Electronic Portfolios

Electronic documentation should be the forte of technical writers, so why not compile an electronic portfolio? An electronic portfolio showcases required technical skills and demonstrates that you understand how to apply that prowess. However, electronic portfolios are like electronic sales kiosks—they can increase sales, but they won't replace the salesperson.

I believe an electronic portfolio should supplement, not replace your conventional portfolio. You are still the primary salesperson, and, no matter how good your electronic portfolio is, you still have to make a good impression in the interview.

Just Leave It

An interview is not a good time to get out your electronic portfolio. You just can't use and discuss your electronic portfolio as easily as a conventional portfolio. Computers do not facilitate conversation—they disrupt it. The other issue is control—most interviewers are not going to let you run their computers, but they will let you present your hardcopy portfolio. You can highlight whatever projects or areas you believe are most appropriate. You just cannot do this on a computer.

Leave your electronic portfolio with the interviewer so that they can review it at their leisure. It should be designed to sell you when your are not present.

Challenges

Your electronic portfolio needs to be well designed, easy-to-use and comprehensive. It should be interactive and aesthetically pleasing. Make it a stand-alone application if possible. Don't try to get to complicated, but use something other than PowerPoint for your electronic portfolio. Download a demo copy of DemoShield for quick, easy authoring or try Director if you are seriously into complex multimedia.

Conventional wisdom says to target your electronic portfolio for the lowest common denominator—but I say target it for the LCD of your dream job. Do you really want to work in a company that is using 386's with 14" VGA monitors?

Electronic portfolios present the same challenges found in all electronic documentation—this is why I believe electronic portfolios are such a good idea. You show an understanding of real-world problems by dealing with these issues in your electronic portfolio:

Compatibility
Is your portfolio a stand-alone application or does it require preinstalled software? I may not even have Acrobat reader, let alone FrameMaker on my minuscule hard drive.

  1. Are your MS documents in '95 or 2000 format?
    I don't want to upgrade from Word 95 just to read your documents.

  2. What about fonts?
    No, I don't have Tupelo Classic Bold Italic on my machine.

  3. Does the portfolio require any plug ins or viewers?
    OK, I'll load Acrobat, but I refuse to load ShockWave.

  4. Is installation required?
    I don't like installing programs for a one-time look.

  5. What about RAM, processor and hard drive requirements?
    Check your electronic portfolio on different machines before your distribute it.

Is it Easy?
    Does everything work? Is the interface easy to understand?

  1. Can I find what I am looking for?
    Make sure there are different ways find information. Create a simple index or site map.

  2. Does it look good?
    Make sure each screen has a similar look and feel.

  3. Are there any interactive elements?
    Include links to your web site, buttons for email and make sure you have your address and phone number prominently displayed.

Bandwidth and Speed
Even though your portfolio may be on a CD, you should still address speed and bandwidth.

  1. Do I need a supercomputer to view this portfolio?
    Ensure the graphics and embedded applications are not so large that my P233 crashes when I load it.

  2. Do I need a high-end graphics card?
    Ensure your portfolio looks good on my 400 x 600 laptop or my 21" monitor with 11920 x 1200 resolution.

  3. Is sound an option or requirement?
    Please let me toggle it on and off, and don't make me miss anything because I don't have a sound card.

Compatibility, ease-of-use, bandwidth and speed are important issues for any company hiring a technical writer. If you address these challenges in your electronic portfolio you will be miles ahead of other newbies. If you don't want to deal with these issues, don't attempt an electronic portfolio.

Summary

Electronic portfolios are a great marketing tool, but they do their best job when you are not around. Your prospective employer will look at it at their convenience and it is like having a personal salesperson working for you when you're not there. If its good, they will be calling you soon after reviewing it.
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© 1999, Paul Dunham