Lately, I have been battling candidates over the concept of an online portfolio.  I get it, we live in the Digital Age but we all don’t have to put on our robot suits just yet.  I know it would seem that displaying traditional work in the interactive medium would give you an edge but if it doesn’t work it doesn’t count for anything.  In fact, there is a strong possibility that it will cause unintended sabotage.  {tag]Copywriters[/tag] and traditional Art Directors, if you want to have an online portfolio make sure you get an Interactive Designer/Developer who is GOOD at what they do to help you.  Guess and check in coding is not a viable option.

On a number of occasions over the past few months I have received online portfolios that just won’t cut it.  There are a variety of issues that can come into play.  First, if you are going to put your work on a personal site make sure that the images are large enough and/or the resolution high enough that a potential employer can differentiate if it’s a Johnson & Johnson ad or pixilated kiddy porn.  Second, if you opt for the initial “thumbnail overview” make sure that when someone clicks on the ad that it doesn’t blow up to the size of a billboard.  If you can’t see all four corners of the ad once you’ve expanded your browser to the size of the computer screen then there is a problem.  Agencies don’t want to have to scroll every-which-way to figure out where they are on the ad and what it all means.  If the attempt to view your work goes beyond having their eyes open and pressing “view” then their just going to pack it up and forget about it.  Probably after they’ve told a few people about how annoying it was to deal with. 

The key is to think like an advertiser here which everyone should be able to do since you’ve all made a career out of it.  If HR or a Creative Director can’t open your link and within moments get a feel for what you’re all about as a creative then the message is lost as well as the job.  If you can’t sell yourself in seconds then they’ll assume you won’t be able to think efficiently enough to create an avenue to sell anything else.  And on top of that, your talent and good work gets distorted to make you look like just another “wannabe”.  And if I tell you that your portfolio won’t fly, do not retort that other people really enjoyed your site.  That person was probably your mom because if it was receiving such rave reviews then you’d have a job now wouldn’t you?

When I ask for another means of displaying your work it is because I will not and cannot send it in the current format.  Not because I’m mean but because I know what my client will have to say and my reputation isn’t going down with your bad website.  What do I suggest? A single file .pdf portfolio.  And don’t tell me you don’t have one!  If you have creative work then a .pdf is only a few steps away.  All you have to do is click “combine files” in Adobe Acrobat and choose the pieces you want to add.  It’s quick and simple yet makes all the difference in the world.  What I need you guys as candidates to realize is that I WANT to get you a job.  And any request I have is because I want you to be positioned and presented in the best possible light to our clients.  I am not a slave drive I’m just a girl politely asking you to do what I say. 

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