Re: Resume vs. Portfolio

Resumes and portfolio are equally important in my eyes, but depending on the job you are going for one may be more important than the other. You'll obviously want to have the strongest and most diverse portfolio you can possible have but the resume can be a little trickier.

I essentially have my resume set up exactly like a 'normal' resume but with a section for design experience. I've never gone out for a completely 'designer' job so it has to still include everything a non designer would include. Sometimes I wish I could take the more creative route with my resume, and I may do that one day depending on the type of job I would be looking for, but right now it makes sense to keep more traditional. 

As someone who looks at resumes quite a bit, I'd say to not over look the summary or objective. There is sometime to be said about someone who can tailor their resume as well as have a good understanding of the position. I remember when I was first looking for jobs and would kind of half ass my summary, as soon as I started catering it towards the position my call backs got more frequent. And when doing interviews, I find that the more a person can actually summarize their resume the better educated they are and better they interview. Also: KEEP IT TO ONE PAGE. Design centered or not, nothing is more annoying then getting resume that is 2, 3, 4 pages long. Get what you need to convey done on one page! 

I thought this list was helpful for key words to use. Now this is probably more for resume writing if your looking for a job that is not just design, but either way its good to know what people who are not design mindful are looking for.

 

Are You Good Enough?

Happy Holiday Weekend! Between work the last three days and being glued to my bed when I'm home, this is the first opportunity I have had to post! I hope it has been an awesome holiday for everyone.
Okay now, moving on...

After our conversation in class leading us to Google, I happened to come across an article on LinkedIn called "Are you Good Enough for Google." I found this article interesting and wanted to share and use it for my blog post. If you have the time, I invite you to read it, as I did find it intriguing and thought "hey what would my classmates think about this article?" I thought it had a lot of interesting points. The main section that stood out to me is subtitled "Big Data," where he addresses bots scanning our resumes for information and the probability of getting hired by Google. He then discusses ways that we can beat the odds - essentially I don't think he is speaking just of Google, but I imagine any big name company that we may want to work at. Here is what he had to say about the use of social media:

You’ve probably heard of web analytics, but what about people analytics? Today, human capital is measured by resume robots and social media scores. This is not to say we’ve taken the ‘human’ out of human resources, but the nature of recruitment has changed.

Everything is tracked, including social media activity and the degree to which you’re already ‘connected’ to the company. Did you respond to an email? Were you late for an interview? Algorithms already predict World Series championships (Go Giants!) and fluctuations in the stock market. Why not forecast the success of one candidate over another?

Success is relative so it can be measured by almost anything, including:

• Internet Presence - Articles, blogs and social media mentions, particularly on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Google+
• Past Performance - Employment background, work history, native talent and earned credentials from the applications and resumes you submit
• Personality Tests - Skill sets and behaviors can be modeled from your answers to scenario based surveys and tests

Once the data is collected, ATS goes to work. Like Google’s super secret search algorithm, no one knows how data sets are organized and analyzed, but you can bet it differs by employer and role.

My first big girl job actually came from LinkedIn, and I also received recruitment emails from companies such as Victoria Secrets, Aeropostale, and DSW, just to name a few. However, I do want my career to go into a different direction (away from retail). To read through the rest of the article it is here.

Here are my questions for you:
Do you think social media plays a huge part in the hiring process?
How do you feel about the points the author is making in this section of his post?
What sites do you focus on for social media and networking?
Do you see all social media as an avenue for a networking possibility/ career opportunity?
How important do you think it is to have a social media presence?
What are your thoughts on the article.... do you feel it is accurate? 

Re: Resume vs. Portfolio

Happy Thanksgiving!

What did you include in your design resume?

I include the basics: contact info, job experience, skills, education, etc. Like Kim, I only include about three jobs. Sometimes I exchange a few depending on the job I’m applying for. 

What did you exclude?

I try to exclude jobs that don’t directly relate to the job I’m interested in.

Did you take a traditional route or a more creative one?

After sitting down with a couple of hiring managers, I learned that content is more important than form in this case. Of course, you should use design elements that shows your personality as a designer, but that shouldn’t interfere with the message. Busy complicated designs can effect readability. I think your resume should highlight what your experiences. So my design is in between traditional and creative. 

How do you decide what should go into your portfolio and what shouldn’t?

I do the same thing for my portfolio as I do my resume, I edit it for the job I’m applying for. I have a strong background in publications design. When I’m applying to a job at a newspaper I make sure to include advertising design, layout design, and printed pieces. I won’t include as many illustrations because although they might be interested in those, thats not what they are hiring for. I consider the order as well. I spread out my strongest pieces. 

Have you started working on your portfolio?

Yes, I have a portfolio that I send out with resumes and I have an online resume. I don’t update the online version as much as I would like though. 

How long is your portfolio? (I’ve read that it should be between 8 to 12 pieces)

I try to give a sample of my work with my resume. That’s a pdf with about 6 or 7 pieces. I wasn’t a fan of sending out my work to strangers. I thought there was no opportunity to explain my process. But then I used that to my advantage. I would send work that made them want to meet so I could explain.

I used to carry a print portfolio with about 10 pieces but now I present a pdf on my iPad. I think its important to choose your strongest work to keep it short and simple. You don’t want to bore or overwhelm the employer.

What’s more important you’re resume or your portfolio?

