Friday, November 21, 2014

Resume Versus Portfolio: What's more important?

Hey guys, 

I don’t know about everyone else but I’m coming to the end of my time here at UB and I’ve been thinking about what’s more important to my success after graduation, my resume or my portfolio.

Resume

Now I understand that a good portfolio is what will set you apart from other designers, but what’s a good portfolio if your resume never gets you in the door to show it. A little while after I started this program I designed a secondary resume for the creative work that I’ve done which is completely different from my actually work experience and I’m not sure if its relevant to add those experiences or not because they don’t really have anything to do with design work and I’ve been going back and forth trying to decide should you separate work experience that has nothing to do with design or incorporate them both.

In doing some research about what I should be doing to beef up my resume and portfolio. I’ve found myself reading lots of articles about the subject and in one of the articles I read. The Creative director said that new designers have a tendency to over design their resume because they want to grab the attention of the decision maker instead of showcasing their achievements, capabilities and work history.

Things I got from articles I’ve read:
  Focus on Clarity
 Explore Different Formats
 Utilize social media

So the question is.

What did you include in your design resume?
What did you exclude?
Did you take a traditional route or a more creative one?

Here are some awesome resume designs: Resume Designs

Before and After My Resume.
       





Portfolio

On the other hand my portfolio. I have been piecing together my portfolio for the entire time that I have been here and it seems like any time I feel like I’m getting it together. I have to rip it apart. I feel like my portfolio is supposed to be this amazing amalgamation of design work.  That only the strongest, perfect, meaningful designs should be incorporated (basically kill your darlings).  But then I look at other peoples design portfolios and boy do they get you depressed.

So my questions are…

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)

Here are some awesome portfolio designs:

Final Question:

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


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