[Nykc]

Everybody in the industry be it graphics design, web developers and coder's alike should all have some sort of portfolio to show clients. What are some of the creative ways you built your portfolio.

I am in the process of building mine up but usually combine both a webpage and a notebook with print media samples. I created some menu's for restaurants and newsletters etc..

One creative way is to buy some cheap USB drives and hand those out to potential employers.

Discuss...

[markhazlett9]

Talking to employers on the site... what is the effectiveness to you on having a web based portfolio?

[Nykc]

I have been to several interviews where the employer visited my web portfolio. It really comes in handy and if you are good at reading body language - can help you gauge your current stance.

I also know some interviewers will ask you programming questions or for example:

"Explain the concept of the box model in CSS"

With knowledge of the industry and a professional resume, a good portfolio can back your credibility to your claims.

This post has been edited by Nykc: 21 November 2008 - 01:46 PM

[P4L]

What about if you are like me, and have only homework assignments from school that you have written? Do you include those in your portfolio, or do you leave them out? And if you do put them in your portfolio, do you work on them so that they look/run better, or leave them as is, but show different versions of the same project to show the progression of your ablities?

This post has been edited by P4L: 21 November 2008 - 01:46 PM

[akozlik]

Ha, I've been so busy with work I don't even have a portfolio up yet. It's horrible, and something that should definitely be prioritized. Just a basic site should do for you though, depending on what your skill set is. If you're a programmer, I recommend just grabbing a template and filling it out with some content. If you're a designer, it's really important that your website reflect the quality of your work. Take the time to design something really nice for yourself.

[Nykc]

Use your own judgment and try to think like the interviewer. Is this assignment something that could be useful. I wrote some banner rotators before as well as some forms and calculators and I display them. Improve upon them as necessary.

Not only did I have a portfolio page, I have a personal sandbox or playground in which I can refer to old code that I do not share with anyone.

I would not use "Hello World" as a way to gauge your expertise in Java - but if you wrote a handy calculator or a useful program then by all means use it.

[KYA]

I like the USB idea.

I'm going to get working on that after this semester.

[gabehabe]

Portfolios. For software developers. Best way to go:

1) SourceForge.
2) Get your code out there!

Link to them in your applications.

I got my job based on my tutorials here at DIC. A good portfolio is the most valuable thing you can get.

Thanks for the reminder, actually. I might buy me some web hosting and get a portfolio set up now. I've got a job, but it's nice to have the stuff out there.

[akozlik]

Quote

I got my job based on my tutorials here at DIC. A good portfolio is the most valuable thing you can get.

Thanks for the reminder, actually. I might buy me some web hosting and get a portfolio set up now. I've got a job, but it's nice to have the stuff out there.

What'd you end up finding? I think I remember you a looking around a while back.

[richiebee]

where do i find the cheap usb sticks?

[Nykc]

Target in US has 128MB ones for around $4.00

I am sure you can find them all over the internet. And that is just one suggestion.

You can use Cd Roms, Websites, DVD's - anything.

[richiebee]

thanks great idea!

[gabehabe]

akozlik, on 26 Nov, 2008 - 07:29 PM, said:

What'd you end up finding? I think I remember you a looking around a while back.

Database software in FoxPro. Not the most interesting of languages, but I've already got my own project there, and, being me, I've added extra functionality into it, with stuff like autocomplete and funky dropdowns.

[akozlik]

gabehabe, on 29 Nov, 2008 - 12:26 PM, said:

Database software in FoxPro. Not the most interesting of languages, but I've already got my own project there, and, being me, I've added extra functionality into it, with stuff like autocomplete and funky dropdowns.

Cool man. Congrats on finding something.

[fashionnugget]

If you're passing out portfolios, heres 100 blank 700mb cds for $15.00.