Portfolio help- yikes!

MetallichicA · 26th August 2002, 15:52

Okay, so I've got my first "real-graphic-design-job" interview on Wednesday, and I'm really new to the whole thing, so I've got a bunch of questions that hopefully some of you can answer. I wish they'd teach us this stuff in college, cuz I feel like a dip right now

1. Do I need to tack everything down on the pages, or should they be able to be taken out and looked at?

2. What do I actually do with my portfolio, when I get there, and when they want to look at it? Do I open it and explain everything, or do they look at it and ask me questions, or what?

3. Open with a bang and end with a bang, right?

4. How do I do this without letting them no I have no clue what I'm doing?

Any suggestions would be really helpful, or tell me your experiences with this sort of thing, or whatever. I know a lot of you might not have had to deal with this, but you might have had it explained to you in a class or something...

Thanks everyone

. - .... .- -. .... · 26th August 2002, 16:09

Quote:

Originally posted by MetallichicA
Okay, so I've got my first "real-graphic-design-job" interview on Wednesday, and I'm really new to the whole thing, so I've got a bunch of questions that hopefully some of you can answer. I wish they'd teach us this stuff in college, cuz I feel like a dip right now

1. Do I need to tack everything down on the pages, or should they be able to be taken out and looked at?

The best thing to do is get those folders that clasp the page, or the plastic covered types such as those used in photo albums. that way your work will be kept in place, but they can still remove specific pieces should they want to, without sending pages everywhere.

Quote:

2. What do I actually do with my portfolio, when I get there, and when they want to look at it? Do I open it and explain everything, or do they look at it and ask me questions, or what?

When you go in, hand them your portfolio while they are still standing but after they shake your hand and introduce themselves. This is their interview, and they don't want to be told by you how to conduct it. So let them bring up the subject of your portfolio. That being said, don't simply sit ina corner and answer their questions with a yes or no - once they initiate some sort of dialog about your portfolio (or anything else for that matter), be assertive, and say your piece. Don't be too long winded though - keep what you have to say to the point.

Quote:

3. Open with a bang and end with a bang, right?

Preferably it should be one big bang. Put your best work into your portfolio, but it should be consistent. The last thing that they want to see is top notch work at the start, shit in the middle, and good stuff again at the end. But definitely put one of your best pieces at the start.

Quote:

4. How do I do this without letting them no I have no clue what I'm doing?

Simple. Don't bullshit - these guys give interviews every day ands will smell it a mile away. read up on the background info of the company, their past achievements, current projects, etc. Be assertive, when you are asked a question, run with it. Whatever you do, appearance is important - dress well, don't slouch or cross your arms. Chances are one of them has taken a course in reading body language during an interview, so keep your hands apart, and whatever you do, don't answer with "uhms" and "aahs". And if you genuinely don't know an answer, tell them so. HOnesty is better than bullshit.

eleet-2k2 · 26th August 2002, 16:29

Way to go MetallichicA!

Sorry I can't help you out. I've not been to many interviews.

One piece of advice, always be polite, neat and 'groomed'.

Naamloos · 26th August 2002, 17:17

if the interview went ok, say that you liked it. /me heard this tip from mother at interview. And she got the job

MetallichicA · 26th August 2002, 23:30

Well, thanks everyone (especially you, ethan_h, that was really helpful). I appreciate the cheerleading for me

Sadly, my portfolio's not that big yet, but I'm sure they must realize that because they've already looked at my resume.

liquidmotion · 27th August 2002, 03:10

Quote:

Originally posted by MetallichicA
3. Open with a bang and end with a bang, right?

too.....much......sexual.....innuendo.

MetallichicA · 27th August 2002, 03:15

I thought titillation might help the interview to go a bit smoother

MetallichicA · 27th August 2002, 17:58

Okay, one more question... let's say I have stuff that really should be viewed on a computer, such as a Flash file. I do have screenshots of it, but that really doesn't do it justice. Should I forget it, or put it on a cd/floppy, or just stick to screenshots, or what? Do I need to include the program to look at it with? (oh wait, do you need that, or will a Flash movie show up anyway? I don't remember...)

Hamylde · 27th August 2002, 18:09

Where can I get a 'lil look of your work`?

Trigear · 27th August 2002, 18:14

hey, if you posted a pic here on the forums, then technically you've "done a little contribution to the winamp.com website"...

binary hero · 27th August 2002, 21:19

i have no experience, but i'd stick it on a cd and have screenies

good luck btw

MetallichicA · 28th August 2002, 01:17

BH- Thanks hon

Hamylde- a look at my work? Uhhhh... I don't have anything online, except for my Winamp skins lol. I'd try to post something tonight or get them up on my site, but I gotta finish up my portfolio, considering this thing is *tomorrow!* *sob*

Trigear- riiiiiiight

My skins actually do count hehe, I dunno about a pic. They already gotta look at my ugly mug in person, I don't think I'd wanna show them PICS too!

MetallichicA · 28th August 2002, 01:45

Okay, I lied. I do have some things that are already small files. My stuff sucks, though... I'm really more interested in layout design, but most of these projects have been other stuff. Here's my first Flash movie...

