It was only a few months ago that I was putting together my portfolio for my interview here at HRB. Although it seems to be less challenging each time my printed portfolio demands an update, I will always remember the anxiety my classmates and I shared at the thought of putting one together for the spring semester of our senior year. Most of that stress came from not really knowing what was expected of us. Sure, we had the syllabus and the requirements from our professors, but for the first time their opinion wasn’t the one to worry about…it was a potential employer who mattered.
The subjectivity of the design field had never been more obvious to me. How many projects do I include? What kind of projects? How do I display them? Oh crap, I need a website, and what the heck did I do with those process sketches?! So, I decided to write about what I wish I had known. I’m sure there is plenty of good advice that will go unsaid here, but from what I’ve gathered there seem to be some universal tips worth knowing.
Photo credit: Flickr user filmvanalledag
Quality over quantity
We have all heard it before, “less is more”. When putting together a portfolio I know how easy it is to want to fill your book to the brim with projects. But if you weren’t passionate about a project, and you’re only featuring it to fill some “number of projects” you’ve worked up in your head,
don’t do it.
In an interview I want to hear about your process. The “how and why” of the decisions you made. You’ll find those details are hard to recall if you’re presenting a project you only included because a “professor suggested it.” Don’t “pad” great pieces with an extra half dozen projects that are solely to fill pages.
Talk about your skills outside of design
If you’ve made it to the interview your potential employer already has a feeling your design skills are up to snuff. So, besides your proficiency in CS6, talk up your non-design related skills. Are you a good writer? Can you do some basic coding? Think of things that will set you apart from other interviewees.
The responsibilities listed on a job description are only the tip of the iceberg. In the working world, you will more than likely be asked to copy write, blog and present in front of clients (to name a few) in addition to design. If you have experience in these areas, even if it’s only on one project, make sure to highlight it in your interview.
Short deadlines
Photo credit: Flickr user Chie Gondo
The luxury of time on projects is something I still miss. Yes, there are large-scale projects that get the Cadillac treatment; time for sketching, developing ideas and critique. But there will often be projects that while in college you might have been given a week to complete, but in the professional world they will be due by end of day. While interviewing, talk about your abilities to turn projects on a tight deadline. This will be an adjustment; it is for all young designers. But if you know from experience that you’re up for the challenge, tell your interviewer about it.
There is one final piece of advice I’d like to share that to me never gets old. Don’t be discouraged. I feel fortunate that my career thus far has given me the opportunity to work with some very talented and supportive people. But there will be clients, interviewers, even tweets that will scrutinize your work. We work in an extremely subjective field, and the better you become at presenting the work you are proud of, the better off you will be.