Table of Contents Introduction Continual Self-Promotion Business Cards Résumé Portfolio Your Own Web Site Networking References and Referrals Interview Tips Summary: Be Prepared

Portfolio

Like your résumé, edit your examples to death because your portfolio is considered representative of your best efforts. If it is flawed, and you haven’t previously explained how/why/what you would improve it, you are sunk. You may want to include a short prefatory note with some of your samples indicating some of the following:

• The context in which it was created (who you worked with, under what circumstances, how long it took, who reviewed it)

• What you like and don’t like about the work

• What you would have done differently if you had the resources

Non-Disclosure

If you are unable to show a portfolio sample for confidentiality reasons, at least show some of the non-proprietary information (e.g. the TOC and index) and a neutered version of the kind of content that will prove your ability to do the job.

Here are some ideas for getting around NDAs so that you can demonstrate your work:

  1. Say you created some in-house training for a new software system installed in an insurance firm. The insurance firm insisted that you sign a NDA when you started working for them. Keep a digital copy of the training and then “neuter’ a copy of what you kept by changing all the proprietary details (like substituting the names of company with XYZ and making up a different logo) so that the reader cannot gain access to intellectual property, but will still be able to understand what you wrote and appreciate how you presented it.
  2. You can also scan a redacted (blacked out) hardcopy of your work, save it in Adobe Acrobat format, and lock the document so it can’t be printed, copied, exported, or altered, then post the file on a password-protected Web site that you control. Then you can supply the URL and password information to your potential client or employer.
  3. Ask your former client for permission to share certain parts of deliverables you created on their behalf. Show them the actual pages, chapters or books you plan to share with others. If the material is sufficiently dated, vague, or irrelevant to their current activities, they may agree to share it. If they do, get the permission in writing and then share it with your prospect.

Multiple Deliverable Types

Bring or submit multiple kinds of deliverables. Show and guide interviewers through the types of samples they have asked for, but also ask them if they would be interested in seeing some of your other work. It can’t hurt.

Writing samples don't always have to have been done on the job. My portfolio contains some articles I have written for newsletters and some of my college project deliverables.