Design Portfolios

Afterword

This book is based upon the importance of effectively telling your story through a design portfolio. Your story is your brand. What is a brand? A brand starts with a reputation based on the first impression you make or how well you communicate and build relationships with others. Your reputation is made up of the opinions and beliefs that others form about you, based on your actions and behaviors. A brand is intentional and can be impacted by your preparation, knowledge, and abilities. In this case, as a job seeker, your brand should be designed purposefully to help a recruiter decide that you are the top candidate for a position. As you work to create your unique brand, your portfolio is one of the most important tools at your disposal.

As a business owner, executive recruiter in the AEC industry, and author of the How Hard Are You Knocking? job search book series, I have recruited hundreds of candidates and worked with thousands of job seekers. From my perspective, Mark Smith's book is insightful, pragmatic, and provides an easy‐to‐follow framework that will differentiate you in a tight job market and get you hired. As a recruiter, I am interested in your story and genuinely want to understand your Style to ensure its fit within our team culture. Your life experiences, internships, group, and capstone projects provide the Substance a recruiter is looking for when comparing potential candidates.

As a future design professional in the AEC field, your brand is based, ...