Creating and Maintaining a Portfolio for Employment

A portfolio is a tangible representation of your education and work experience. It is an organized collection of your work which will allow you to demonstrate to a potential employer your strengths, skills and achievements, and an expression of your special qualifications and unique abilities. Use it to show a potential employer why you are the right person for that job or internship.

A portfolio can contain, but is certainly not limited to:

• Your resume
• Letters of recommendation or commendation
• Transcripts
• Class assignments
• Photos of projects or displays
• Outlines of lectures or presentations
• Photographs of yourself at work
• Transcripts
• Certificates of achievement
• Academic recognition
• Examples of brochures, handouts, flyers, etc. you've created or helped create
• Samples of your writing
• Examples of hobbies or special skills

There are two types of portfolios: traditional and electronic. A traditional portfolio is a physical document such as a three-ring binder, presentation folder, artist portfolio or zippered case. An electronic portfolio can be a website or a PowerPoint presentation distributed on a CD. And you don't have to choose between the two, although it might be best to start with the traditional portfolio in order to begin organizing your collection of documents. Then use it as the basis for an electronic portfolio (see below).

Create your portfolio by collecting anything that relates to your academic or work experience. Collect everything (yes, everything, then organize it later). Keep your collection of documents current by adding to it as your experience grows. Then when it comes time to organize you'll have a good selection to choose from.

The projects you will create in this class offer you the perfect opportunity to begin assembling an employment portfolio. In this class you will design and create several documents suitable for portfolio pieces. These assignments allow you the opportunity to create portfolio pieces to exhibit your creativity and ability to use CS3 software.

Next, organize your portfolio to demonstrate your abilities and achievements. There are many different ways to organize your collection including chronological, topic or subject (such as Math or English), and lesson or ability (such as teamwork or communication). Depending on the type of case or binder you choose, organize each item in individual sleeves or pages. Be sure to include a brief, descriptive caption for each item (the exception might be documents such as your resume, letters and transcripts). Use tabbed and labeled dividers to separate sections and keep everything neat and tidy. Add to it as you learn, grow and create new projects; clean out older projects that don't represent your current level of ability or interests.

When the time comes to go to an interview, customize your portfolio for the specific position. Filter out unnecessary documents and include only that which pertains to the particular skills needed for the position. For example, if the job or internship requires public speaking, be sure to include proof of your ability, such as an outline of a presentation you have given or a photo of yourself addressing a group. Limit the size of your portfolio to 15-20 pages. Also, remember that portfolios are a reflection of the individual. In all my years I've never seen two that are alike and there is certainly no single "correct" way to assemble your portfolio. It will represent your personality and unique abilities.

Finally, you can present your portfolio during your interview. Be sure to inform your potential employer that you have a portfolio of related material that you can bring to your interview and ask what material might be important to bring.

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Electronic and "disposable" portfolios are becoming more and more common. Potential employers can view these in advance of your interview. In the case of online portfolios, employers can search the internet looking for a person with your qualifications and contact you via email through a link on your site. Portfolios that are sent to a potential employer on CD or other portable media are considered "disposable" as they may not necessarily be returned to you.

Electronic portfolios are created in much the same way you would your traditional portfolio --- collecting, organizing and customizing --- but instead of compiling everything in a three-ring binder, work is documented electronically (for example, by scanning, digital photos or pdf files) and compiled so that the potential employer can view your work on a computer.

If you have the technical ability, you can create your own. If you're electronically challenged, enlist the aid of a friend or professional. As mentioned above, your electronic portfolio can be in the form of a website, CD or Power Point presentation. Keep in mind that the format should be cross-platform (compatible for either PCs and Macs) and industry-standard software (for example, PDF, html or Power Point).

