How to Create Samples for Your Portfolio
New and seasoned job seekers create portfolios to showcase their skills and abilities to potential employers during interviews. Some job seekers are even making their portfolios electronic, including them on their personal websites and blogs. New job seekers often encounter a common problem as they create their portfolios -- they don't have enough samples of completed work to include for review. They overcome this issue by creating samples based on real-world inspired scenarios that they present to show their ideas and how they solve problems.
Instructions
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Determine the industry in which you're trying to land a job. Industries like advertising, design, communications, technology and engineering often require job seekers to submit a portfolio with their resumes or during their interviews.
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Come up with a list of projects someone in your industry and desired position may be asked to complete. For example, if you're applying for a position as a junior copywriter, find an advertisement or sales letter and rewrite it using your own approach. If you're applying for a graphic design position, create a logo redesign for a small business in your area.
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Select at least five projects you can move forward with, and begin to brainstorm ideas for creating the samples for your portfolio. For each project, create a mock spec sheet similar to what a client would submit to get a job done in your industry. At a minimum, it should include the title of the project, a timeline, a brief description of the project and its purpose, a budget and project limitations.
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Create your sample projects using software and equipment you'd use in your industry. If you're applying for an engineering position, use a CAD program. If you're applying for a desktop publishing position, use a program like Quark or InDesign to showcase your skills. Note the programs and equipment you use on your project sheets.
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Print your sample portfolio pieces on professional paper using a laser printer.
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Label each piece with the title, your name and include a note that labels it as a spec piece. Disclose this information to potential employers so they understand that the projects are merely samples, not a representation of work you actually created for companies.
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Display the items in your portfolio along with your resume and letter of introduction. If you're including these sample pieces in your online portfolio, be sure to include the project sheets as well.
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