Re: portfolio questions

[Bruce Byfield <bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com>]

R Greenberg <roxanne_98 -at- yahoo -dot- com> wrote:

>However, I would like to show the entirety of each
>piece because I want to show structure and
>organization as well as the writing itself. The person
>looking at it wouldn't be expected to read the entire
>thing, but rather to skim most of it, observing the
>general pattern and maybe reading small parts of it in
>depth to get a sense of the writing itself.

During the interview, show the small samples. At the end of the
interview, leave an Acrobat file showing the complete piece.

>Therefore, I can't ask my employer if I can show the
>samples to other companies on job interviews. :-) What
>do people do about this? I need to have something to
>show, and these would be excellent examples of
>different kinds of writing (one is conceptual, one is
>procedural, and one is reference). Is it reasonable to
>just use them anyway, without permission?

If by "reasonable," you mean "can I get away with," then the
answer is probably yes. However, if you plan on doing much
contracting, I wouldn't advise trying. As a contractor, part of
what you are selling is your honesty, and anything that you or
anyone else does that puts your honesty in question can reduce
your livelihood. The temporary handicap of not being able to use
the documents is much less than the handicap you'll face if you
get a bad reputation.

--
Bruce Byfield, Outlaw Communications
Vancouver, BC, Canada
bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com (604.421.7189)

"But the backdrops peel and the sets give way,
And the cast gets eaten by the play....
And the patrons and actors are uncertain if the show is through"
And with sidelong looks await their cue."
- Alan Moore, "V for Vendetta"