How long to keep university work in Portfolio

[Jay Smith]

I am curious to know if anyone has any thoughts on how long its appropriate to keep samples of university projects in my professional portfolio. I’ve been out of college and working for 9 years. There are only 1 or 2 samples from school I’d like to keep in my portfolio. I feel my school work demonstrates my creative abilities much more than the real projects I’ve worked on in the professional world. Do employers care one way or the other?

[Chris Whitted]

I’m roughly where you are career-wise, and I do still have some university pieces in my full portfolio. If they demonstrate something you have not been able or had opportunity to do professionally (a type of work or project, a particular skill), I see no reason they shouldn’t be there. Just be prepared to talk about why, because it will be noticed – why have you not been able to apply or adapt these things to professional projects, what do you like or feel is still relevant about this example to keep it in your portfolio, etc. I have been asked those questions in various forms during interviews. Or you might consider just doing some current ‘portfolio pieces’ to replace them – updated graphics, a new design using the same scenario, etc.

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