Good points about portfolios, and I like the article, Caroline =] On the subject of portfolios, and speaking as one "for whom the shoemaker's children has no clothes", I thought I would add a little to the discussion.
My point is that a portfolio/resume is but one way to get a job, and (if you believe "What Color is my Parachute?"), not even the best way. A portfolio/resume can only (at best) illustrate concrete examples of your work, and can never replace direct experience watching you in your native habitat, doing what you do best. If you're like me, and your portfolio web site is an ongoing experiment in Fireworks, and you're just too swamped "doing what you do best" and actually improving things where you work, an alternative (maybe better) way to land a job in Usability is to embed it in everything you do, and (most important) make sure someone versed in usability watches you do it. As time goes on, use your network to learn about companies that do usability well, or those that are open to using it. Whether you're experienced or just out of college, you'll want to find the right company anyway, and you can only learn so much from their web site. Think about it, how much can you learn about a company's culture, how it treats employees, and its approach to usability just from its web site? Same goes for your resume and portfolio. Nothing really replaces what respected people can say about you... Of course, if you're just out of college, and you're just in no position whatsoever to influence a network of usability contacts, you may really need a dynamite portfolio and resume. Sadly, what Caroline says is true...if you only have one chance to get someone's attention, and it has to be in writing or website form, it has to do all of your talking for you, and pretty much should be perfect. Of course, it stands to reason the more you can avoid that situation by demonstrating your experience, the less you'll have to rely on a perfect web site. Bryan http://www.bryanminihan.com -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Caroline Jarrett Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2007 9:17 PM To: Steven Pautz Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [IxDA Discuss] Tips on "breaking into" IA/ID/UxD industry forrecent graduates? Hi Steve (and others searching for jobs) I had a quick look at your portfolio site, and now I'm going to be honest (but I hope you'll take this as constructive criticism). Let's look at it through the eyes of someone looking for a mid-level designer. My goal: I want someone who can design, for a client, today. First thing that hits me: "Painter Training in Virtual Reality Master's Thesis My Master's thesis for the HCI program at Iowa State: a VR-based spray painter training simulation " OK, he's got a master's, that's nice. But is writing a thesis the same as designing? OK, he knows about virtual reality. But I'm churning out [insert rather ordinary type of app/product here]. Does he know anything about ordinary stuff? OK, he can copy text from links to description. And now I know where he got that master's. But is that a prestigious program? Have I ever heard of it? Isn't this just adding to what he's told me? Hmm, I'm getting a bit bored now. Let's look at the text above all this: "This is actively under construction. Content and design are both evolving". Oooh. Sharp intake of breath...and not really in a good way. Steve, I'm not going to carry on like this. All I can say is: I don't think your current portfolio is doing you justice. A longer exploration of it convinced me that you've got a lot to offer. Have another go at it. Think again about your audience, do some testing of your site, use all those skills that you've got. If in doubt about what to do, buy Ginny Redish's book 'Letting go of the words' and let her guide you. And jobseekers in general might be interested in this short article, more of a rant actually: "How not to get a job in usability" http://www.usabilitynews.com/news/article1841.asp Caroline Jarrett [EMAIL PROTECTED] 01525 370379 Effortmark Ltd Usability - Forms - Content : : On 10/30/07, Steven Pautz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: : > I'm also trying to "break into" the field. I've haven't been searching : > nearly as long, but I'm having some similar experiences. : > http://stevenpautz.com/portfolio/ ________________________________________________________________ *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://gamma.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://gamma.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://gamma.ixda.org/help ________________________________________________________________ *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://gamma.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://gamma.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://gamma.ixda.org/help
