|
A Good Portfolio
I've interviewed lots of people and seen a lot of portfolios over the
years. Here is what I suggest you do:
Walking into a job interview with a well organized
portfolio and up-to-date samples of your work is as important as prior
job experience. I
got my first job as a Technical Writer and was able to negotiate a
higher salary because I presented work to my interviewers that showed my
experience, talent and ambition.
Keep it Clean
First of all, clean your resume up. Make sure there are no typos or
grammatical errors. Be prepared to leave your portfolio with your future
employer and have a business card to present. I suggest using iprint.com
for business cards because they are both cheap
and fast.
Use a
nice cover, include a disk or CD with all the work that you present in a
hard copy format included on it. Don't give away prior company secrets or proprietary
information, even if it shows your work off in a good light. Feel free to brag. If you've earned any awards, copy and
include them at the end of the portfolio. The length of the portfolio is up to you. Mine is about 50
pages long, divided into chapters with tabs and a table of contents.
|
|
Be as Modern as Possible
If I ever have to interview for a job again, I'll aim to be as modern
as possible. If you really want the job, do something that will "Wow"
your interviewers and will show them that you are interested in the
latest technology in our field. Try something like creating an eBook
with your sample writing that can be downloaded from your website. Embrace technology.
Here is a link to an eBook creation site.
Click here to
learn how to create an eBook
What to
Include
-
Cover page describing what excites you about Technical Writing,
why this specific company looks interesting, why you are qualified
and what you have included in the portfolio. The shorter the better.
Use a clear font and good paper.
-
Your resume. It is okay to include a longer version then the one
you sent in to get the interview but if you do, include the original
resume too.
-
3 samples of Technical Writing:
- a technical sample
- a white paper (especially if the job includes some marketing)
- an explanation of a complex concept broken down into steps with
graphics
For help on what to write about see my article titled: Reading
like a Technical Writer
- References and Letters of Recommendation (both professional and
personal)
- Awards
By the way, all of the above can be created without ever having
worked as a Technical Writer.
|
