Posts Tagged Portfolio
Is Your Portfolio Properly Seasoned?
Posted by in Uncategorized on November 11, 2009
The effect interest rates have on the performance of our economy cannot be overstated. Understanding how interest rates affect the business cycle will help you know how to structure your portfolio to achieve growth while minimizing risk. Read on to learn more.
Would you wear a winter parka on a Florida beach in the middle of summer? Of course not. I doubt any of us would wear a bikini to go ice fishing in the middle of a Minnesota winter. I know I wouldn’t!
Clothes are a tool that is used to help regulate our body temperature. They protect us from the cold or keep us from over-heating. Their proper use determines our comfort from one season to the next. We don’t want our body temperature to wildly fluctuate up and down.
It’s the same when it comes to investing. Unfortunately, many don’t understand the changing of economic seasons and therefore fail to adjust the clothing used in their portfolio. As many saw in 1997-2000 and 2000-2002, the investment clothes that work in one season are close to useless in another.
There are economic business cycles. There are seasons when the economy is expanding, other’s when it is contracting. There are also times (called peaks and troughs) that are like spring and fall, times of transition from one major cycle to the other.
Interest rates are one key in determining where we are in that cycle. The Federal Reserve uses the rate it charges on over night loans to banks (the Fed Funds rate) as an accelerator or brake on the economy.
It may seem strange that small changes in the over night rate banks pay could have an impact on the overall economy. Banks lend more money then they receive in deposits. That “extra” money comes from inter-bank loans and is referred to as the Fed Funds Market. It stands to reason that if a bank pays more on what it borrows, it will have to earn more on what it lends.
The Federal Reserve controls the Fed Funds rate by putting money into the inter-bank loan market or by taking it out. Just as supply and demand causes the price of a stock to go up or down, so is with the interest rate charged in the Fed Funds market. By putting money in or taking money out the Federal Reserve is able to artificially control the supply demand balance.
Interest rates affect every area of our economy. If you have to pay a higher interest rate on a mortgage your monthly payment is going to be higher. Since you can only afford to spend so much a month on that payment, the interest rate affects the how much home you can afford.
Likewise, most businesses borrow money to fund expansion, cover inventory and to smooth out cash-flow. Just like the homeowner, they have a limited amount they can afford in payments each month. The amount they borrow affects whether they can build bigger plants, buy more computers or hire additional employees.
Different industries do well in different parts of the economic cycle. The construction industry will perform best during periods of low interest rates because low interest rates are designed to spur growth. When people and businesses can borrow at low rates they will build new homes, skyscrapers and factories.
Similarly, we each tend to buy the same amount of toothpaste and toilet paper regardless of where interest rates are. The companies that make those essentials aren’t going to see the big change in demand for their product that a construction company might.
Equity investments can be categorized as cyclical or non-cyclical based on how they are affected by changes in the economic cycle. The proportion of each in a portfolio will greatly affect the overall volatility. I recommend having a portfolio of high-quality non-cyclical companies. You can then introduce cyclical companies as the seasons change to add additional growth. Make sure you adjust the cyclicals as the seasons change.
Economic cycles don’t just affect stocks. They determine whether it is a good time to own bonds, and what type of bonds to own, as well. The last several years, interest rates have been at historic lows. You don’t want to lock in low rates for 30 years. When interest rates are above the historic norms, that’s when you want to stretch out your maturities.
Think of your investment portfolio as a living, breathing entity. Recognize that the investments used in it will determine your comfort level as the economic seasons change. Doing so properly will allow you to increase your return while reducing your risk. Take advantage of economic cycles. Don’t let them take advantage of you.
http://www.guardingyourwealth.com.