MetallichicA · 28th August 2002, 01:47

And my "identity" project... we had to have (I hope I remember all this) a photograph, pictograph, ideograph, a word to describe ourselves, and our name (you can't see my name on here, it's too small).

MetallichicA · 28th August 2002, 01:51

Also a project where we got two words (an object and an idea) and had to put them both into one project. We could use found art or make our own. My words were "tree" and "methodical". I didn't make the tree, but I did make the ambigram (the word "methodical" can be read right-side-up and upside-down). It's a methodical salad. Yeah.

MetallichicA · 28th August 2002, 21:22

Well, I made it through my interview okay! Didn't puke on the guy's desk or anything.

He said he's doing interviews all day today, and I should know by Friday. It's admaking for a newspaper, and I have no newspaper experience (but he knew that from looking at my resume and still called me), BUT he said that it may be a good thing because I wouldn't fall into the "well, it's SUPPOSED to look like THIS" rut. So that's a point for me, right? Or perhaps it evens out.

This is really the job I'd like to have right now, so wish me luck!

Thanks again for everyone who gave me tips on my portfolio and interview, they were very helpful!

26th August 2002, 15:52	#1
MetallichicA Forum Queen Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 2,425	Portfolio help- yikes! Okay, so I've got my first "real-graphic-design-job" interview on Wednesday, and I'm really new to the whole thing, so I've got a bunch of questions that hopefully some of you can answer. I wish they'd teach us this stuff in college, cuz I feel like a dip right now 1. Do I need to tack everything down on the pages, or should they be able to be taken out and looked at? 2. What do I actually do with my portfolio, when I get there, and when they want to look at it? Do I open it and explain everything, or do they look at it and ask me questions, or what? 3. Open with a bang and end with a bang, right? 4. How do I do this without letting them no I have no clue what I'm doing? Any suggestions would be really helpful, or tell me your experiences with this sort of thing, or whatever. I know a lot of you might not have had to deal with this, but you might have had it explained to you in a class or something... Thanks everyone

26th August 2002, 16:29	#3
eleet-2k2 Forum King Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Mobil Ave. Posts: 5,381	Way to go MetallichicA! Sorry I can't help you out. I've not been to many interviews. One piece of advice, always be polite, neat and 'groomed'. "Welcome to the Island of people who know too much."..."Did you really think balloons would stop him?!" See what I'm listening too.

27th August 2002, 18:09	#9
Hamylde Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Beneath the darkened sky Posts: 227	Where can I get a 'lil look of your work`? I pace, alone. In a place for the dead Overcome by woe. And here, I've grown So fond of dread that I swear it's heaven [COF]

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26th August 2002, 17:17	#4
Naamloos Forum King Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: irc.tehflap.org/******* Posts: 3,085	if the interview went ok, say that you liked it. /me heard this tip from mother at interview. And she got the job

26th August 2002, 23:30	#5
MetallichicA Forum Queen Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 2,425	Well, thanks everyone (especially you, ethan_h, that was really helpful). I appreciate the cheerleading for me Sadly, my portfolio's not that big yet, but I'm sure they must realize that because they've already looked at my resume.

27th August 2002, 03:15	#7
MetallichicA Forum Queen Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 2,425	I thought titillation might help the interview to go a bit smoother

27th August 2002, 17:58	#8
MetallichicA Forum Queen Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 2,425	Okay, one more question... let's say I have stuff that really should be viewed on a computer, such as a Flash file. I do have screenshots of it, but that really doesn't do it justice. Should I forget it, or put it on a cd/floppy, or just stick to screenshots, or what? Do I need to include the program to look at it with? (oh wait, do you need that, or will a Flash movie show up anyway? I don't remember...)

27th August 2002, 18:14	#10
Trigear bear! Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 3,426	hey, if you posted a pic here on the forums, then technically you've "done a little contribution to the winamp.com website"...

27th August 2002, 21:19	#11
binary hero Banned Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 7,004	i have no experience, but i'd stick it on a cd and have screenies good luck btw

28th August 2002, 01:17	#12
MetallichicA Forum Queen Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 2,425	BH- Thanks hon Hamylde- a look at my work? Uhhhh... I don't have anything online, except for my Winamp skins lol. I'd try to post something tonight or get them up on my site, but I gotta finish up my portfolio, considering this thing is tomorrow! sob Trigear- riiiiiiight My skins actually do count hehe, I dunno about a pic. They already gotta look at my ugly mug in person, I don't think I'd wanna show them PICS too!

28th August 2002, 21:22	#16
MetallichicA Forum Queen Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 2,425	Well, I made it through my interview okay! Didn't puke on the guy's desk or anything. He said he's doing interviews all day today, and I should know by Friday. It's admaking for a newspaper, and I have no newspaper experience (but he knew that from looking at my resume and still called me), BUT he said that it may be a good thing because I wouldn't fall into the "well, it's SUPPOSED to look like THIS" rut. So that's a point for me, right? Or perhaps it evens out. This is really the job I'd like to have right now, so wish me luck! Thanks again for everyone who gave me tips on my portfolio and interview, they were very helpful!