There’s nothing that really sums up qualifications like a portfolio sample. Whether you’re a marketing professional, an advertising or public relations specialist, or a writer, samples are powerful tools in lining up the next job. They silently reflect what we know how to do (hopefully.)
Just looking for freelance work can consume a lot of our time. But, every so often, it’s a good idea to take a look at samples (along with resumes and cover letters) with fresh eyes to make sure that they are indeed effective.
It seems more and more job listings ask that applicants include a link to samples. I have yet to put my portfolio on a Web page, but I am planning on making the move soon. And there are certainly benefits to it. When done well it can look very professional. There’s the opportunity to showcase a large amount of work and range. And it helps when applying to jobs that aren’t local.
Of course there’s always the option of attaching samples to emails, but some places don’t allow this practice. I still think nothing beats a real, tangible sample especially for pieces like magazine articles, brochures, direct mail, newsletters and ads. If your a blogger or your specialty is online vs. print, online management of your portfolio makes a lot of sense.
As more opportunities emerge for bloggers and web marketing/writing, it seems we’ll be moving further into an electronic age. How do you forward samples of your work when applying for a job?
Laurel