Hey, JP, I’ve read the same regarding how many pieces to show, and you bring up a good question. When I include several spreads from one publication, I consider them one piece. But I have no idea how design firms see this.

When preparing a portfolio, I try to keep in mind that the interviewer probably won’t have a lot of time to look at it. I also try to select pieces that won’t overlap. So if you are showing ten spreads from two publications, make sure that each one says something unique about your work. One might be typographic, the other might show good page composition, etc.

Just my two cents.

Jpad,
You are right to target your portfolio to who you are talking to. If you have printed pieces, they show you can get a job done from a to z and the thing will RIP and print. The other thing is, wha do you want to do mostly? Show the kind of work that most interests you. 10 to 20 is fine. If your work is complex with book work, then closer to 10. If you have done mostly single page jobs and trifolds, you may want to show closer to 20. Show your production skills too! These will often land you a job because you are able to work right off.

ChrisL

What about cover letters for design jobs? I omit a cover letter unless a job specifically asks for one or if I know exactly who the resume is going to and have something worth saying to that person. This is a holdover from my last career, where cover letters were usually ignored because they were assumed to be form letters with a sentence or to tweaked for impact.

I rarely see design firms or nonprofits even mention cover letters in their job postings, so is it safe to assume that they probably just don’t want to be bothered with one?

It is a mixed bag depending on who gets it. A cover letter should have added value, not just “here is my stuff” otherwise, leave it out. Sometimes if you want to reawake a memory in the person you are sending it to, it can help. As in reminding them where you met to establish that you know the person.

ChrisL

Hmmm, I too have heard differing views. But I always send one. As Dezcom says, it is a chance to say something more. And I also think that it is an opportunity to show your communication skills.

And particularly to highlight some skill that connects the various positions you may have held previously. I’m thinking particularly along the lines of “I learned how to run A in position 1, and was able to extend my knowledge to utilize it to do B in position 2, which also now qualifies me to do C for you.”

So what’s a plausible connection between network engineering/system administration and design? I guess Visio and Illustrator are sort of similar...and I do know how to make a mean pot of coffee.

Well, you are computer- and caffeine-savvy. :-)