.develop .design .digitize ddiiggiittaall ppoorrttffoolliioo1Contents z Develop { Define Portfolio { Types of portfolios z Traditional Portfolio z CD Portfolio z Online Portfolio z Design { CRAP model z Contrast z Repetition z Alignment z Proximity z Digitize { Digitize your resume { Creating PDF files { Accessing your AFS space { Wrap Up z Resource Lists { Develop { Design { Digitize z Extras { Action Verbs { Interview Questions { RGB Color Chart2 (Develop) Define Portfolio. A portfolio is a collection of your finest work where you can showcase your skills, talents abilities and strengths to future employers. Think of it as a way to market yourself in a very competitive field, whatever field that may be. Employers are attracted to applicants that show a wide variety of experience and talents, from writing samples, to design to situations of leadership and teamwork. Your portfolio is an ongoing project that can assist in the interviewing process. Your first step is to figure out what items you want to showcase. These items should be selected by what employers are looking for. The Michigan State University’s Career Services Network 2005 publication, “12 Essentials for Success: Competencies Employers Seek in College Graduates,” maps out consistently cited skills that are crucial in the hiring selection. 1. Working in a diverse environment – Learning from people who are different from you and recognizing your commonalities is an important part of your education and essential preparation for the world you will join. 2. Managing time and priorities – Managing how you spend your time, and on what, is essential in today’s world. Learn how to sort priorities so you stay in control of your life. 3. Acquiring knowledge – Learning how to learn is just as important as the knowledge itself. No matter what your future holds, you’ll continue to learn every day of your life. 4. Thinking critically – solid critical thinking skills means you’ll be confident to handle autonomy, make sound decisions, and find the connection between opportunities you have to learn and how those opportunities will affect your future. 5. Communicating effectively – Developing listening, interpreting, and speaking skills is just as important as reading and writing. 6. Solving Problems – You may only have thought about problem solving when you’re faced with a crisis. Understand the process and mind-set of successful problem-solving and you’ll more easily handle the bigger challenges that come your way. 7. Contributing to a team – In the workplace each person’s contribution is essential to success. Having the ability to work collaboratively with others is vital. This includes identifying individual strengths (yours and others) and harnessing them for the group, building consensus, knowing when to lead and when to follow, and appreciating group dynamics. 8. Navigating across boundaries – Life is filled with boundaries—good and bad. Discover how to avoid the boundaries that become barriers so you don’t hamper the ability to collaborate with other people.39. Performing with integrity – It only takes one bad instance to destroy years of good faith and good relationships. It’s important to develop a code of ethics and principles to guide your life. 10. Developing professional competency – The end of college is the beginning of a new education. Build on what you already know and keep learning new skills—your job will challenge you to grow and develop in ways you haven’t imagined yet. 11. Balancing work and life – You’ve got a lot to accomplish in limited time. How do you get it all done and still stay sane? The key is maintaining balance among the different parts of your life. 12. Embracing change – Just about every aspect of life is in a constant state of change. Sometimes it may seem that no sooner do you get caught up than you have to start all over again. No matter how you feel about change, you have to learn to deal with it. This list is an example of what skills fit into the workplace and can be used as a model for building a successful portfolio. By providing an employer with concrete examples of these competencies, you will increase your likelihood of employment. Types of Portfolios Traditional Portfolio – The traditional portfolio is a hardcopy version that you can bring to interviews. This is a helpful tool in presenting tangible artifacts to future employers. With this version you can leave a sample of your work with the interviewer. However, cross-continental and international jobs are growing in number and hardcopies are not as practical if you are applying to a job out of your immediate area. Hardcopy portfolios however can be used as a back up to digital versions and for personal use. Typically these portfolios are organized with tabs and explanations of sample work in a leather-bound professional folder. CD Portfolio – By categorizing your files on a CD, you can create a more portable, efficient collection of your work compared to the traditional style portfolio. By making numerous copies of your CD, they can be sent out with your resume and cover letter. When your files are digitized, it leaves you with the option to either print out copies for a traditional portfolio in the future, or to be added to a webpage. Digitizing portfolios leaves you with more options while also demonstrating your computer skills. Online Portfolio – This is a place for you to not only showcase your work samples, but also a way for you to demonstrate your web building skills. By organizing your work on a website you can include links and files that anyone with the internet can access. Internet portfolios can express your creativity through proper use of design and images. Online portfolios may also help you4get your foot in the door sooner by providing the website on your resume. Future employers then have the option to view your work prior to an official interview. (Design) CRAP model From Robin Williams book, The Non-Designer's Design Book Second Edition: Design and Typographic Principles for the Visual Novice: CONTRAST • Something different • Adds visual interest • Makes reader want to look at the page or design • Don’t be a Wimp – make it really different! REPITITION • Repeat some aspect of the design throughout the entire piece • Unifies • Adds visual interest • Adds consistency and organization