These are suggestions based on my experience. I've produced and reviewed lots of resumes and portfolios.
Resume Tips
- One page if possible (no more than two)
- Who are you? A resume is a snapshot of you! It shows your education, exerience and it will probably show your near term career goal.
- Why (some resumes need to specifically say why you are applying for the job-read announcements carefully. This is the first place you can be cut.
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What have you done (chronological order)
- Where are you (contact info)
- These day's a potential employer wants to see how you've dealt with slow job market
to keep-up with skills (internships, volunteering)
- For digital artists-list software you use and skill level (no need to say version, it will be outdated before you know it)
Portfolios
Most jobs for designers will include a request for a resume and digital portfolio or collection of images. The purpose of your resume and portfolio is to screen out candidates who don't fit! You want to "get your foot in the door" and land a face-to-face interview where you can sell yourself.
- Show only your best work
- Content should be self-explanitory (you won't be there to explain what tools you used or what the project was for)
- School work is pretty obvious and expected if applying while in school or to grad school. You need to expand quickly and try to develop your personal stylewhether in fashion, web or interior design. This is where work from internships or speculative work can really add to your portfolio.
-Digital vs Hardcopy? It really depends on your medium but be prepard for any contingency during that interview. No internet, power goes out, computer crashes....what ya gonna do? A couple photos, screenshots or prints tucked away in your briefcase may save the day! Oh, extra resumes too!
Preparing For The Big Day
Maintain and organize a collection of high quality digital files/photos of your work. We've all had a great project that got destroyed before we could archive it properly. Take lots of pictures and save the best. Keep copies of your files separately from your computer...yes, it will crash the day before you must have it for an interview or portfolio showing
How will you deliver your portfolio?
E-mail digital files, create a website online or deliver in person?
Digital Options
Slide Show
You can create a simple PDF slide show of your work direclty in Adobe Bridge. Content can be easily e-mailed or delivered on digital media. This might be a good option for last minute portfolios and it doesn't require any web skill. Check out the links below for more informaiton.
Instructions
PDF Slide Show
If you have basic web skills but limited time you can also create a slide show in Adobe Bridge that can be directly uploaded into a website. This is a last-minute option.
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Demo Image Portfolio |
Custom Website
This can obviously be as creative as you wish and will take some time to develop. It's expected for most digital artists. Keep the end goal in mind and tailor to your audience. If you are interested in a web job then you must focus on web sites and make sure the viewer can link to the completed sites from smaller images or screen shots. Include your resume as a pdf.
I'm frequently asked "how much content do I need?" I think portfolios shoud be focused and sell you based on a few examples of your very best work.
Interesting Portfolio
More Informaiton
Nine Steps To A Great Portfoio
Steps To The Perfect Portfolio
Web Hosting
-You can use your designstudent space on our server. I would only use for local interships while in school. Better to have custom site after you graduate.
-Hosting service for creatives (fee charged but it's template based and doesn't require serious web skill)
-You can have your own personal url and site up in less than 12 hrs for about $5 a month
http:godaddy.com (I use but there are lots of others)