Portfolios: Electronic vs. Traditional
As we move further into the tecnnological age, electronic portfolios seem to be the direction we’re headed in where portfolios are concerned. Let’s take a look at some important points on this subject.
Electronic Portfolios
Electronic portfolios are designed to supplement your traditional portfolio — not replace it.
Web-based electronic portfolios are designed for convenience. They are accessible 24/7/365 from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection.
Electronic portfolios can be used in your job search as sort of an appetizer, or preview of your work. You may send an email a day or two prior to the interview reaffirming the time and place, etc., and include a link to your portfolio — invite them to have a look. The same can be said for following up with a note after the interview, thanking them for their time while including the link to your portfolio. This is a great way to leave a lasting impression on the company or interviewer.
Traditional Portfolios
There’s something to be said about a tangible portfolio, where pieces can be taken out and touched, held, and discussed. This enables you the opportunity to talk about each project — relating your process — which can and will bolster your odds of landing the job. This also goes a long way in leaving a lasting impression on the interviewer. There is a certain aesthetic to traditional portfolios.
What happens if you show up for an interview with an electronic version of your portfolio and the interviewer does not have the technology in place to support it? Make sure you're covered in this area.
Traditional portfolios were here first and they’re here to stay. In order to fully grasp where portfolios are going in terms of their importance in the process of self-promotion, we must first take a look at where they began.