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Factor Model For Portfolio Management
Posted by in Uncategorized on November 7, 2009
Before going further into the articles, let me give you a brief idea about Portfolio Management. Portfolio management is more than running multiple projects. Each portfolio needs to be assessed in terms of its’business value and adherence to strategy. Basically, a portfolio is designed to achieve a defined business objective or benefit.The three-factor model, also known as the Fama and French three-factor model, and was developed in 1993 by Eugene Fama and Kenneth French. This three-factor model is widely canvassed by fund managers and investors to analyze and return consociated market/instruments to make the highest return for the risk taken.CAPM (Capability Asset Pricing Model) model is the original model of the three-factor model. Hence, it is necessary to understand this model, for a good understanding of the three-factor model. The formula of CAPM is: R= Rf+ beta * (Rm -Rf), where R is the return, Rf is the return rate of risk-free investments, beta is the risk associated with a security market, and Rm is the return rate expected from the market. CAPM model successfully explains around 80% of returns.The formula of three-factor model is: R= Rf + beta* (Rm-Rf) + Bs*SMB+ Bv* HML.SMB is called as the Small Minus Gap, and HML is known as “High Minus Low”. Bs and Bv are beta corresponding to small cap and large cap portfolios having values of either 0 or 1.The idea behind this model is that, value and small cap stocks often outperform large- cap stocks. The potential reasons for this could be a higher reward for making up higher risk taken and early mispricing of equities. Fundamentally small-cap companies often show better growth and this is reflected on their stock prices.This model has helped a number of investors and fund mangers to calculate their risks and profits, thereby radiating their portfolio management and belittling risk strategies.
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Steps for Making a Binder Portfolio – Part 2 of 3
Posted by in Uncategorized on November 7, 2009
Your second step in making a binder portfolio is to assemble what you have at present to include. Also, make a list of other items you would like to have in your portfolio. Usually 12 – 24 items makes a good portfolio, and if you have twelve items now that is enough for a start. You may need or want to make arts or crafts to show what things you can do.
For some artists, their work is very large or involved, such as painting murals or harpsichords. It may not be practical to have a dozen projects like this completed to show in a portfolio before you begin your business. In this case draw good sketches of designs you could do, preferably in color.
Give yourself a deadline of when you will complete your portfolio, and if you must complete new items for it schedule your projects so that you do not delay. You should be able to complete at least one item a week. Every day without a completed portfolio you run the risk of losing business and income. Plan to complete your portfolio in one month’s time or less.
Your third step in most cases is to work out a system for photographing your arts or crafts. This is particularly true if your art or craft is 3-dimensional or large. Either film or digital cameras will work for a binder portfolio, but you will definitely need to get prints. A tripod will definitely help you to take better photos.
You also need to consider the background to your photographs and the lighting. For 2-dimensional work this usually means a clean white wall and some way of hanging your work. For 3-dimensional work this usually means a table with white paper or a white sheet draped from above on the wall behind the object and over the table in a C curve, so that no distracting edges appear in the photo. Choose a particular place in your home where you can get good results and photograph your work easily as you make it, without a lot of hassle to set it up.
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Investing: Sucessfully Transitioning Your Portfolio
Posted by in Uncategorized on November 7, 2009
At some point you will need to make changes to your investment portfolio. Often, investors and their advisors make wholesale changes all at once. But that’s not really in your best interest. Read on to find out how to successfully adjust your portfolio.
In a previous article I discussed the importance of matching the investment strategy used to expected market conditions. Using the wrong strategy at the wrong time can be devastating–as many found out in 2000-2002. In follow up articles I provided specific strategies to significantly increase portfolio income, and other strategies designed to double your money every 5-7 years in single-digit return markets.
Perhaps you’ve decided to make changes to your portfolio. It may be to take advantage of the strategies I’ve discussed. Or it could be because your life situation and needs have changed. Or it might be that you’ve neglected your portfolio garden and there are as many weeds as vegetables. Regardless of the reason, keep these steps in mind. They’re the ones I follow when transitioning a client’s portfolio.
1) You need to analyze your existing portfolio. Take a close inventory of your investments and research their performance. The last thing you want to do is to cut down the wrong plants while you are weeding your garden!
You can find performance information for many investments at www.morningstar.com. It takes more work but it’s better to calculate your actual return. Subtract what you invested into a particular holding from what it’s worth now. If dividends and interest aren’t being reinvested, then add any dividends/interest paid to that figure. Divide that figure by your initial amount invested. For instance, if the result is .015, then that investment earned 1.5%. Look at that return in relation to the length of time you’ve held it to determine whether or not it needs to go.
2) You may need to change your attitude toward investments. It’s easy to become attached to a particular investment. Don’t. It’s there to make you money. If it does, great. If not, find another that will. Constantly ask yourself, “If I were investing this money today, would I buy this investment?” If not, then it’s a weed.
3) See if there are surrender penalties or other charges associated with getting rid of the weeds. If it is a mutual fund, there are penalties associated with B shares and sometimes with C shares. Annuities are notorious for onerous penalties.
