Ask FreelanceSwitch: Building Portfolios and Teaching Students

In this issue of Ask FreelanceSwitch, we look at building portfolios and teaching students. Ask FreelanceSwitch is a regular column here that allows us to help beginners get a grip on freelancing. If you have a question about freelancing that you want answered, send an email to askfreelanceswitch@gmail.com.

Question 1

Since finishing college about 8 years ago all of my jobs have been in-house–and by in-house, I mean I was a production artist boxed into some of the worst marketing direction ever. On top of that, family life and long commutes had limited my time to create any personal work. My question is: How do I promote myself if I don’t have much to show?

David

Having a limited portfolio can make it difficult to win over potential clients. If you have no other option, it can be necessary to go ahead and just do a couple of basic projects that you’ve come up with just so that you have a portfolio to work with. You can, of course, take on pro bono projects or low-paying projects so that you have a client in mind, as well as assign yourself work.

If you’re short on both time and portfolio pieces, one option is to focus in on a very narrow type of project. If, for instance, you’re a website designer, you might focus in on blog designs. You can often do several similar projects faster than jumping all over the place — it’s easier to put together three basic blog designs than three different types of website designs. Then, since you have a few different blog designs in your portfolio, you can market yourself specifically as a blog designer. The same approach works with different types of freelancing: if you just have a few items in your portfolio, focus your efforts on finding the type of projects you already have proof you can handle. As you start bringing in more work and you have some flexibility, you can add to your portfolio and the type of projects you’re able to take on.

Question 2

I while age I got asked by my old designer professor to be a guest speaker to the current design class at my old college. I really enjoyed it and since then I’ve spent a lot of time on the Yahoo Answers Visual Arts forum where I worked my way up into the top 3 contributors in that category. I really want get into a position to be able to volunteer more time towards helping design students. What do you recommend?

MJ

There are many opportunities to help out graphic design students — as well as students in other freelancing fields. The big question you have to ask yourself is what type of students you want to help. From high school students to practicing freelancers who need to pick up a new skillset, there is a wide range of students who may need some help. If you prefer to work with students with more experience, offering help in forums and sites geared towards questions can be one of the best opportunities. With students in more formal education settings, you have several different options. Many high schools are grateful for volunteers who can teach students topics like graphic design or even freelancing. At higher levels of education, such as community college or universities, schools are more likely to look for someone they can higher. Many graphic design, writing and other creative programs draw on local freelancers for adjunct instructors (which can provide both the opportunity to mento students but also a chance to earn some money). There are other opportunities, such as adult education programs, that may also give you a chance to work with students.

Personally, I find that I do a lot better in one-on-one situations, rather than classrooms, so I’ve looked for mentorship opportunities. They may not be formal, but I have spent a fair amount of time just sitting down with people interested in freelancing and talking them through some of what they need to know? t the end of the day, it depends on what you really want to do in order to help others in the field out.