Really, show me your work.
I know that I’m not the only Human Resources professional who receives the occasional “not-so traditional” resume. Like the crowbar from the person who wanted to break in to advertising. Or the shoe from the person who wanted to get their foot in the door. And then there was the broom. Yep, a broom. From the person who would do anything to join our company…even sweep the floors. Seriously, I’ve received all of these. Most recently, I received a T-shirt resume and two cake resumes, which, by the way, my fellow employees loved.
Now, I’m not one to turn down a cake, but when we’re looking for creative talent (art, copy, design), what’s more important than the delivery is the actual product – your portfolio. Show. Me. The. Work. Clever packaging may get the Creative Director to take a look, but it’s what’s in your portfolio that will make us pick up the phone and call you.
img courtesy sxc
We want to see your portfolio – preferably on-line first, but have a hard-copy available and ready for that in-person interview. Your portfolio should be a well-organized and well-thought-out sampling of some of your best work. Be sure to include a little information about each piece you’re showcasing: the client, your role in the project and maybe a sentence or two about the piece. (What was the idea behind it? Was it produced? Did it help the client achieve its goal?) You don’t have to have a copy of every piece you’ve ever worked on in your book, so choose wisely. As Scott Boswell, our Chief Creative Officer, said “What’s in your book says a lot about you. Your book is your worth.”
Here at Doe, we practice Brand Enthusion™. Todd Spencer, our CEO, talked about Brand Enthusion™ here in his blog post. He said “Brand Enthusion™ is grounded in the belief that humans love to share the things they’re passionate and enthusiastic about. This includes enthusiasm for brands.” If there’s one brand you should be enthusiastic about, it’s the brand called You. Your portfolio should be a representation of your brand. You can be creative/clever in how you package your portfolio – that should be an expression of who you are. But at the end of the day, for our creative professionals, it’s about the work.
So show me your work. But if you insist on sending in your portfolio with a cake, my favorite flavor is strawberry.
