Portfolio Critique Request - Job advice

Hello! I am wondering if anyone would be willing to review my portfolio and give me some constructive feedback. https://www.alaugelledesigns.com/ I have been applying for jobs for about a year now and have made it to the final interview stage several times but still no job. I’m sure that I need to work on my interview skills, but I am wondering if my portfolio can be improved as well for better luck. I am in the Boston area and have found it really difficult to find work so any tips on that as well would be great! I have about four years of experience doing freelance work and am open to more freelance or full time either in person, hybrid, or remote. Happy to answer any follow up questions! Thank you in advance for any and all advice!

Welcome to the forum.

It looks like you have some nice work. Good job. However, I am not crazy about your actual website. This could be broken down in to two categories.

The first is the overall design. I am not crazy about the color palette, and I really don’t like the type being set in blue. This could be personal preference, but you have to ask yourself is your website designed to appeal to you or appeal to creative directors or agency owners who are looking to hire a designer? Also, I think your personal logo is just sort of “meh.” Is it the worst designer logo I’ve ever seen? No. But I think you can do better based on the rest of your work. The scrolling LETS WORK TOGETHER seems a bit gratuitous.

The second area is the overall presentation of your work. It could be more straight forward. I had to really study some of the pages to figure out what was going on, the pattern, and the way you were presenting the work.

Bottom line so far, I think you have some nice work samples, but you need to work on the website and presentation of your work.

All of that said, there is another issue. You say you’ve gotten to the final interview stage several times but have not been able to land a job. This is tough to comment on without knowing you personally. You said that you need to work on your interview skills. That could be the case. Maybe you can find some seasoned professionals to do mock interviews and get feedback.

This could also be an indication of the local market. I don’t know what Boston is like, but it’s possible that there are dozens of incredibly well qualified applicants for every one opening.

I hope something there helps.

TMI! Information overload!!!

You’ve got good work but the site feels more like a company selling services than a portfolio showing your skills too much info makes it hard to focus.

Try simplifying the homepage lead with your best work don’t make people scroll through a long intro portfolio should be quick to scan with clear project breakdowns right now it takes effort to figure out what’s what.

Too much text and not enough visuals - don’t want to read paragraphs and don’t want to click thumbnails - time is money for reviewers.

Let the visuals do the talking just enough context to guide the viewer think highlight reel not deep dive.

In terms of your ‘About’ page - you list yourself as a ‘freelance’ designer - this sends shivers up my spine. Will you be freelancing when working for me or anyone else? Is there a conflict of interest? Will you poach clients if I hire you?

Think about it you’re applying for a job.

Right now, it feels more like a personal bio than a pitch to employers. ]
I feel it’s too ‘personal’ and they want to know why you’re the right hire, not your hobbies.

It doesn’t showcase any experience or skills try adding key strengths, software expertise, or what sets you apart???

EDIT
Always forget to sign off with
GREAT WORK - KEEP GOING

Since you’ve been a finalist for several jobs, you’re obviously making a positive impression. Why you didn’t get the jobs is impossible for us to know. Perhaps it was just chance.

Your website color scheme and logo, which consists of pink and blue, are non-starters for me. They might be OK if you were designing invitations for maternity shops and baby showers, but the colors conflict with the type of work in your portfolio.

You’ve written narratives for your portfolio projects, which provide needed context. However, your writing is unnecessarily wordy. You could say the same things using fewer words while making it easier to understand.

For example,…

…could be pared down to the following.

1 Like

Thank you so much for your response this is super helpful and I will definitely be implementing many of these changes!

Thank you for the input that all makes sense I will definitely reconsider the amount of information I have included

Thank you for your response that is super helpful I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts!

I second all that others have said. In addition, when I read lines like ‘I’m an experienced designer’ and then find that you are 25 and graduated three years ago,I’m left wondering how much else is somewhat exaggerated. When I hear experienced designer, I would expect a minimum of 8-10 years of professional experience. Remember, chances are you are talking to people who’ve been in the business for many years. They will see straight through that and it doesn’t give a great impression.

Hope this helps.

I’ve been thinking about this one - it’s not often a portfolio or experience grabs me to come back and reply again.

I’d seriously look at applying at companies in your area that are Printing or Print Sourcing Print Management or a Prepress Department.

You’ll come across a wide range of designs, clients, and problems to solve to engage your technical side of designing for print/digital etc.

They are typically lower paying jobs, but with experience under your built, building client relationships and other skills you’d be a shoe in another job in 1-2 years.

I just did a Google Search for Boston Print Management - and there’s lots of places to apply.

For what it’s worth, my first job I got was random, I sent 50 CVS in the post to 50 different print companies on my public transport routes and within walking/cycling distance.

Back then it was a combination of Yellow Pages and a physical map laid out on the dining table.

Hand wrote 50 envelopes, typed 50 cover letters bespoke to place of application, and filled 50 envelopes with cover letter and CV - licked 50 stamps, and put them in the post box.

The place that did hire me, after I received about 30 job offers, I eventually found an old diary belonging to the boss that hired me that was no longer working there.

I was flicking through it, because I’m a nosy bugger, and I found an entry around the day I started.

It said something like
Place advert for Apprentice Originator
The next day entry was - received a CV wait to place advert.
Next weeks entry was - cancel placement of advert, new apprentice hired

So even if they’re not hiring now - you can still get your foot in the door.
If they have your CV they will hold on to it.

If they’re looking to hire - they’ll contact you.

You can always follow up with phone calls/emails or an in person visit.

Good luck.