Below is a list of required and optional items to prepare for this event.

PORTFOLIOS: To present your portfolio, the following is required to show for each category:

PRINT DESIGN and ADVERTISING: portfolio case with printed work samples
INTERACTIVE DESIGN: You must bring a laptop or other device to present your interactive work to your reviewers (the application you use to show your work is your choice). Please have these files ready to be viewed in time for your session(s).
PRINT JOURNALISM: printed work samples
PHOTO JOURNALISM: printed work samples
BROADCAST JOURNALISM: CD/DVD of work samples
Even if your work is all online, it is preferred that you bring a CD/DVD for backup. We will provide a laptop for you to use, as well as a TV and DVD player. You may bring your own laptop if you wish.

PORTFOLIO SAMPLES: Make sure your portfolio is neat, organized and easy to page through. If you have pieces that have printed badly or have been sloppily trimmed, consider replacing them. If you have mock-ups for some of your pieces, feel free to bring them along as well. For print and advertising designers, you may bring your laptop to show some interactive work, but the main portion of your portfolio presentation should be using your physical portfolio.

WHAT TO WEAR: You are presenting yourself as much as presenting your portfolio, so dress in professional attire. It's encouraged to wear what you would wear in an actual interview setting to make a good first impression on your evaluators. Otherwise, business casual is appropriate as well.

THE PORTFOLIO PRESENTATION: Never expect your work to speak for itself. In this type of situation, it's important that you "sell" your work to the evaluator. Before you turn the page or open your document, you should have a mental list of things you want to tell the evaluator about that piece. Tell them how you came up with the idea. Talk about your creative process with the piece. Talk about how you used three different programs to create the design, or how much research you had to do in order to complete the story. You don't need to give them a thesis on each piece, but give them talking points that will pique their interest. (Keep in mind that in addition to critiquing your work, your evaluator will also be judging your presentation skills.)

OPTIONAL ITEMS: We cannot emphasize enough what a great networking event this can be. That being said, consider preparing and bringing items that complement the networking and job-seeking processes. Such items might be business cards, resumes, leave-behinds and thank-you cards. It is not uncommon for students to offer these to their evaluators, and evaluators are often very appreciative of this effort.