What do you do if your video production interview requires discussing your portfolio?

In the video production world, your portfolio is your CV. Be prepared to answer questions on how you created the work, who was the team involved, where was this filmed, and so on. The person you're chatting with might find one of your portfolio items extremely interesting. Tell them what got you excited about this particular piece of work and what the challenges were during the production.

Be a master of your craft by knowing every detail of your portfolio. Understand the project's objectives, your creative decisions, and the results achieved. Familiarize yourself with the context, target audience, and how each video fulfilled its purpose. Be prepared to discuss any challenges faced during production and how you tackled them, showcasing your problem-solving abilities and adaptability, essential qualities in video production.

Highlight key projects that demonstrate your skills and expertise relevant to the job requirements. Provide concise explanations of your role, challenges faced, and solutions implemented, showcasing your creativity and ability to deliver results effectively.

When talking about your video portfolio in an interview, make sure you know every detail. Be ready to explain the goal of each project, the creative choices you made, and any budget limits you had to work with. Walk the interviewer through the whole production process - point out any challenges you faced and how you solved them while sticking to the budget. And don't forget to share what excited you about each piece and how it's helped you grow as a video professional. Showing this deep understanding will demonstrate your technical skills, strategic thinking, and genuine passion for the craft.

Think about making a highlight reel for the particular job you're applying for. Nobody watches 10 different videos that are each 2 minutes long. But someone would watch a 2 minute video with 10 seconds of each of your best videos. Especially when it is tailored specifically for your interviewer.

Personalize your portfolio to match the job you're applying for. Emphasize projects relevant to the specific role, whether it's documentary filmmaking or corporate video production. This tailored approach indicates your grasp of the job's demands and showcases your experience in the relevant areas. It also reflects your discerning eye for selecting work and demonstrates that you curate your portfolio with purpose.

Highlight the impact of your work when discussing your portfolio. Describe how your videos have captivated audiences, influenced actions, or bolstered the outcome of campaigns or projects. This demonstrates not only your technical expertise but also your grasp of the strategic significance of video content. It's essential to bridge your creative abilities with measurable results.

Data, data, data. Ask your previous clients about how your videos have performed, check out their Instagram, TikTok and Youtube and collect view counts, how many times the video was shared, and how many comments and saves it got and leverage this in your interview. Nothing is more impressive than a video that went viral or received a lot of attention online. This shows the interviewer that you have experience creating great hooks and have a good eye for storytelling.

Select videos from your portfolio that demonstrate a clear goal and measurable results. These could be projects where you: ?Increased brand awareness by X% through engaging video content. ?Drove sales by Y% with a compelling product explainer video. ?Improved customer satisfaction by Z% with a well-crafted tutorial video.

One man / woman shows are rare these days and most productions only work with multiple people. You don't have to be a Swiss Army knife in this world so show off who you had worked with and how you were able to achieve what you have achieved. If any, it shows how much of a team player you are and that you have great management skills.

Prepare a strong reel of your favorite projects. Keep it short and precise and don't hold a specific scene for too long. Attention spans are short and the picture needs to keep moving. 60 seconds or less would be ideal. Just a glimpse behind the curtain showcasing a large diversity or just a specific niche is fine. Show different lighting scenarios, animation styles, camera movements, color grades, and so on. Pack as much as you can into those 60 seconds so the person who watches knows exactly what you're capable of.