4) Wait for the right time to sell your weeds. There may be an investment that you want to change that is currently trending up. Don’t sell it then; wait until it starts to decline in value. Doing this for my clients has earned them several percent just by watching and waiting.
5) Conversely, after the weed is sold, don’t feel rushed to jump right into another investment. There are cycles to every type of investment. Wait for the right time. If it’s a stock, determine a buy ceiling–you’ll only buy it if it trades at or below that price. Then wait. Even if it takes months, it’s better to keep that money in cash than to pay too much.
6) Closely tend your new garden. We can’t throw some seeds in the ground, ignore them and expect to come back later to reap a harvest. Gardens must be tended. So does a portfolio. No matter what the investment, it is important for you to monitor each one and to make adjustments when necessary.
Many advisors want you to think that if you buy a certain product, all your worries will be gone. You can set it and forget it, they say. It’s not true. In these cases, they are the ones who are going to set it and forget it! You’re better on your own than using one of these advisors.
Like gardening, investing is hard work. There are some that really enjoy it, while others just want the harvest. If you don’t have the time to properly tend your garden then find a professional who will do it for you. Ask them how they would transition your portfolio. If they don’t follow these steps it’s a clear sign they aren’t the advisor for you
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Building a Photographic Portfolio
Posted by in Uncategorized on November 4, 2009
When you start looking for photography jobs and assignments, the first thing your client wants to see is some samples of your photography work. These samples collected together are called a portfolio. Your first step to making money from your photography is building a credible portfolio of your best work. There are several ways that you can do this.Working at a non-profit charitable event: Non-profit charitable events are great experience and you will give you the chance to collect a lot of good photographic samples from these events for your portfolio. You may not get paid but you will gain a lot of experience and you will get some good shots.Voluntary work: you can volunteer for some jobs and do them free just to build up your experience and portfolio. I have done free photography for bands in he past and had a real good time doing it.Collecting some of your best shots together: As you take photos you can save some of your best to put in your portfolio. When photography is your hobby you will find many places to take pictures. I like to pick a theme and develop some photography shots on that theme. For example I live near the sea, so I would go to the beach and take loads of pictures, then when I get home sort the best ones out. Then do some photoshop enhancements to the pictures. But would be editing through to find the best ones so that I can use in my portfolio.Taking some pictures of family and friends events: This is great way to learn how to take photos of people. You can take pictures at family or friends events and keep a few for your portfolio, also they make great gifts to give to them. This will also give you good experience to perfect your skills and this will look good in the portfolio. It is important to know just what area of photography you will be specializing in before you start to build your portfolio. Once you have decided this you can then start to build up a good collection of photo portfolio samples relevant to the type of photography you are into. It is good to show off your range of skills as a photographer. Take different photos from different angles and really show that you can master the different lighting set ups.Make sure that you present your portfolio extremely well. Put your photos in nice looking portfolio folder that shows your professionalism. You can create a slick laptop presentation and show them off in style. A good idea would be to design a logo or think about creating a brand for yourself. So you can use this on all your photo samples, website and promotional material.Your portfolio is critical to your photography business. Make sure that you take care to prepare it very well. It is your first introduction to your clients and first impressions are lasting ones. Your portfolio is also the means that your prospective clients will know that they can trust you to take fantastic pictures for them. You need to make your portfolio stand out from the rest. So the more time you take grooming the portfolio the better. Build confidence and trust in your prospective client.
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How Do you Choose a Web Designer?
Posted by in Uncategorized on November 4, 2009
Its evolution. Simply put, every business needs a web site, for several reasons. If you are asking this question, you already know your business will need a web site, or it needs a new web site. Now it’s time to find the designer.
Before you even go looking for a web designer, sit down and determine what you need, what you want, and what you can afford. You know what kind of business you have (or will have) and you know what you what to offer people from your web site. Determine if you need a brochure site to promote your business or an e-commerce site to sell your products, and what types of add-ons you want (blog, newsletter, user accounts, forums, podcast, audio/video, Flash). The more you need + the more you want = the more it will cost.
