Can't build up a portfolio at this rate

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Sindarin
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Can't build up a portfolio at this rate

Post by Sindarin »

Recession hit my door at last, so last week our whole department got laid off due to budget cuts.

I am currently looking for a job but there is a problem, of course any new employer will ask for samples of work. As of lately I've been into bad luck, having like 3-4 sites available for my portfolio, 2 of them have bit the dust/changed, both due to the recession and 1 of them is a collab work and not the quality of work I'd show off on my site. So I am currently left with only 1 site to show off.

How does one go and enrich his portfolio, especially when there's no work available?
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Jonah Bron
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Re: Can't build up a portfolio at this rate

Post by Jonah Bron »

Wow, you're whole department? Too bad.

Well? We're listening.
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flying_circus
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Re: Can't build up a portfolio at this rate

Post by flying_circus »

Sindarin wrote:How does one go and enrich his portfolio, especially when there's no work available?
Sorry to hear :(

Sometimes you've got to do a little work for free. Either find a project to work on, donate your time to a charity you support, or build a personal project that you've been interested in (like a shopping cart, blog, photo gallery, etc).
matthijs
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Re: Can't build up a portfolio at this rate

Post by matthijs »

Sorry to hear that. About your portfolio: I would just put everything in there what you have done. From the recent projects you mention to other things you've done, like personal projects. Anything to show what you are capable of doing. That's what is important for people to know about you.

And indeed, if you really have little to show, you can work on personal and/or free projects to put on your portfolio. But of course be careful how much time you spend there. That time could also be spend talking to people, looking for opportunities, etc
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Bill H
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Re: Can't build up a portfolio at this rate

Post by Bill H »

Have you considered setting with a host, they cost a few bucks a month or so, and loading up each of those defunct sites for purpose of illustration? You could then have a home page, "Here are sites I've built," and put each of the sites you've done in a subdirectory with a link to it. Then when asked for your portfolio, just tell them you have it online and give them the url of your page. Having an "about me" home page can't hurt in a job search in any case.
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Sindarin
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Re: Can't build up a portfolio at this rate

Post by Sindarin »

Thanks for all the replies guys, recently migrating from Actionscript 2 to 3 for good, trying to add a little something to my CV since I've done research and some of the advertising agencies I am looking for still use Flash like mad.
"Here are sites I've built," and put each of the sites you've done in a subdirectory with a link to it.
I do have a website and put up some websites I've done.
That I've considered, I am thinking of the legality of having their property ( logo, documents ) along with the site uploaded under my domain.
or build a personal project that you've been interested in (like a shopping cart, blog, photo gallery, etc).
I have a lot personal projects I want to start. Might be a good opportunity to do so.
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Re: Can't build up a portfolio at this rate

Post by pickle »

The 2 sites that have bit the dust or changed - do you still have screenshots or PSDs of the design? If so, it wouldn't hurt to put them up anyway. The fact that they've changed isn't your fault - your design and code should still be marketable.
Real programmers don't comment their code. If it was hard to write, it should be hard to understand.
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