Since way back in the early '90s, when I first started drafting plans, I have kept a personal portfolio of drawings and other work products quite separate from the company files. I don't keep every single thing, just things that represent milestones in my professional development, solved an unusual problem, are the product of extended effort, or that just turned out looking really good. At this point I've got 4? binders filled, and have just purchased a 5th.
My purpose has been two-fold. One, as a reference to remind myself how I solved an old problem similar to one I'm facing and two, as a sample of my work for potential employers (although no potential employers have ever asked to see such a thing, nor shown much interest when offered). I have also used them to show people under my supervision example mapping, etc.
I wonder if any other among you do anything similar?
I always email myself copies of my work from work when I am employed there so i can show I did the work, I dont have to beg for a copy when some yutz tries to block my career, for exactly what you mentioned to solve similar problems and to show history of growth and advancing skills.
The exceptions are when its classified, or if I was told never to do so via a signed NDA or similar.
Those I just make sure I have a copy by permission or something similar.
Like a thumb drive. Screw them. I created it.
I need and will use the work to define my abilities. As long as its not classified. The government has way too much time and money.
When I started doing this the internet, email, and thumb drives were barely a thing at all. PDF had not been invented. Our computers were not networked even within the office. 3 1/2", 1.44mb floppies were the height of portable storage technology. I was 8 years into my career and already an LSIT when I got my first email. So it was paper, or nothing at all.
wow. one step past the parchment and stone tablets some of the people here were using at the time. 😉 Lighten up you Guys and Gal
I had the HD floppies back then, but wasn't doing anything that mattered, minus papers and reports for school. I did just fire up my 1989 MacSE30 that still runs like a top, and even says Made in the USA Cupertino, California.
I wonder if any other among you do anything similar?
Drawings and other work products? No
But I do have copies of almost every proposal, report, RFQ/RFI response, etc. I've written over the last decade or so.
I have DWGs of every drawing I've produced in the last 27 years, but then I'm self-employed. I don't have copies of much from my days as an employee, but I don't suppose that really matters much for someone in my situation.
I keep a copy of my stamped plans and reports for myself. Never know when somebody is going to call with a question from when I worked someplace else, and no longer have access to the records.
I advise the techs who work under me to keep a portfolio of their work for when (if) they apply for the PLS exam. It will save a lot of running around when it's time to pull the application together.