Next you need to determine if you want to use a local company or designer or if you are okay with global pros working on your project. Both have benefits.Local
You can go into the office with your notes jotted down and meet with a real liver person to discuss what you need and find out what they can do and have done. If they have a local office, it means they have been around for awhile and will likely remain. You can check credentials and Better Business Bureau lists to ensure they are professional. But they are likely to charge more as it costs a lot to run an office. They may also only work with larger budgeted sites.Global
No limits. You can find a web designer anywhere in the world. And the costs can vary widely from super cheap to extremely pricey. You can go for a large company or a single person. But be careful, sometimes not everything is as it seems. You may find yourself dealing with a 1 man operation when you thought you were dealing with a large corporation. When choosing a global pro, be sure to look at everything they have done and ask as many questions as you can to determine the legitimacy. Make sure you know who they are and what they can do with you.
Once you know what you are looking for, it is time to begin your search. Go to Google or your favorite search engine and do a search for what you need. Do not go with the very first result. click on every listing for the first few pages so you get a good feel for these types of sites.First Impression
Once you have seen them all, narrow your search by choosing the ones whose sites you liked best. This is important because if you are unhappy th the site they use, you may not be happy with the site they give you.Professional
After narrowing it down, investigate the sites. Go through every page, make sure everything works and there are no obvious typos. If they are thorough and professional about their own site, they will be with yours.Portfolio
Make sure they have a portfolio and client list available on their site, and make sure it is current. If the portfolio looks like it has not been updated in years, the company may no longer exist. Check all the sites they have done to ensure they are professional, and make sure they have some designs you like.Qualifications
After looking through the portfolio make sure there are sites in the portfolio or client list that they have done sites that have the same features you need on your site. If they have never done anything like what you need, it may be because no one asked, but more likely because it is not something they can do.Contact
All companies provide you with ways to contact them. With global pro’s there is not always a brick and mortar office, so contact will usually be via email. This is fine, but it is always better when a company provides a phone number as well. You may never call, but it is always good to know there is a number incase you need it. When you do contact a company, ensure they respond to you in a timely manner. Waiting 2 or 3 business days is not acceptable. If they make you wait on the initial contact, image how long you would wait when working with them.RFQ
Every company should offer you a free request for quote. Send an email to several companies outlining what you need, and what you want. You may want to keep your project budget under wraps until you hear back from the quotes. you may be shocked at the quotes, or you may be pleasantly surprised.
Once you have a few quotes in you can see what the budget looks like and you can now determine who to work with. Determine who has the best sites, can do the most, and do it for the best price.
Once you have that, your ready to roll on your new site.
Feling informed? Get your free quote from Creative Compulsions today.
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Creating an Accomplishments Portfolio. Flaunt Your Stuff!
Posted by in Uncategorized on November 2, 2009
The idea of using a portfolio to promote one’s self to potential employers is fairly new for the typical job seeker although it has been used for many years by the likes of models, photographers, artists and aspiring actors. In light of today’s extremely competitive job market, however, creating a portfolio showcasing your personal accomplishments is one of the best things you can do to differentiate yourself from the hordes of other job applicants applying for the same job.
Typically, most people go into the interview with a copy of their resume and perhaps a list of their references and proceed to expound on what they have done or can do for the prospective employer. If you bring a portfolio, you have concrete, solid evidence of what you have done. Even if it is never used in the interview and just sits on your lap, of lays on the desk, the fact that you physically have one will forge a positive impression in the interviewer’s mind that may give you that all important edge over another who has nothing to flaunt but their resume.
So, just what is a portfolio? A portfolio is an organized compilation of your work. The word portfolio has its early roots in the wonderful French language as porte folio which means page carrier. The word folio refers to a large sheet of paper typically the size of a full newspaper page. Porte means to carry. As we Americans have the habit of doing so many times with our English language, we have taken the elegant words porte folio into our lexicon and shortened them to portfolio.
Why do you need a portfolio and what are the advantages of having one? Simply put, a portfolio gives you the opportunity to expand on your resume. With a resume you are typically limited by custom to a one or two page thumb nail sketch of your background and experience. A portfolio allows you to provide a much more comprehensive presentation of your expertise, who you are and what you have accomplished. With a portfolio, you can actually show samples of your work. Instead of just talking during a job interview about what you have done or can do for the employer you can demonstrate with material evidence your skills and abilities. Since employers are not used to seeing portfolios, it will really help you stand out from the pack.
If you are out of work don’t wait to start building your portfolio. Do it now. If you are currently employed but looking, you should also start building you portfolio now. Don’t wait until you have that dream job interview and need something to impress your interviewer. Putting an impressive portfolio together takes a bit of time and you want to make sure you give that positive first impression of your skills and accomplishments.
