The Crazy One

Ep 134 Career: Tough Love for Your Portfolio: Stand Out or Stay Stuck


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Most portfolios don’t get rejected for lack of talent. They get rejected because they’re saying the wrong things — or nothing at all. In this episode, Stephen pulls back the curtain on how hiring managers actually review portfolios, what they’re looking for, and why most creatives are missing the mark. Whether you’re in the middle of a job search, feeling stuck in a bad gig, or just want your work to tell a better story, this episode is your wake-up call — and your roadmap.

You’ll learn:

  • Why your portfolio is a crystal ball for hiring managers — and how they read it
  • The red flags that instantly kill your chances (sliders, typos, and broken links, anyone?)
  • How to structure your book like a story — not a slideshow
  • The myth of “they’ll connect the dots” and why it’s killing your chances
  • What it really means to treat your portfolio like a design problem
  • How to get better feedback — and why most people don’t
  • The hard truth: results take real work, not shortcuts

This is the feedback you wish you’d get — and the challenge to do something about it.

Send us a text

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The Crazy OneBy Stephen Gates

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