Further resources

Here are only a few of the dozens of resources on the Web. Read more about portfolios, what they should contain, and how to organize them:

http://art-support.com/portfolio.htm
http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/resumes/a/portfolio.htm
What to Include in your Portfolio (PDF download, Ball State University) 
http://www.uwrf.edu/CareerServices/ResumesAndApplicationMaterials.cfm

Electronic portfolio information and hosting:

http://www.behance.net/
http://www.photoshopcafe.com/tutorials/portfolio/portfolio.htm
http://www.impactfolios.com

Example of online portfolios

http://erinadamsphoto.com
http://www.philipchudy.com
http://www.squidlock.com

Make a Table in InDesign (Without Hammer or Saw)

A table consists of rows and columns of cells. A cell is like a text frame in which you can add text, inline graphics, or other tables. You can create tables from scratch or by converting them from existing text, or export them from other applications. You can also embed a table within a table.

When you create a table, the new table fills the width of the container text frame. A table is inserted on the same line when the insertion point is at the beginning of the line, or on the next line, when the insertion point is in the middle of a line.

Tables flow with surrounding text just as inline graphics do. For example, a table moves through threaded frames when the text above it changes in point size or when text is added or deleted. However, a table cannot appear on a text-on-path frame.

Below are some important features to get you started. For a video tutorial on creating and formatting tables, see www.adobe.com/go/vid0081.

Create a table from scratch

The table you create fills the width of the text frame.

1. Using the Type tool , place the insertion point where you want the table to appear.
2. Choose Table > Insert Table.
3. Specify the numbers of rows and columns.
4. If your table contents will continue on more than one column or frame, specify the number of header or footer rows in which you want the information to be repeated.
5. (Optional) Specify a table style.
6. Click OK.

The row height of a table is determined by the specified table style. For example, a table style may use cell styles to format different parts of the table. If any of these cell styles include paragraph styles, the leading value of the paragraph styles determines the row height of that area. If no paragraph style is used, the document’s default slug determines the row height. (The slug is based on the leading value. In this context, a slug is the approximate height of the highlighting in selected text.)

Create a table from existing text

Before you convert text to a table, make sure that you set up the text properly.

1. To prepare the text for conversion, insert tabs, commas, paragraph returns, or another character to separate columns. Insert tabs, commas, paragraph returns, or another character to separate rows. (In many instances, text can be converted to a table without having to be edited.)
2. Using the Type tool , select the text you want to convert to a table.
3. Choose Table > Convert Text To Table.
4. For both Column Separator and Row Separator, indicate where new rows and columns should begin. Choose Tab, Comma, or Paragraph, or type the character, such as a semicolon (;), in the Column Separator and Row Separator field. (Any character you type appears in the menu the next time you create a table from text.)
5. If you specify the same separator for columns and rows, indicate the number of columns you want the table to include.
6. (Optional) Specify a table style to format the table.
7. Click OK.

If any row has fewer items than the number of columns in a table, empty cells fill out the row.

Selecting Table Cells, Rows and Columns

When you select part or all of the text in a cell, that selection has the same appearance as would text selected outside a table. However, if the selection spans more than one cell, the cells and their contents are both selected.

If a table spans more than one frame, holding the mouse pointer over any header or footer row that is not the first header or footer row causes a lock icon to appear, indicating that you cannot select text or cells in that row. To select cells in a header or footer row, go to the beginning of the table.

Select cells

 Using the Type tool , do any of the following:

• To select a single cell, click inside a table, or select text, and then choose Table > Select > Cell.
  
• To select multiple cells, drag across a cell border. Be careful not to drag the column or row line so that you don’t resize the table.
  

To switch between selecting all of the text in a cell and selecting the cell, press Esc.

Select entire columns or rows

 Using the Type tool , do any of the following:

• Click inside a table, or select text, and then choose Table > Select > Column or Row.
  
• Move the pointer over the top edge of a column or the left edge of a row so that the pointer becomes an arrow shape ( or ), and then click to select the entire column or row.
  

Before and after selecting Row

Select all header, body, or footer rows

1. Click inside a table, or select text.
2. Choose Table > Select > Header Rows, Body Rows, or Footer Rows.

Select the entire table

 Using the Type tool , do any of the following:

• Click inside a table, or select text, and then choose Table > Select > Table.
  
