The samples are the most important part of your portfolio since they show what kind of work you are capable of.  Instead of overwhelming the portfolio by including a full listing of your past work, only include 10 to 20 samples of your highest quality pieces. Demonstrate depth with your samples, not just breadth. The kind of samples you have will be different depending on what field you are in. For example, a model needs a selection of quality photographs of themselves, while a writer needs a variety of articles or writing samples. Your original works are too valuable to risk losing as your portfolio gets passed around. Take photographs of three-dimensional works and two-dimensional works and photocopy any writing samples. Take your pictures using a tripod, so that your camera doesn’t shake, and light it from the side, so there isn’t a glare on the object. If you’re including an article published in a magazine, newspaper, or journal, photocopy the volume's front cover and table of contents as well as your article. If any articles have been written about your accomplishments, include copies of those clippings in your portfolio. National journals and large newspapers are the most impressive sources, but you should still include articles written by local news sources, academic institutes, and Internet sources.  If you were in the military, provide a record of your service. Include information about any awards, badges, or ranks you earned during your time in the military. If you just graduated or are applying to schools, you might want to include a transcript of your past academic work. Include awards or certificates if they are relevant. List professional and academic sources who would be willing to promote your work and skills if asked. Choose wisely and ask permission from each source before listing them as a reference. Include full names, job positions, email addresses, mailing addresses, and phone numbers. Also briefly state how that reference is connected to you.  Limit your references to a single page. You shouldn’t post this information online, but it’s useful to have for a printed portfolio or to email to an employer who has seen your online portfolio. Write a paragraph that includes some brief professional information, your long- and short-goals, and how you approach your work. Depending on what field you’re in, you may want to include your creative philosophy, management philosophy, teaching philosophy, and so on.  If you are planning on showing your portfolio to many potential employers, your personal statement should be broad enough to encompass all of them. Use specifics rather than generalizations. For example, say “My experience producing a feature-length student-written film taught me the perseverance necessary for success in the challenging indie film industry,” rather than, “I’ve worked on making films, so I’m a good candidate.” If you haven’t updated your resume recently, now is a great time to do so, because then you can include it in your portfolio. Make sure your resume reflects your relevant work experience, skills, and educational achievements.  If you don’t have much work experience, you can beef up your resume with educational awards or volunteer experience. Update your online resume (like a LinkedIn account) if you have one.
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One-sentence summary -- Choose 10-20 quality samples of your work. Take quality photographs of your work. Gather documented proof of your accomplishments. Ask three to five people to be your references. Draft a personal statement. Update your resume.


You can find adjustable dog jumps used in agility courses online or at your local pet store. When you’re just starting out, set the bar at ground level or at the lowest available setting. You’ll start training by just having your dog walk over the jump bar. If you don’t want to purchase an adjustable jump, you can easily make your own. Place a plywood board over two cinder blocks, or other sturdy, flat objects. Add more blocks to increase the jump’s height when you’re ready to increase difficulty. Look for fallen logs, low walls, or even small creeks nearby that you can use as free obstacles. Make sure the area is safe and stable before bringing your dog there so that they don’t get hurt. Have your dog sit on one side of the jump bar, and place a treat on the floor on the opposite side. Tell your dog “Go get it!” or any other command (like “Okay!” or “Go!”) you’ve taught it that lets it know it should get the treat. If necessary, guide your dog over the bar to get the treat.  The treat should be on the floor instead of held high in the air so your dog will get used to looking down and forward as it goes over the bar. This will help it learn to round its back when it actually jumps over the bar, which is better for its spine. If your dog walks around the jump instead of over it to get the treat, set it up with one side against a wall. Place an obstacle, such as furniture, on the other side. Keep having your dog step over the jump bar so it gets comfortable with the object. If you start by having it jump right away, it might accidentally knock over the bar. If that happens and it gets hurt or startled, you’ll have a hard time getting your dog to go near the obstacle.  Keep practicing for about 20 minutes at least once a day. Remember to give your dog lots of verbal praise to show it how proud it’s made you. Once your dog is comfortable stepping over the bar, raise it to the next setting or add another set of cinder blocks. Ideally, at this next phase, your dog should just have to put a little more spring into its step to get over the bar and get the treat. When it’s mastered this stage, increase the height so it has to complete a full jump to get the treat. Like bar jumping, the key to teaching your dog to jump through a hoop is to raise the obstacle gradually. Start by having your dog walk through the hoop to get a treat so it gets comfortable with the object. Raise the hoop so it has to step a little more energetically, then gradually work your way up to a full jump.
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One-sentence summary --
Use an adjustable jump. Create your jump with cinder blocks and plywood. Use natural outdoor obstacles as jumps. Set down a treat on the far side of the jump. Practice at the lowest level until your dog is comfortable. Raise the bar gradually. Use the same method to teach your dog to jump through hoops.