The Job Search - Portfolio Creative

Your Career: Reflection and Goal Setting for the New Year

December 2, 2016

By Kristen Harris “Alice: Which way should I go?Cat: That depends on where you are going.Alice: I don’t know.Cat: Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.” ― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland Do you know where you’re going? It’s important to figure that out, because you’re going to end up somewhere. Let’s make sure it’s actually where you want to be. The holidays are a great time for goal setting and personal reflection. It’s true! In-between the food, friends, family and celebrations, the end of the year is a perfect

3 Great Reasons To Always Be Updating Your Resume

September 2, 2016

By Catherine Lang-Cline When you lose your job, or choose to find another job, it is the natural first step to update your resume. But waiting to update it after 3, 5, or 10 or more years can work against you. Here are 3 great reasons to always be updating your resume. It is difficult to remember all of your accomplishments. Unless you are taking notes as you go, I am sure that you have achieved a lot more then you can remember on your job. It is much more

You Online: Ten Tips for a Better Profile Photo

April 26, 2016

By Kristen Harris When we first started Portfolio Creative, one of my advisers told me I really needed to add a picture of myself to my LinkedIn profile. “No, I hate pictures of myself! I’m not photogenic, no one wants to see a picture of me.” She didn’t care about my hangups. “Get over it. People like to know who they’re doing business with. Get a headshot taken and put it up there.” She was right. In this digital world we ‘connect’ with people long before we meet them, and

Hottest Jobs 2016: Marketing and Web in Top Ten

March 29, 2016

By Kristen Harris CareerBuilder’s recently released List of Hottest Jobs for 2016 highlights shortages in the marketing/creative sector. Which means opportunity for both those in the field and anyone interested in joining it. Of the 20 hottest jobs, Marketing Manager is #3, and Web Developer is #9. What exactly does this mean? Long answer…the list is comprised of occupations where more ads were posted than people hired. It also includes other data to indicate that these are well-paying occupations, have seen healthy growth, and are expected to continue to be

Freelance Prediction: The Future is Now

January 8, 2016

By Kristen Harris Freelancing is the future, and it’s here now. Looking at both the current state and future predictions in the American workforce, freelancing is going to continue to grow. First, a definition: Whether they’re called freelancer, independent contractor, contingent worker, self-employed, free agent, gig worker, or something else, there are a lot of people working outside of a traditional full time employee/employer arrangement. Although the work arrangements may vary, for simplicity, these people are often lumped together under the category “freelancer.” Depending on which report you read, somewhere

Good News: Creative Jobs Rank High for Work-Life Balance

December 1, 2015

By Kristen Harris Good news, creative people! According to a recent survey, our jobs rank pretty high on the work-life balance scale. 6 of the Top 10 jobs on the 25 Best Jobs for Work-Life Balance (2015), list are in the marketing/creative space. Why is work-life balance so important? Research shows significant ties between work-life balance and job satisfaction. Workers who are able to not just juggle, but actually weave together, all parts of their life tend to be more satisfied. In fact, the millennial generation expects this. They anticipate

Gauge The Fit Before You Commit

September 29, 2015

By Kristen Harris “Fit” seems to be something we’re always looking for–whether we’re seeking a love interest, career options, or a new pair of jeans. Cinderella’s glass slipper fit only her dainty foot. When Goldilocks checked out the dwelling of the three bears, one bed was too big, one too small, and one was just right. Not only found in fairytales, “just right” is an important factor in finding the right kind of work as well. But what exactly does “find the right fit” mean when it comes to job

Creative Portfolios: Ten Tips for Showing Off Your Work

September 2, 2015

By Kristen Harris In the creative industry, a portfolio is one of your most important tools. Whether you’re looking for a new position, seeking freelance work, or interviewing for a promotion, you’ll be asked for samples of your work. The portfolio’s function hasn’t changed, but its form certainly has. Gone are the days of lugging around huge art portfolios filled with printed pieces and tear sheets. Today so much creative work is electronic, portfolios are often fully or partially electronic as well. Beyond the format of your portfolio, the content

Back to School: Learning Never Ends

August 5, 2015

By Kristen Harris It’s Back to School time! The ads are running, and stacks of notebooks, folders, and pens are popping up on endcaps everywhere. This time of year gets me really excited—I loved school, and I still love buying a fresh pack of pens. But Back to School is not about the pens, notebooks or new clothes; it’s about getting back to learning. While there is no official Back to School season for working professionals, our learning never ends; it’s a year-round, lifelong activity. And, no matter who you

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