We spend a ton of time here at the aptly named Portfolio Center ranting and raving about getting your Body of Work in order for your portfolio. But what does that mean?
For some of our students the idea of the portfolio is fairly well established: Photographers are looking to get their print book put together, Filmmakers are putting together their reels, Broadcast Journalists are working on their resume tapes, but what about our other majors?
What the &$#@&! can the Portfolio Center do for you?
Well…as it turns out a lot, but as with all things in life first you have to know what you need. Our services come two-fold, of course we handle an assortment of production services, but your first step into our office should be educational. We want our students to be empowered and knowledgeable, savvy and prepared for the industry they are looking to make a living in.
To that end we have cobbled together a sketch here; an overview of what your portfolio might include and some guidelines to collecting materials to that end and finally a brief overview as to what else we can do to help.
What all AEMM, PR & Marketing students share is a need to demonstrate their vision over the course of a project. This is something that can be easily documented through your portfolio. What you really need to exhibit is how you think about your work through all stages, from conception to execution. This is the same if you are a band manager as it is if you are a brand manager (clever!). Employers will look for the same critical thinking skills: what was your vision for the project, how did your engage that initiative and what did you learn in the process.
Another constant here is writing. In addition to your interpersonal skills it is intrinsic to demonstrate that you can communicate concisely. This could be press releases, project proposals, or artist bios. Be sure to have as many people as possible read and reread your work. This could be family members, faculty, or peers. Really you can’t get enough feedback and remember, “writing is rewriting.”
So what does this all mean, this blur of words? Well a few things. If you are still confused it is ok, we are here to help. Please look at our Student Quick Guide and start with your Creative Industry Liaison. We want to help and if we don’t know the answer we will make something up that sounds good, or, introduce you to one of our many industry experts whom can further illuminate the in-and-outs of your industry. We also have events all semester long where we bring in experts from you field for one-on-one meetings (Show Offs) or class based presentations (Sessions). All this with the hope that the more familiar you are with what is expected of you the more honed your Body Of Work will be. Ultimately our services are here to help you present yourself as both professional and confident. The time you invest now will pay off in dividends as your career unfolds.
We promise!
