Portfolio Piece: Finding Unique Work to Share
I am also a little sad. The years of hard work I have put into this program are finally coming to an end. I am thankful for my time at USC and more specifically for the opportunities, it gave me.
During my program, I decided to go ALL IN. I quit my full-time job to pursue every opportunity and door that USC Annenberg and my program could offer to me. In almost all of my classes, I became a project manager, taking on the bulk of the responsibility for class projects including, scheduling, working directly with clients, and managing the flow of work from inception to completion. I was also given the opportunity to be a TA for an undergraduate class, which was one of the best experiences of my life. USC and my program also opened the door for me to complete two back to back summer internships with BBDO SF & Chevron.
One of the projects I enjoyed the most was 502: Strategic Corporate Communication taught by Professor Rebecca Weintraub. I got to co-lead a project for the USC Office of Student Affairs analyzing what communication students were receiving from the university both the content and the channels and what their preferences were. Essentially, the client wanted to know if their communication style was effective and reaching a broad audience and if it wasn’t what they could do to make it better. This was a unique project because we were given the opportunity to be mentored by communications executives from AECOM, the world’s premier infrastructure firm. Over the course of the semester groups of us were able to sit with communication leaders, each subject matter experts in their own areas and learn from their experience, pitch our ideas and ultimately present our communication plan to both them and the client.
This project for me was very unique. Not only did it give me a great presentation to add to my portfolio full of research and recommendations but I was also asked by my program to be featured in a video about the partnership between AECOM & USC Annenberg. What I loved most about this partnership specifically, was AECOM CCO & CMO Heather Rim’s commitment as an alumnus to give back to current students. I found in my time at USC that some of the classes where I learned the most were taught by professionals still actively working in their fields.
One of the pieces I use for my portfolio is the presentation that came out of that class. A fantastic designer designed it, and I think the work that I did on the project stands out clearly. This piece also gave me the video you see above. It’s a great portfolio piece because it show’s my connection and commitment to my program and also the unique experience I had in that class.
What pieces have you found for your portfolio?
I’ll admit, oftentimes, it is tricky, especially when you do freelance work because of confidentiality agreements. However, one of the main things you are asked when you reach the end stages of an interview process is for samples of your work. I believe both the video and the presentation are a strong portfolio piece for me because I do enjoy public speaking as well as writing. It is also one of the projects I enjoy talking about the most.
Friends, as I enter Week 11 of job searching I want to remind you that I am in this with you, struggling alongside you. When this is over, I am hopeful that we will all come out on the other side employed, with the jobs of our dreams.
Keep hoping friends! We can do this! Yes, even in a global pandemic.