Ideas for Building Your Digital Portfolio from Digital Media Arts College in Florida (DMAC.)
If you’re a procrastinator, then you’ll appreciate the advice we’ll be giving you in this post. New hires, entry-level positions will all need you to show your work before they determine if they want to do business with you. Let’s face it, you’re in business for yourself from the onset of your career. The more pride you take in your work, the more it will show and the chances of you landing a position in the Digital Arts will be far greater. It’s tough to find employment when you’re first starting out, but that shouldn’t prevent you from pursuing your goals. Unlike many jobs in this great big world, the only thing that matters to the employer is what projects you’ve worked on and the outcome.
So how do you get started landing a job if everyone wants to see your experience and examples when you’re at the beginning? Read on!
Volunteer: With labs and classes it’s tough to fit in anything else. Unless you plan on never having a life? Have you considered volunteering for a graphic design firm or better yet look on Craigslist for people seeking help? Find out how you can incorporate some school projects into credit while volunteering your skills to someone seeking your help. Your primary goal here should be adding to your portfolio without neglecting your studies.
Upwork.com: Upwork.com is an excellent site for people seeking independent contractors on projects. You will need to spend time online filling out a profile and uploading any current examples of your work. We urge you to take their tests in the field where you excel. The employers do select different levels of skill.
Freelance.com: Freelance is like Upwork but seems that it’s more spam than actual work. As the old saying goes “Don’t put your eggs all in one basket,” particularly right of creative art fields. Get your name out there now, but, more importantly, start getting used to rejection and interviews, it’s part of the job. Many students wait to look for their dream careers after graduation that isn’t the best time to look for a job. The idea is to have one waiting for you by the time you graduate.
Non-Profit Groups and Charities: An excellent resource for launching your professional world and by introducing your skill set, you’re making a business contact and giving back to your community. Ask your school counselor for any agreement forms or if you can intern at any of these locations. You will be helping raise money and awareness for a worthy cause by including your digital art in their campaigning, websites and ads.
Previous Bosses, Relatives, Friends: Your previous contacts are sometimes valuable and may be unaware of your future career. But, if you reach out telling what you’re looking to do, they may help you. You may be surprised how many people are willing to hold your hand and possibly give you your first assignment.
Advertising Federation: The Advertising Federation is a wonderful source of networking, and many national chapters need assistance with fundraisers and competitions. You can see first-hand what the real professionals are like in the creative world. You’ll be bumping elbows with colleagues, learning and building an outstanding portfolio.
With a little extra effort, your portfolio will be ready for the exit program leading to a significant position in the field of your dreams.
Contact us at DMAC for any additional questions on building your portfolio or obtaining work experience.
We are located in South Florida. Graphic Design, Digital Media Arts (Computer Animation) and more.
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