INTERVIEW PORTFOLIO VS. PDF?
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- doggydoggdog
I applied for a job recently, and send a .pdf portfolio as part of the application. They invited me in for an interview.
The problem is that my real printed portfolio is the same.
This is an entry level job, but I'm worried on how to change it, or if it will matter?
I don't have any more work, so what would you do?
- jtb260
Show them how you did it. The finished pieces don't matter nearly as much as your thought process. They obviously thought your work looked good enough to warrant an interview - now they want to know how you think.
Remember in algebra (or any math class) when you had to show your work? You couldn't just write down the answer to the equation - you had to go through the problem step by step. Showing your portfolio is the same.
- monospaced0
Definitely bring the printed portfolio. Although they accepted and reviewed your PDF, they are probably looking at many and will want something to remind them in person. It's a piece that will drive talking points about your work. If you have any actual pieces (not just photos of them in the book), bring them too so the interviewer can see the kind of paper/size choices you made, if applicable.
- doesnotexist0
you should have an expanded portfolio you show in person. showing each project blown out more, each section of the project and so on. showing all the marks on a page, all the marks in situ on the next, blablabla.
the fact that it's printed or not doesn't matter imo, as long as you can leave one behind and they can easily share it.
- BK0
Def. bring a printed book. They've seen your work and it's obviously good enough to get you to the next level (interview). Now they're interested in learning about you, your thought process behind the work, how you present, and if you're the kind of person they would want to deal with for at least 8 hours a day.
- how does a printed book tell them more about you?doesnotexist
- k_temp0
Just a thought... wouldn't it be better to bring less but be more abundant in the selected few? Like, what every else is saying, show process and your thinking behind each idea etc etc. and since they already know what you do this time is for them to get additional info on how you work is not about showing what they already know.
Isn't too much work a bit tiring after a certain time?
What if you choose your best ones or those projects that you can talk for hours [each] and elaborate them?
Funny thing is, im also building my pdf portfolio to apply for new jobs hehehe so this thread would help me too.
Cheers!
- right yes. i even throw in more projects for the interview that show others kills, but may not be as pretty.doesnotexist
- doggydoggdog0
Thanks for all the great replies people. It is just a Jr. position, and I don't have too much in my portfolio I can talk at length about, but your comments will help me think this through.
- oh well then... bringing the actual project can help. Handcrafted things makes an impression, like book binding...k_temp
- akrok0
words on the street: 12 to 15 pages.
- tasty0
Interactive has it's perks...I show all my work on an ipad
- what app do you use, tasty?alicetheblue
- MinimalFoliotasty
- cannonball19780
Magic show with bunnies. Ditch the folio.
- alicetheblue0
bumping - to ask tasty
" what app to you use to show your portfolio on your iPad ?"- I know you're asking him, but any PDF viewer, including iBooks, works really wellmonospaced
- doggydoggdog0
Bump for a new audience.
- bjladams0
been in the same spot - in the end it turned out that they wanted to see how well rounded i was... i.e.: not just able to design on screen, but also effectively translate that to print.
- fourth0
Just some related advice:
I once had an interview with a big company for an in-house position. I had sent a link to my portfolio and they called me back for an interview. I felt I was in a good position because they liked my work. It turns out HR just called in everyone for an interview... This was a huge curve ball because I found myself scrambling to explain my portfolio and everything in it once I got there.
So be ready to sell yourself to anyone and never assume you got called because they liked your work (unless they specifically say they did).
- bingo, and don't assume they remember your work even if they HAVE seen your PDFmonospaced