Re: Advice on starting out; dealing with employers

[Lisa G Wright <lisawright -at- mail -dot- utexas -dot- edu>]

Regarding #2, you don't have to make a big deal out of it, but you can 
start building your style guide for your own use and then share it as it 
becomes appropriate. The only items where you might have to push for 
clarity are if they are inconsistent in their product/service names. 
Even then, you don't have to go on about the style guide.

Regarding #3, you are getting conflicting opinions, which is pretty 
normal. For myself, I believe it's best to bring up your ability to use 
anything you produce in your portfolio as part of the interview process 
and make sure it's covered in any contract or employment agreement. In 
fact, I won't sign something that says I can't use my work products as a 
work sample, with appropriate respect for confidentiality and 
sensitivity. Even though the interview is over at this point, I would 
still bring it up as soon as possible. You don't have to say, "When I'm 
interviewing for my next job, I'd like to use these as work samples." 
But you can say something to the effect of, "I know we didn't discuss it 
when I first started, but I do like to include work that I'm proud of in 
my portfolio. Would you be comfortable with me using some of the 
documents I work on?" You can then talk about any details they might 
want you to blur over or particular items that are truly for internal 
use only. Even then, you can often use things in your portfolio as long 
as you post them all over the internet. You should have more samples in 
your portfolio than you would send out.

IMO, the exit interview is the absolute worst time to bring this topic 
up, especially if the relationship has degraded at all.

Lisa

On 4/15/2011 10:31 AM, Joan Wamiti wrote: