When was the last time you actually took a critical look at your own portfolio? If you don’t have an answer to this question then you are in the wrong. Before you landed that first job, you spend weeks developing a portfolio that showcased all of the talent you had to offer. If you are older like myself, then you actually had a physical portfolio with real goddamn paper in it. Putting that collection together was like a soccer mom who was scrapbooking the world’s largest collection of baby pictures and was only able to use black.
I will be the first to admit that after I landed my entry into the design world that I didn’t take another look at that portfolio, it was buried in a closet for good. After a few years go by, and you have some experience under your belt, you want to grow and move forward in your career.
You need a portfolio.
When I was on the market for my second job, enough time had passed that online portfolios were finally a thing. I honestly didn’t even use my old portfolio or any of the work in it, I started fresh. You are going after an experienced position; don’t come off unexperienced by throwing in a lot of college projects unless they are damn good.
Here is where all this starts to make sense, and I was guilty of it as well... once I moved to a website for my work it was easier to fall into the trap of thinking a piece was still good, or showed you at your best. Many of us want to have a good variety in our portfolio showing what we are capable of, but neglect to capitalize on our strengths by narrowing our showcased pieces. The worst thing you can do when you look at your work is say, "it's good enough". You have become complacent.
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”
In 2015, I took a look at what I was presenting in my portfolio, and really took a critical look at it. Most of it no longer met my expectations of what my work should be. In my head, I poured gasoline on all of it, lit a cigarette, and in slow motion, watched as my work went up in flames. Don’t settle for mediocre, hold yourself to a higher standard, and always seek to refine yourself.
Most of the portfolio pieces I was hanging onto have since been removed. In its place I have placed my best foot forward, and continue to ask myself if something is good enough. My personal revitalization of my portfolio is ongoing.
You don’t have to be looking for a job to have or update your portfolio. Examine it frequently, critique yourself, and use those observations to make yourself better. No one is going to push you to make yourself better, so go ahead, start a fire, and find out what strengths you have, and distribute your talent into the future.