After speaking with many designers through Out of Office Hours and, as a new design leader, interviewing many candidates for a position on my team, I detected a theme with portfolio presentations. First, the candidate provides a link to a portfolio website, and the hiring manager is intrigued by both its content and aesthetics. The portfolio includes long-form posts that the manager can leisurely read. The candidate then excels during the initial phone screens with a fun conversation about their experiences and a summary of a recent project or two. Then comes the most exciting part: the group presentation.
This is something I've struggled to get used to, and have never done before. It's not that I haven't cared, it's that there hasn't been much of an ask or need for it when I lived in the UK, so it's an adjustment for sure.
I can't help but think I would've nailed some jobs had I put the effort into presentations rather than regular portfolio walkthroughs on my website. Pity.
This is something I've struggled to get used to, and have never done before. It's not that I haven't cared, it's that there hasn't been much of an ask or need for it when I lived in the UK, so it's an adjustment for sure.
I can't help but think I would've nailed some jobs had I put the effort into presentations rather than regular portfolio walkthroughs on my website. Pity.
Perhaps! There will be more opportunities to flex your presentation skills. Also "pity" is so Downton.