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PORTFOLIO SERIES - article 6 - HOW TO PREPARE YOUR PORTFOLIO FOR DROP-OFF OR SHIPPING
by Rachel Goldstein
owner of Allfreelancework.com - 1000s of freelance jobs


Many employers will not have time to see you in person, in this case many will ask for you to drop-off or mail your portfolio. This is not an unusual practice, especially when dealing with busy ad agencies. Additionally, some art directors will only look at books on certain days of the week and specific hours of the day. You might also have a scheduled hour that you need to pick up your portfolio.

If the art director is impressed with your portfolio, an interview might be arranged. Otherwise, you might have inserts within your portfolio with critiques of your work. Use the critiques as a learning experience. Most likely, the art director knows what he or she is talking about. You might even land a job with this company at a later time if you take advice from the hiring hand.

When dropping off or mailing your portfolio, original pieces should never be used. Duplicate your originals by either using a service bureau, printing color photocopies, Tearsheets, C-prints, transparencies, photography, or by other inexpensive means.

It isn't universally agreed upon whether a cheap plastic portfolio case should be used or whether a leather or upper grade vinyl should be used. On one hand, it is risky letting someone you don't know borrow your portfolio. Will you ever get it back? Will they take care of it? On the other hand, you are trying to make a good first impression. It is much harder to impress someone with a plastic folder compared to a leather portfolio case. By rule of thumb, I always suggest using a nice leather or vinyl case for drop-offs, and a plastic folder for mailings. By law your drop-off portfolio is the liability of the employer. For this reason, the employer should take care not to damage or lose your portfolio. You still need to be careful, many employers still treat portfolios without any cares. This law doesn't guarantee anything for mailed portfolios.

When mailing your portfolio, you will want to make sure that your presentation is received unharmed. For this reason, take great care in packaging your portfolio correctly. Place all of your samples within a plastic folder. On each side of your folder, place a piece of cardboard or foamboard in order to keep your samples from becoming wrinkled. Since you won't be present when each sample is viewed, you should label each sample. Include a cover letter, a business card, and any promotional item that you feel is necessary. Completely enclose these items within bubble wrap or enclose it in a padded envelope. On the front of the packaging, write 'PLEASE DON'T BEND, ARTWORK ENCLOSED'.

When you are dropping off a portfolio, always remember to have somebody sign out your portfolio. This way you have proof that they are in possession of your portfolio if they lose it. If you plan to pick up your portfolio (some people just leave it for employers to keep on file), include a few samples that they can keep, such as postcards. If the art director is interested in an interview, you will know very shortly. Good luck.

Any comments about portfolios - or do you want to share your knowledge with us? Please send questions and comments to allfreelance@comcast.net