Going Pinocchio with your portfolio.
Months ago, an old co-worker Dina* announced she was starting a freelance business on LinkedIn, so I took a look at her website. Her work samples page displayed an old ad where she credited herself as creative director.
She wasn't.
Then I saw another ad where she said she was the copywriter.
She wasn't.
I was.
It's not my best work. In fact, I would never consider putting it in my book. I do remember her working on these projects. She just "exaggerated" about her contribution.
I also knew a senior art director we'll call... "Hack"* who asked a mid-level AD (Jeff*) if he could borrow Jeff's portfolio for an interview. Since they did work for the same client, it wouldn't make a difference, according to Hack's logic. (Note: For you youngsters, this was during the Stone Age when we only had physical portfolios.)
You might get away with a little puffery on your pieces and on your resume, but if you go completely Pinocchio and lie about "your work," it will come back and bite you in the ass eventually. Six degrees of separation is very prevalent in this business. I may not know you, but there's a good chance I know someone who knows you. Or, I know someone who knows someone who knows you. It's not too hard to find out how much credit you actually deserve if your work sends up red flags.
During interviews, I know some people get a kick out of "watching your nose grow" as you explain how you singlehandedly created the campaign in your book. You'll leave the interview, thinking that you got away with the exaggeration. Then you'll spend weeks wondering why they never called back. Others may let your nose grow and break it off by exposing you during the interview. The only good thing about the latter is that you definitely know why you didn't get the job.
Getting busted for claiming work that isn't yours during an interview is a common horror story. Once you're caught, there's really no redeeming yourself. If you really need to showcase the work, be upfront about your contribution.
But if you honestly feel your best work isn't good enough to get the job, then be really honest with yourself: Maybe you should consider another line of work.
I didn't call out Dina about her site. If she needs to promote other's lesser work as some of her best, I look at this as a donation to charity.
*Names have been changed to protect the innocent and guilty parties.
Image courtesy of stock.xchng.
She wasn't.
Then I saw another ad where she said she was the copywriter.
She wasn't.
I was.
It's not my best work. In fact, I would never consider putting it in my book. I do remember her working on these projects. She just "exaggerated" about her contribution.
I also knew a senior art director we'll call... "Hack"* who asked a mid-level AD (Jeff*) if he could borrow Jeff's portfolio for an interview. Since they did work for the same client, it wouldn't make a difference, according to Hack's logic. (Note: For you youngsters, this was during the Stone Age when we only had physical portfolios.)
You might get away with a little puffery on your pieces and on your resume, but if you go completely Pinocchio and lie about "your work," it will come back and bite you in the ass eventually. Six degrees of separation is very prevalent in this business. I may not know you, but there's a good chance I know someone who knows you. Or, I know someone who knows someone who knows you. It's not too hard to find out how much credit you actually deserve if your work sends up red flags.
During interviews, I know some people get a kick out of "watching your nose grow" as you explain how you singlehandedly created the campaign in your book. You'll leave the interview, thinking that you got away with the exaggeration. Then you'll spend weeks wondering why they never called back. Others may let your nose grow and break it off by exposing you during the interview. The only good thing about the latter is that you definitely know why you didn't get the job.
Getting busted for claiming work that isn't yours during an interview is a common horror story. Once you're caught, there's really no redeeming yourself. If you really need to showcase the work, be upfront about your contribution.
But if you honestly feel your best work isn't good enough to get the job, then be really honest with yourself: Maybe you should consider another line of work.
I didn't call out Dina about her site. If she needs to promote other's lesser work as some of her best, I look at this as a donation to charity.
*Names have been changed to protect the innocent and guilty parties.
Image courtesy of stock.xchng.
Love this article, because I'm always been concerned by co-workers who after I've completed work suddenly request PDFs or JPGs of work for "cool-factor" reasons, and i've always wondered if their true intentions are to take credit or cause they really just like the piece. What would you do? I just hope we don't interview for the same job and I have to defend my work. What a horror.
Reply to this