They are equally important. Your resume will get you the interview but the portfolio can seal the deal!

Re: Resume vs. Portfolio

I am finding myself at a disadvantage since I haven't created a portfolio yet and I have a resume that isn't fit for my field...

I think both the resume and the portfolio should work together to demonstrate who you are as a designer, including your style and your process. I've looked at some of the links that were posted throughout the blog posts and I see a lot of jaw-dropping portfolios and unique resumes.

As I'm researching tips to create an award-winning resume, I wonder if there is a difference between the content that should be provided based on the career that you're looking for. Is there something that you should specifically include in your resume for a graphic design position as opposed to any other position? Or is it just the design that needs to change?

I won't be taking portfolio until Spring 2016, but I don't want to wait until then to get started on my portfolio. Anyone have any tips for someone starting out or guidelines to building a successful portfolio?



----------
What did you include in your design resume? What did you exclude?Did you take a traditional route or a more creative one?
How do you decide what should go into your portfolio and what shouldn’t?

Have you started working on your portfolio?
How long is your portfolio? (I’ve read that it should be between 8 to 12 pieces)

What’s more important: your resume or your portfolio?

Re: Resume v. Portfolio

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE! 

I actually worked with a member from Aquent who helped me revamp my portfolio website and resume. This helped me out a lot, she taught me to put my personality into them both. Hence why my resume is now pink (my favorite color) :P 

I think going to 

Off Topic: Gifts from Designers

Hey everyone,

I am looking for gifts to give people for the holidays, and I was curious if you guys knew of any sites or companies that specialize in well-designed (relatively inexpensive) products. I love giving really unique gifts that are carefully crafted.

Particularly, I am thinking about getting books or educational toys for my 6 month old nephew. I have been caught up in looking at great book design and illustration, especially for children's books, but what I have found is still too advanced for him.

Here are two great handmade books - Gobble You Up! and I Saw a Peacock with a Fiery Tail - from Tara Books. I love the style of them and I still might get them, but I wanted to find some other things for his age.

So, anyone have some suggestions for nicely designed/illustrated stuff for babies? Also, any suggestions for other ages? I plan on hunting for things on Etsy and looking at Pinterest for some ideas too.

Re: Resume v. Portfolio

Happy Thanksgiving!

First of all, it definitely shouldn't be "Resume versus Portfolio" - they each help one another and cater to specific audiences. I think it is important to have decent versions of each.

Monique, I think your new resume design looks great and it matches well with your portfolio work on Behance. Employers can see that you are creative, and that your work is clean and fits with the client's identity.

In the past two years, I redesigned my resume and my website to reflect how I've grown as a designer. I started out in undergrad with a travel website geared towards photography and writing, but then I settled down at a corporate position and neglected to travel, write or take photographs.

My resume was bland and text heavy, and my "portfolio" site was a mess of different pieces that were more personal than professional. So I had to think of a way for them to meet in the middle. I came up with my own graphic identity that reflected my work in a corporate setting, while still hinting at those personal details.

I am hesitant to share either of them (which I think is a separate conversation about all of us learning to embrace our work and gaining the confidence to show it), but they are meant to be shared, so I'll just have to get over it. Maybe some of you can give me a few suggestions.

I would say my resume is fairly conservative in terms of design resumes, but that also makes it more versatile for other jobs in communications and marketing. I created a template that I can edit for each new position. Take Jen's advice and make sure to tailor yourself to fit the job.

My resume has the standard personal information (name, phone, email, website), relevant work experience (I list three positions and I change the details depending on what type of position I am applying to), education, skills, and awards and publications. For work experience, I have learned that it is important not only to list what you do, but also the benefits of what you do. For instance, I manage an ecommerce site and handle all of the product photography for my current workplace, which is something that I would include on my resume. But really, the important thing is that since I joined the team, online sales have increased by over 80%. Those are the details that make you more desirable to potential employers!

This article on the 7 Secrets of a Successful Marketing Resume (they're not secrets, and they are definitely not limited to just marketing), was helpful for me. Some takeaways: You are the product that you are selling, know your unique value, and don't try to say too much.


I include the link to my website on the resume and in my email/cover letter, even for non-design positions.

I definitely feel like my website can use some work, but I have learned over the years that having something is better than having nothing. In the past few months I have been trying to post more often with projects and ideas from classes. Since we are doing all the work, we might as well take the time to show it off! I do limit my portfolio to pieces that I am proud of and that I feel convey my unique style.

That being said, my online portfolio is a lot more extensive than the suggested 8 to 12 pieces. I'm not sure if that is good or bad, but it probably ends up being both. On one hand, you can customize your resume based on the job, but you can't really do that with your electronic portfolio, so it seems better to include more. On the other hand, employers don't want to spend a lot of time sifting through content that is not relevant to the position. To combat that, my portfolio is divided into groupings, such as Print, Web, Identity, and Photography.

I am curious, however, if designers often include pdf samples of their work in addition to their resume. In applying for a few graphic designer positions at UB, Stevenson, and UMCP, I feel like I have been at a disadvantage because my resume itself doesn't show of much of my design abilities, and the folks reading the resumes are definitely not going to click through to every website. Has anyone run into this before? Is there a good way to work around it?

Also, does anyone use business cards? Do you consider those a part of your resume/portfolio/freelancing?