I know it sounds weird, but I really need help because I don’t know how to organize my clips at all. I have an idea, but I just need to see a couple from you professionals so I know that mine look right.
Also, I was wondering what you put your clips in. I’ve read that I shouldn’t put them in plastic sleeves, because they annoy editors or something. But then what? Just a folder? I think that would look even stupider.
Anyways, sorry for my newbie-ness. Any help would be very appreciated.
Thanks,
Ivana Cheong
Thank you, thank you...
very much everyone! I’ll keep all your very helpful suggestions in mind.
This is what I do...
I have two answers. I keep a comprehensive portfolio for myself, and I have often brought it on interviews as well. (At this stage in my career, though, I don’t bring EVERYTHING I’ve published on interviews. It won’t fit in my portfolio anymore, and it’s not all relevant.) That is in a three ring binder faux leather padfolio that I bought at Office Depot or some such. I always make color copies of my clips and then slip them into sheet protectors. It’s in chronological order, from most recent to oldest.
When sending clips with a job application, I prepare a simple folder for the editor. I get a solid colored paper folder (no prongs) and insert my cover letter and resume in the left pocket and clips in the right pocket. Those, again, are color copies in chronological order, but they aren’t in sleeves or anything. And these are always clips that are relevant to the specific position I’m applying for.
I also bring several copies of that package with me on actual interviews. I always bring one or two more than I think I need, because sometimes you end up speaking with more editors than you anticipate and I want to be able to leave them all with that information, should they need it. Sometimes they already have made copies of my application materials and shared them around the office, but sometimes they haven’t. It’s useful to be able to leave them—I want them to remember me! (One or two have returned the clips after the fact, so as to save me future color copying expenses. But don’t expect that. It’s worth the money.)
What HR Lady said...
a lady at Conde Nast HR told me to put mine in a plain binder with clear inserts/plastic sleeves
Clips
I found that when you have to e-mail clips, a really helpful Web site is an expresspdf.com
What I usually do is copy my clips into a word document, and then use that Web site to turn them into a pdf. Pdf looks cleaner and a little more professional.
As for taking clips on interviews, I keep mine in a small, black binder. I don’t know about plastic sleeves annoying editors (if they do oops, because that’s how I keep mine haha) but maybe you could hole punch clips so editors so its easier for editors to flip through. That’s just a suggestion…I’m a sort of newbie, too so I’m not 100% sure, but I hope what I offered helps!