Kevin Esther     February 27th, 2012 at 4:02 pm

Mike some sound advice as always. Am considering redesign my own site as I have learnt more and improving my design skills with practice.

Following your advice.

Mike Locke     February 27th, 2012 at 4:08 pm

Kevin – When you’re just now establishing yourself in web design, its almost better to keep a very simple portfolio because your skills are changing so frequently. So it’s better to have something that is so simple that it can withstand time and allow your updated work (screenshots) to represent your current ability. Rather than an outdated portfolio takeaway from it.

Kevin Esther     February 27th, 2012 at 4:17 pm

Thanks Mike would you suggest going with a one page layout. Very simple and clean. Just showing portfolio with contact details. Really considering this move to what I have currently. Feel this would align with my goals better although this has changed to when I first designed my site.

Any examples you want to share of what you mean? maybe on for a Friday post.

Thanks for the advice.

Mike Locke     February 27th, 2012 at 4:30 pm

Kev – Yes, I’m totally thinking one-page design. Here is a one-page portfolio example that fits what I’m talking about.

http://www.workbyitself.com/

As you can see, it hardly ever needs to be updated and can be easily be updated with new screenshots.

Kevin Esther     February 27th, 2012 at 4:40 pm

Thanks mike. Love this site. Total agree with what your saying. Keep it simple and let the work to the portfolio pieces do the work. Cheers.

Kevin Esther     February 27th, 2012 at 4:44 pm

Should really stop typing so quick. Thanks for the advice Mike. Going to start on some ideas. Will keep it simple.

Allen Carter     February 28th, 2012 at 2:33 pm

Okay I’ll give you a call haha.

I’m only applying for a Junior web design roles and no matter how much I approve. I’m still not good enough for only a junior position. In the past 7 months I’ve only had three interviews – one of which they made a decision not to employ me based on a lack of commercial experience, even though they were aware of this at the time before asking me in for an interview.

Could this be down to a lack of commercial experience or is it down to lack of work to show in my portfolio. After all, most of them are just Mocks.

Mike Locke     February 28th, 2012 at 4:46 pm

@Allen – Yes, experience, quality of work, knowledge and understanding of UI design are all things that employers look for. Unfortunately, just having average design skills aren’t enough these days. Being average in anything aren’t enough these days. Employers are looking for rockstars. As I mentioned in my video Advice for Struggling Designers, competition is high now. The bar has been raised. Not only do you have to have great skills, you have to also be different. You have to continue to work at improving your visual design skills to a point where you impress people with your quality of work.

Also, sometimes landing a job at a certain company takes a little networking (and luck). A lot of times, its who you know that will help you get that phone call or your foot in the door. I submitted my resume many times to Yahoo! and never received a call back. I finally figured out through LinkedIn that I knew someone who worked there (a developer guy I worked with a while back), he eventually referred me and got me a phone call. Yahoo! was impressed with me but never knew that I previously submitted my resume 5 times. Also, I submitted my resume to an Agency once http://www.HugeInc.com, and they turned me down, yes I was turned away for not having the style they wanted. But then I get recruited by Amazon.com, Google, Netflix, Ebay, NBC, etc. Go figure. So you just have to keep working it. Landing a job is hard work and hustle. Just keep making phone calls, keep knocking on doors and one will open and your break will come. ;)

Kris Jolls     February 28th, 2012 at 4:47 pm

Great advice and really liked that example you showed. Great portfolio for an obviously great designer. Not job hunting myself yet but wishing all of you the best of luck
ALOHA!

Allen Carter     February 29th, 2012 at 5:08 am

Jesus man! So Yahoo did not know you submitted your Resume 5 times. Don’t you find that a bit outrageous. That only luck would have it you knew a developer from yahoo to get you through the door.

When you put it like that its like you gotta have above average driving skills before taking driving lessons.

Were your skills above average before you landing your very first job in design?

If they were just average back then, you turned out now to be above average designer. How do these companies now expect oneself to have above average skills without landing that first role with a design company that will train oneself potential to gain more knowledge, experience and skills which will lead to eventually obtaining above average skills.

Mike Locke     February 29th, 2012 at 11:11 am

@Allen – A famous Philosopher once said…

“Luck is where the crossroads of opportunity and preparation meet.”

You don’t have to have above average skills to take driving lessons. But you must have above average skills to be a race car drive. There’s a difference. When I got my first job, the market was different. That was 15 years ago. Things have changed, competition has grown, expectations have gotten higher. You have to be honest with yourself, do you have the appropriate skills and experience that these companies are looking for? If no, then you know you have more work to do. If yes, then its just a matter of time. If you have the skills and experience but aren’t getting the opportunity, you must do all you can do to get noticed. If you have to join a company as a janitor just so you can meet the UX Director to hand him your resume, that’s what you have to do. If you have to intern for free at a company just to gain some experience, that’s what you have to do. Trying to land a job at McDonalds can be hard as well. Nothing comes easy. It takes persistance and hustle. Believe me, you keep working, keep improving your skills, keep knocking on doors. Your opportunity will come.

Allen Carter     February 29th, 2012 at 6:41 pm

“You don’t have to have above average skills to take driving lessons. But you must have above average skills to be a race car driver. ”

haha Good point!

Vishnu     March 3rd, 2012 at 7:50 am

Well Mike, I have sent you a mail! :) check it out. Very relevant to this post!

Rico Harley     March 7th, 2012 at 4:24 am

Great post Mike. I had a football coach tell me one time that the formula for luck is preparation + opportunity= Luck. Best advice I ever got, good to see you sharing that same advice with us. Thanks for what you do.

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