Look at your resume and portfolio as a comprehensive package of your professional experience and accomplishments. You want your resume to be straight forward and professional. With your portfolio however, you have a lot of space to be creative in its assembly. You can use different types of paper, bolder graphics and vivid colors if you like to showcase and frame your achievements to their best advantage.
While assembling your portfolio, keep in mind there are two types: a Working or Master portfolio and a Showcase portfolio. Your Working or Master portfolio holds everything you can find or still have of your working career. Your Showcase portfolio allows you the freedom to gather select material for a specific interview, employer or purpose that will best highlight your talents for the purpose at hand.
Start building your portfolio with what I call the “hard” items:
A good quality, three-ring binder for your Working or Master portfolio, the type you would use for school that is large enough to hold most or all of your papers; and a 1.5 inch binder to serve as your Showcase portfolio.
Several boxes of non-glare sheet protectors that are sealed on three sides so your documents are secure and will not slip or fall out.
Page dividers with labels you can print to identify the sections of your portfolio.
Other items such as pocket sheets, clear divided sheets and so forth to showcase photos, videos, CD’s etc. that contain information too large to fit into the portfolio if it were produced in paper form.
As you begin assembling your portfolio collect all the documents you would like to put in it. If any documents are damaged make new copies on crisp white paper.
Group and sort all related documents such as awards, diploma’s, certificates, reference letters, etc. together. Put these in the order you would like to presented and put them into the non-glare sheet protectors.
Do not punch holes in any documents or materials. This maintains the integrity of the original document.
If a document has two or more pages, put the entire document into one sheet protector. If the document is too large to fit put it a one sheet protector slip it into a pocket type holder.
Number the sheet protectors in the bottom right hand corner instead of the actual materials, as again, this maintains the integrity of the original document. The numbers on the outside of the sheet protectors will help you reorganize the portfolio if you have pulled any documents from the portfolio during your presentation. I like to have a large manila envelope handy, so as I remove items from the binder for presentation, they can easily and quickly be slipped into the envelope for replacement in your binder at a later time.
Prepare and insert the page dividers with major tabs for each group of items identifying the sections of your portfolio such as resumes, diplomas, certifications and so forth. Make sure they protrude farther out than the page protectors so you will be able to easily identify each section.
Once organized, go through your Working or Master portfolio making sure each page flips easily and the reader understands what each page represents. If you notice something that doesn’t look right or flow just right, odds are a potential employer will notice that too.
Make a professional-looking label for the front of the portfolio or its spine with “Portfolio of…” or “Professional Portfolio of…”. Use a type of paper and color that looks professional but also adds a little “pizzazz” to your binder.
It is a good idea to make sure you do not include any items in your portfolio that relate to your personal life such as your birth certificate or divorce papers for example. Everything in your portfolio should be related only to your career, skills, achievements and accomplishments. If unsure about a particular item, leave it out.
What should go into a portfolio? Here are examples of some documents you might want to include:
• Title Page
• Table of Contents
• A statement of originality or confidentiality to protect your work
• Career goals or career mission statement if you are just starting out
• A copy of your resume for the position for which you are applying
• A list of or evidence of unique or special skills
• Letters of reference or recommendations from previous employers, from volunteer work,
from work-study programs, from internships, etc.
• Transcripts if a recent college graduate
• A summary of professional affiliations, community service or volunteer groups
• Academic achievements and awards
• Special projects you worked on or contributed towards
• Workshops, seminars, conferences attended
• Copies of diplomas, degrees, educational certificates, licenses or certifications
• Copies of positive performance appraisals
• E-mails, thank you letters, and handwritten notes complimenting your work
• Company announcements of your promotions, awards or achievements
• Copies of work documents, brochures, flyers, pamphlets, reports you had a hand in
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• Materials describing presentations, speeches, workshops or seminars you presented
As you move ahead in your career you might want to consider adding:
• A list and samples of articles you have published
• Research you have worked on
• Articles written about you or projects you have been involved in as reported in
newspapers, company newsletters, etc.
• A list of sites where you or your work appears on the internet
Once you have completed the Working or Master portfolio, go through it several times so you know where your documents are in the binder and what you want to say about each one.