• Move the pointer over the upper left corner of the table so that the pointer becomes an arrow shape , and then click to select the entire table.
  
  
  

  Before and after selecting table
• Drag the Type tool across the entire table.
  

You can also select a table in the same way you select an anchored graphic—place the insertion point immediately before or after a table, and then hold down Shift while pressing the Right Arrow key or Left Arrow key, respectively, to select the table. 

Formatting Tables

Use the Control panel or Character panel to format text within a table—just like formatting text outside a table. In addition, two main dialog boxes help you format the table itself: Table Options and Cell Options. Use these dialog boxes to change the number of rows and columns, to change the appearance of the table border and fill, to determine the spacing above and below the table, to edit header and footer rows, and to add other table formatting.

Use the Table panel, the Control panel, or the context menu to format the table structure. Select one or more cells and then right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS) to display a context menu with table options.

For a video tutorial on creating and formatting tables, see www.adobe.com/go/vid0081.

From Adobe Help Website, http://help.adobe.com/en_US/InDesign/6.0/WSa285fff53dea4f8617383751001ea8cb3f-6ff6a.html

Some More Tables

© North Coast Journal

© North Coast Journal

How Does Your Table Measure Up?

Here's a table that owes its beauty to typography and design alone:

http://mashable.com/2011/07/20/spotify-infographic/

Chart Fodder

These sites are rich with data:

• U.S. Census Bureau
• U.S. Dept. of Education, Research and Statistics

 If those don't float your boat, you can try digging around in these sites: 

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
• U.S. Dept. of the Interior

Visit my Delicious.com Infographic collection for inspirational eye candy:

• http://www.delicious.com/hmharvey1/infographic

Happy hunting!

Study Guide for April 9 Quiz

The quiz scheduled for April 9 will be a sort of "practical" exam: I'll give you a printout of a flier, you will recreate it. You'll need to match the typefaces and layout as precisely as you can.

You will need to be able to:

• Create a new document
• Place, scale and rotate art
• Match basic typefaces
• Create and format text using Character and Paragraph panels
• Create basic shapes such as a rectangle or ellipse
• Use the spelling checker
• Export and print a PDF

Infographics or Infoporn?

You've seen them. You've used them. But just what are infographics? Simply put,

"Information graphics or infographics are graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge. These graphics present complex information quickly and clearly, such as in signs, maps, journalism, technical writing, and education."

-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_graphics

An infographic combines data visualization and illustration to communicate, inform, persuade or even indulge in a little humor.

Basic types of information graphics

There are two types of infographics: objective and subjective.

Objective graphics present information without bias in such a way that the reader can draw his/her own conclusions. They are intended to educate or even document events. In an objective infographic, all data and points of view are represented equally.

Subjective graphics are often intended to be persuasive and may have an agenda. Information may be edited or left out altogether. This is not necessarily bad -- simply be aware of bias inherent to the graphic.

New America Foundation/Good/DeepLocal

A subset of subjective infographics are considered indulgent, entertaining or amusing, particularly because they communicate no data or information whatever. They present content for the sake of the content alone.

What makes a good infographic?

Infographics take on many shapes and forms, from tables and charts to complex illustrations, but any good infographic

• Will have a meaningful relationship between content and form (presentation)
• Will suggest or allow high-level conclusions to be drawn from either a user-defined (objective) or persuasive (subjective) presentation
• Can stand on its own 
• Cites data source(s) for legitimacy
• Shows accurate comparisons (see cookie graph above)
• Is clearly titled, labeled and captioned

When making an infographic:

• Start with data and clear goals or a good question. Organize the information!
• Ask yourself what it is you want people to understand from reading your graphic. Can the reader obtain high-level information from your graphic?
• Avoid the look of objectivity if the goal of the graphic is to be persuasive (in other words, be honest).

Above all, avoid creating infoporn: graphics that contain the "ruse of hierarchy, but without content." These graphics pretend to confer information, but no conclusions can be drawn from the presentation.

Links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_graphics

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Information_graphics