Remember when you could just show up with a portfolio?

Three years ago, I landed a decent branding gig in Denver just by walking into a small agency with a binder of my print work. Last month, a similar place asked for a case study video, three client references, and a breakdown of my 'process' before even looking at my stuff. Last week, I spent a whole day just filling out a security questionnaire for a website project, stuff about data handling I never had to think about before. It feels like the bar to even get a conversation started keeps moving. The work itself isn't that different, but the hoop-jumping to prove you can do it is getting wild. Anyone else feeling like the upfront 'prove yourself' tax is getting heavier every year?

2 comments

2 Comments

hernandez.jordan1mo ago

Totally feel this. The gatekeeping has gotten completely out of hand. It is like they want you to do the actual job for free just in the interview. All those extra steps just filter out people who have real work to do instead of jumping through hoops. The whole thing feels designed by people who do not actually make anything. Makes you miss the simple days of just showing what you can do.

ryan_stone1mo ago

Ugh, tell me about it. I just had to do a full project plan for a "sample task" that took two days. It's like they forgot the portfolio is supposed to show you can do the work.