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Subject:RE: Portfolios and examples From:"Evans, Diane L (Rosetta)" <diane_evans -at- merck -dot- com> To:techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com Date:Thu, 26 Oct 2006 06:58:26 -0700
+ What kind and how many examples do some of you have in your
portfolios?
I try to have one sample of each type of document I write -- in my case,
it is software development life cycle documents, plus a few pages from a
user manual, a release note document, and a published article.
+ How many examples would you say are too many?
You don't need more than one of each type, as long as it is the best
example you have.
+ How far back would you keep examples from?
My advice is the last three years or three jobs, whichever is shorter.
I do, however, keep a copy of the first manual I ever wrote. It was in
1986, and very primitive compared to today's manuals. It even included
a hand-drawn chart of the seating arrangement at the company.
+ Do you include entire examples of manuals, or only excerpts?
Excerpts are just fine. Who, in an interview, is going to read an
entire manual? If I am asked a question, I show the excerpt: "This is
how I handled the situation when documenting a new doohickey."
+ What do you keep your portfolio in? Art-type portfolio? Briefcase?
Grocery bag?
I keep mine in a large three-ring binder, organized so that I know
exactly where everything is. I would hate to say, "I think I did that
once. Let me try to find the document."
I also have placed my entire portfolio on disk, which opens
automatically to a "website" containing all of my examples. (It is a
mirror of my personal website.) I don't know if anyone actually does
anything with it after I leave, but I figure it doesn't hurt to leave a
colorful disk with my name, phone number, and desired job title (and a
cute graphic) printed on the label!
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