I recently spoke to some soon-to-be college grads and the subject of portfolios came up. I think of portolios like resumes, there are a lot of ways to set one up and it changes depending on the industry you are going into, and what type of company you are applying with.

In college I was required to create a portfolio before graduation. It was a large, overwhelming project and I found it was best to get started early.

For those of you who don’t know where to begin, here are some tips to get the project moving along:

  • A zippered three-ring notebook. Leather, cloth or vinyl usually works best. Higher quality notebooks tend to be more expensive, so shop around for the best deal. I got mine at Staples.
  • Store your work samples in page protectors. Do not use a 3-hole punch on your portfolio work. Place them in the protectors. This way they stay nice and won’t rip.
  • Decide the key skill areas you want to focus on.  Create a tab page for each. When doing this remember that this portfolio is a representation of you, showcase your personality and strengths.
  • Sort through college papers and design projects and other work you would possibly want to include in your portfolio. Pick out two to four samples for each area, such as two to three press releases and two to three design projects.
  • Have a peer or professor edit these samples. You never know what you might have missed while reading or looking at them.
  • Create work sample overview cards for each piece. These cards should state what the work is and when you created it. Slip these into the page protector along with your work sample. These are usually found in the bottom right corner.
  • Don’t cut corners, don’t take short cuts. As said before, this portfolio is a representation of you. You want it took look as best as it possibly can. If you cut corners it will be noticeable because there is no other way to represent your work to a potential employer.
  • Use a copy center. Places like Staples and Office Max are great resources when printing out design samples. They are cheap and willing to work with you.
  • Make sure your portfolio is flexible. Your portfolio needs to grow as you grow in your career. Work samples will be added and others taken out. Stay away from doing things to your portfolio that you can’t change.

All integrative public relations students are required to create a portfolio before graduation. As this is a large, overwhelming project, it is best to get started early.

For those of you who don’t know where to begin here are some tips to get the project moving along.

To begin, you need to get organized and purchase the supplies you will need, including:

v A zippered three-ring notebook. Leather, cloth or vinyl usually works best. Higher quality notebooks tend to be more expensive, so shop around for the best deal.

v Store your work samples in page protectors. Do not use a 3-hole punch on your portfolio work. Place them in the protectors. This way they stay nice and won’t rip.

v Decide the key skill areas you want to focus on.  Create a tab page for each. When doing this remember that this portfolio is a representation of you, showcase your personality and strengths.

v Sort through college papers and design projects and other work you would possibly want to include in your portfolio. Pick out two to four samples for each area, such as two to three press releases and two to three design projects.

v Have a peer or professor edit these samples. You never know what you might have missed while reading or looking at them.

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Portfolio tips

Lindsay Elias

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v Create work sample overview cards for each piece. These cards should state what the work is and when you created it. Slipped these into the page protector along with your work sample.

v Don’t cut corners, don’t take short cuts. As said before, this portfolio is a representation of you. You want it took look as best as it possibly can. If you cut corners it will be noticeable because there is no other way to represent your work to a potential employer.

v Use a copy center. Places like Staples and Kopy Korner are great resources when printing out design samples. They are cheap and willing to work with you.

v Make sure your portfolio is flexible. Your portfolio needs to grow as you grow in your career. Work samples will be added and others taken out. Stay away from doing things to your portfolio that you can’t change.

When it comes time to put together your portfolio remember these tips. Also talk to your peers. Many IPR majors have done their portfolios already and are willing to give advice and help you with yours.