Front Range Creative Community

A partial video of the "Marketing yourself" event with Toolbox Creative

September 9, 2011

Click image or copy & paste link to view:  http://frc2.org/videos/toolbox-video_2011_09_16_01.20.37.avi

(Thank you Rory, for your help uploading this!)

Toolbox Creative
A few additional notes from the evening...



Regarding: PORTFOLIOS

• When showing your portfolio, don't tell people how you did something, instead, tell them WHY. If they want to know how, they will ask.
• Create projects outside of the class assignments, do work that you are passionate about... it will show.
• When Toolbox Creative goes through a hiring process, they hardly ever look at whether or not someone has a degree. "It's all about the portfolio" and the personal qualities that show through in your work and your presentation of it.

Regarding: MARKETING YOURSELF

• Be as persistent as you can, without being annoying.
• Do your research, be inquisitive. Check out your potential employer or client's website and work. Get to know them.
• Create a great cover letter. Something that may spark their interest. Show that you know something about THEM.
• Avoid doing spec work. Instead, do work for a non-profit agency. *see below...
• Never burn any bridges.
• Approach a potential client or employer with a solution. Determine what it is they need from you, and "solve their problem."
• Show people how you think. Show them your personality.
• "The problem is rarely ever the problem, it's how the problem is handled."
• Look at unemployment as an opportunity!

RESOURCES

Visit the Toolbox Creative website here:  http://www.toolboxcreative.com/

* A good definition of spec work (and a handy PDF file to use in case you need to inform a client as to the definition of spec work): http://www.aiga.org/position-spec-work/

A website listing several non-profit organizations in our area (be sure to click through as there are several pages): http://fortcollins.citystar.com/mall/non-profit_organization01.html

Behance - a free online portfolio website for creatives (note; if you are an AIGA member, your Behance portfolio can be utilized as your portfolio on the AIGA site too): http://www.behance.net/


YOUR TURN

Did you attend the Toolbox Creative evening? If so, tell us what piece of advice has stuck with you the most?...