as any design work or personal projects you completed on your own time. This is NOT the step to edit. You want a large selection of work to choose from, and it's unwise to exclude things before seeing the whole picture.
After you gathered together all of your work, it's time to start piecing things together, but only with your notes from that first step in hand. Review your thoughts as you look over your work - are there any particular projects that highlight the skills your potential employer will be looking for? These should be the cornerstone pieces of your portfolio. Remember those unique qualities you decided were worth showing off? Add a few more pieces that demonstrate them. After you've established a strong foundation, ask yourself what's missing? Where are the holes? Add in a few pieces to round things out, in whatever way you feel is appropriate.
And POOF, you've got yourself a portfolio! Just keep in mind that nothing is set in stone - chances are that what works for one interview, won't work for another. I realize that the first time is always the hardest, but with practice, putting together a portfolio becomes a snap.
Bridging the gap between textiles professionals and students -
No comments:
Post a Comment