To use a traditional portfolio for interviews or not?

AlexLegg · May 2010

Just wanted to gauge opinion on whether anyone takes a traditional portfolio to job interviews?

I was having a chat with my work colleagues, and we had differing opinions.
I have always taken a traditional portfolio, with print outs of work, and maybe some extra things like life drawings etc. Where as my colleague just pitches up with a CD of his work!

So what does everyone else do/recommend?
Take a traditional portfolio of printed images etc. With show reel on a CD/DVD
CD/DVD - Show reel and images
Take your laptop with your work on
Or maybe just use their internet and connect to your URL

ZacD · May 2010

Bring at least 2 resumes, a flash drive, and have a website, and you might want to have your work in a 3rd place in-case the internet dies and you crush your flash drive, like printed or a dvd, or dropbox/email. Normally game art doesn't print too well.

I've heard of some places still expect a printed folio, so you might just want to bring a small binder with resumes/folio/flash drive/dvd.

Wahlgren · May 2010

On my interviews my work has never come up, they look at the portfolio first to determine if you're worth it at least in my case. Why bring it to them a second time when they already have it?

Or maybe I've just dealt with studios that don't care about your portfolio after the initial check up to see if you got the skills needed.

Or maybe I'm just misunderstanding this whole thread.

Farfarer · May 2010

I've always brought along a printed version of my folio and it's always been looked at/gone over. (But I've brought a bunch of images on a flash drive, too, just in case.)

I think it's a bit easier/more casual to sit over a table and have a printed version than crowding round a screen.

Ben Apuna · May 2010

Another thread on the same topic.

I'd take a printed portfolio with me, far easier to show than a digital version.

EDIT:

One more thread that also touched on this issue, among others...

fearian · May 2010

I think its worth it. If you have a shoestring budget, its fine to skip, but it certainly doesn't hurt to bring some printed work. And it really might help!

Mark Dygert · May 2010

Take what you can't put online in with you in some way and always bring a few copies of your resume. It can help to put some things they haven't seen online, in your printed version. Alternate views are good just so its not an exact printscreen of your folio.

I bring a printed version with me, and I've interviewed people who bring it in and its nice for everyone involved for a few reasons.

It helps to keep them from boring holes through your forehead with their laser vision because now your not the only thing to focus on.

It gives people something to do with their hands which can put everyone a little more at ease.

It can be viewed while talking, unlike viewing it on a screen where it requires a little more concentration. It can be a little restrictive when it can only be viewed on the screen. Paper has a better viewing angle than a screen.

Viewing it on a screen someone has to drive, that's normally you, giving you the best viewing angle and hopefully you don't have a big head... It can put you in the awkward position of having to give mini presentation on your work.

Ever been looking at something over someones shoulder and they annoy the crap out of you by scrolling or clicking a link... yea avoid the over the shoulder scorn by letting them control their view time. Paper helps with this a lot, it lets each person control the viewing time.

With a printed version you can normally avoid the whole mini presentation. Which for me is good, I can easily start to critique my work rather than talk it up.

Puts a face on your work.

Bringing a printed version in helps put a face to your work. They may have looked at dozens of portfolios and be interviewing a few people each day. It can be hard to keep each candidate separate.

It helps to be prepared. Maybe the conference room doesn't have net access or they don't drag a laptop in for interviews, who knows.

benclark · May 2010

I would say cover all the bases, take it on USB, have it online and take a printed version.

Having my stuff printed out really helped me in my interview, it gives the people interviewing you a chance to ask specific questions about your work. Its also like you are presenting them with a body of your best work, rather than telling them 'go to this website, click on that page there, and then scroll down etc'

Autocon · May 2010

My work never came up in the terms of them wanting to look at a printed version in my interviews.

When I interviewed the artists asking me questions always seemed to know my work already well enough and already had questions they wanted to ask me about it before I got there.

Printed, USB, Website is always a good idea though. Dont bring a printed folio if you cant get things to print in good quality though. Nothing worse then them thinking wtf is this trashy quailiity because you went to kinkos or you have a shity printer

javi · May 2010

I always have my work printed into a portfolio with 2 copies of my resume, and a sketchbook. Infact the job I have now, one of the main factors to me getting the job, is that I had a sketchbook filled with drawings.

What Autocon is saying is right though, make sure its printed out in good quality. Use good printers and good paper, it makes all the difference. Same thing for your resume, good paper, properly stapled.

To use a traditional portfolio for interviews or not?

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