When you have that opportunity to use your Working or Master portfolio it is highly recommended that you instead, create a Showcase portfolio to bring with you as not everything in your Working or Master portfolio will be relevant to that particular situation. And never, ever leave either your Working or Master portfolio or Showcase portfolio with anyone, no matter who they are or how much you may want the position at hand. Your Working or Master portfolio, which you worked so hard to complete, contains original documents related to your working career that may be very difficult or almost impossible to replace, so why take the chance of it being lost or never returned.
Your portfolio will be a work-in-progress throughout your career. Update it and add new items as they become available, with each new achievement, and each new resume. Don’t worry if you don’t have a lot when you are just starting out, your portfolio will grow and become an extremely valuable tool throughout your career.
Also, don’t be shy about showing off what you have created. These are your accomplishments. Be proud of them. Flaunt your stuff!
Note: Information for this article was found by searching the internet using the key word Portfolio
Questions, schedule a seminar or speaking date? Chuck can be reached at: bestloantrainer@yahoo.com
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The Web Design Industry Revolutionised by Facebook
Posted by in Uncategorized on October 27, 2009
The web design industry revolutionised by Facebook
There are many community web sites on the internet nowadays. Two of the most popular are known as Facebook and Myspace. Facebook has recently had over 40 million active users. Looking at the interest of people in such web sites, other social networking sites have started to crop up over the internet. More and more people have started to design community web sites. This is certainly a good thing for the web design industry. Let’s have a look at Facebook.
Facebook has become so popular on the internet that around 150,000 registrants may be recorded per day. More precisely, Facebook may register approximately 1 million users per week. About half its users may be outside college. That number was zero during September 2006. The unique features in its web design may have attracted many people. There may have been around 40 billion page views in May 2007. Here web design plays an important role. Facebook is full of things to discover and the web pages may all be professionally made. Also, an average visitor may stay for about 20 minutes on the web site. This may indicate that Facebook is really interesting. Its web design has successfully met the needs of its target audience.
Moreover, it has also been recorded that most growth had occurred among people aged 25. There may also be around 47,000 Facebook groups. These groups help people from different age, origin and community to connect and interact. Hence, web design may have been the key for the success of Facebook. Another web design technique used on Facebook is the photo sharing capability. It is considered as the number one web site for sharing photos over the internet. The web design also allows the site to hold millions of photos and show them on demand. In fact, Facebook may contain around 2.7 million photos actually. The site may also contain more than 2000 applications. The most used ones may be demonstrated as follows: Top Friends, Video, Graffiti, MyQuestions, iLike, FreeGifts, X Me, Superpoke!, Fortune Cookie and Horoscopes. The right web design has helped these applications to grow in fame. Even the smallest features of these may hold more than 4.5 million users.
Furthermore, not only web design has made of Facebook a success. Imagine all your friends registered on Facebook. If you are not registered yet, it’s worth a try. The reason behind may be because you want to be closer to your friends and keep in touch frequently. By doing this, you may have unknowingly taken a step towards meeting an interacting with different people around the world. Why? The web design on the site and the various things that appear in front of you may encourage you to discover.
The web design industry has witnessed an immense development in the form of Facebook. The valuation of Facebook may be around 10-15 billion USD. This makes around 250 USD and 375 USD per active user. Other social networking sites have followed on the same path as Facebook. Web design features close to those on Facebook may be noticed. But it remains to be seen if they can become as popular.
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The Importance of a Professional Portfolio Presentation
Posted by in Uncategorized on October 13, 2009
Competition for finding placement in the labor market of today is at an all time high. As technology continues to evolve and the application of design and marketing elements becomes more creative, so must the new entrepreneur in making a first impression.
One of the most valuable resources available to job seekers of today may be passed over, or even ignored – a Professional Portfolio Presentation. Typically, a portfolio is a term that many of us place hand in hand with a professional who has 20 or more years of experience in a particular career field, and we do not consider ourselves worthy of flaunting our accomplishments with such a bold statement. However, consider that even your smallest personal accomplishments are the contents that your professional portfolio is built upon. A professional portfolio is the culmination of every milestone and accomplishment in your adult life, as pertains to your career field.
If hundreds of other job seekers competing for the same position submit their résumé; only a few will make it to the interview. If of those few, only a couple report to the interview armed with a professional portfolio, who do you think will make the greatest impact on the selection board? Knowledge is power, and what you need to know; is that taking the time to develop a professional portfolio and keep it updated will be the cornerstone to your personal success in the career field of your choice.
Your portfolio is the first opportunity you have to publish yourself; it will indicate your value, portray your experience, and serve as a creative asset to intrigue prospective employers and leave a lasting impression. If well designed, the portfolio will be the most refreshing part of the interview process to panel members. When you design your presentation, don’t be afraid to be creative. We live in a visual world and the use of color copies, with bold and exciting presentation techniques will provoke the interest of readers, and display your creative talents. The opportunities for expressing yourself are endless. If you find yourself at a loss for creative ideas when getting started, research some of the professional scrap book designer references for ideas. In the field of communicating via media, a well designed portfolio and a web presentation of your credentials will indicate your passion for advancement and growth, and most importantly, demonstrate your creative talent. With a great design, a visually appealing portfolio will continue to sell you and your value when you are not there!
When you submit your résumé to a prospective employer, mention in the cover letter that your portfolio is available upon request. The combination of a résumé and professional portfolio will serve to prioritize your placement in the line of potential candidates. Once you have your portfolio prepared you will carry it with you to interviews, and have it readily available on a daily basis. Be sure to have either an automated version or a professionally prepared paper copy of your traditional portfolio that you can leave with the employer; never leave your original presentation behind.
Networking opportunities come along when unexpected, and it doesn’t hurt to be prepared if you find an opportunity to market your talent and you are asked for more information. Having additional copies of your credentials readily available will be impressive to curious talent scouts. If you are specializing in communications or a media related career field; an automated version of your portfolio or an online portfolio presentation is the most effective way to portray your talent and skills in web design or marketing strategies.
Why wait to put a portfolio together until you have 5, 10, or even 20 years of experience? Start to build your portfolio now, and watch it grow along with you as you progress in your career field.
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How to Choose a Graphic Designer?
Posted by in Uncategorized on October 9, 2009
Gaphic design is an essential part of every marketing plan. It can greatly increase the professional look of your business, or express your bands creative style. Right from the first glance it will leave an impression.
Finding the right design company or freelance designer, can be a little daunting if you do not know what to look for. I am a freelance design and I could simply end here saying you want to use me. However, I would rather you choose me only after you are informed and know what you need to know.Portfolio
Every designer must have a portfolio, both printed and online. This is how they sell themselves, by showcasing their work. The better the designer, the larger the portfolio will be. It may contain work they have created for themselves, or just for fun, but should be largely comprised of work they have done for their clients. Look over a designers portfolio and see what they have done, and more importantly, see if the work they have done, is the type of work you are looking for. If you see wild designs for bands, but need a corporate marketing package, you should probably keep looking.Quality
If your looking for a graphic designer, it means your looking to have something done right. Make sure when looking at a portfolio you see professional quality graphics. Graphics that sell you on what they were supposed to. If you see poor quality images put together or basic clip art graphics being used in a portfolio, then that is likely what you will get as well.Price
Price is a big issue with everyone. You could say “You get what you pay for” or you could say “You get more than you could have hoped for”. Getting the lowest price does not always mean getting the least work. IF you choose to use a large company, expect to pay more. If you are going with a freelance designer, expect to pay less. The best way to determine if the price is right, is to check the portfolio, then request a free quote. Compare the quote to the quality of work in the portfolio. If you see good work, and a good price, you have a good designer.Background / References
After you have looked into the portfolio and are happy with the price and quality, check into the background of the company or designer. If you intend to have more than 1 project done or are looking to start up a long term project, it is important to check and see how long the designer has been around, if they have any other long term repeat clients. This way you can ensure they will be around for the duration of your project and an future need you may have.Response Time
It is important that a designer responds to your requests and queries as soon as possible so you know you are important to them. If they take days to respond to your email or voice mail, they are either too busy to work with you, or are simply not very professional. Either way, they are not for you.Efficiency & Clarity
Make sure the designer is able to understand what you are looking for. Nothing worse than have a mental picture of what you need, only to get back samples that are so different you wonder what went wrong, and need to explain it again. A good designer will read your needs, confirm everything with you and ask question or provide suggestions before any work will begin.
These are all important points to consider when choosing the right graphic designer. It may take some time to find the right one, but if you do your homework, you will get the right product for the right price from the right designer.
When you are looking for a professional Graphic Desiigner, keeps these points in mind and you will find the right one for your project.
Ready to get a free quote? Get one from Creative Compulsions today.
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