document.write('<i>b. Materials and Formatting</i><br /><br />It is important to choose a publisher early as they will dictate the printable page spread format which will ultimately determine the physical size of your portfolio sample. Web publishers, such as lulu.com, have their own page formats that govern how the final result will be presented. 8.5x11 is often the maximum portfolio dimension recommended for postal mail. This size lends itself to the display of large images, particularly in double page spreads. Smaller formats, such as 7x9, are ideal because they act as a pocket sized booklet that is portable, easily bound without the use of metal or plastic spiral binding, and serve as an enticing sample of your work leaving the viewer wanting more. Any format that is smaller than 7”x9” may compromise the graphic presentation, legibility and overall impact of your work by minimizing images and reducing font sizes. Web publishers, such as Lulu, are ideal for this type of presentation method as they are able to offer a quick turnaround time and will allow you to print multiple copies for reduced prices.<br /><br />The careful selection of a binding and media types will provide an effective armature for the presentation of printed material. The inside pages should be printed on a white, high quality, medium weight cardstock or matte presentation media. This type of paper will give the pages some weight and durability. High gloss media types are not recommended as their shiny, slick finish can distract the eye from the printed material. Select a clean binding type, such as a saddle stitch or perfect bind, that is flat, light weight for shipping and will not fold or crinkle the envelope. The type of binding is often contingent upon the page size and orientation. It is wise to check with your publisher and go through the available options before deciding on the format and overall size of the portfolio. You should order at least one test print of the portfolio to ensure the print quality matches the images on the screen and that all images and text will print as anticipated with the desired color saturation.</div><br /><b>B. Digital Submission via Email</b><br /><br /><div class="post" style="padding:0 10px 0 10px;"><b>1. Email Address</b><br /><br />Digital submissions are the most efficient method of application as the materials can be sent quickly with no printing cost to the candidate. When submitting your application via email, it is important to have a well organized package which appears professional and is easy to print or disseminate throughout the office. Maintain a professional email address from which you will send out all correspondence for job applications. The address may contain your first and last name so that your materials are easily identifiable. If your email address does not appear professional, there is a chance the application may be funneled into a spam folder or ignored by the employer.<br /><br /><b>2. Presentation and Formatting</b><br /><br />When applying to a job advertisement, always address the email and cover letter to the contact name listed. If there is no contact name, use the universal greeting “Dear Sir or Madam.” Place the title of the position for which you are applying in the subject line of the email. It is acceptable to either paste your cover letter in the body of the email or compose an abridged version of the cover letter for this type of correspondence. Remember to appear professional and communicate your intentions clearly in the body of the email as this will help the employer form a positive impression of your application. It is acceptable to either paste your cover letter in the body of the email or compose an abridged version of the cover letter for this type of correspondence.<br /><br /><div style=\"float:right;margin:0 0px 5px 15px;background-color: #e3e3e3; padding: 10px; width:157px; font-family: georgia; font-size:12px;\"><i>Always adhere to any size limitations listed in the job advertisement and trim the package as necessary.</i></div>The application package file should feature your name in the file name and include your full cover letter, resume and portfolio sample ALL IN ONE FILE. Emails that include multiple images and files appear sloppy to the employer, require more time to open and may cause great frustration in today’s marketplace where each job application is receiving up to 700 resumes.  The cover letter should appear as the first page, followed by the resume and then the portfolio sample pages. Typically, these application packages are printed and disseminated by a human resources director or studio manager. They may not be read within the email and should be easy to print and pass around to various people. Many firms compile resource binders and will file multiple resumes for future reference along with their respective work samples. It is advisable to format all pages for an 8.5 x 11 paper size in portrait orientation. This format will ensure that the resume can be easily printed along with the sample pages and everything will read like one organized package without having to turn the paper three different ways when flipping between parts. PDF files are the most widely accepted format and will ensure that the file can be read or printed on every computer. In general, the overall file size should be no more than two to five megabytes as some servers will bounce back emails that exceed this size limitation. Always adhere to any size limitations listed in the job advertisement and trim the package as necessary. Methods to reduce file size may include reprinting the portfolio sample in Adobe Acrobat to PDF format with a standard or smallest file size compression level. It is important to send an organized digital presentation which will ensure that no portions are lost or misplaced and you present yourself as a highly organized and professional candidate.</div></div><br /><br /><div style="width:436px;height:1px;border-top:dashed 1px #2F1F0E;"></div><br /><br />As a profession that is closely linked to both economic and material resources, architecture remains susceptible to the worst consequences of recession as well as the most favorable aspects of economic growth.  Unemployed architects and designers currently face the most difficult challenges we have seen in a generation, while those who remain employed are engaged in an uphill battle to find new work, stay productive in a difficult professional environment and remain economically viable. As a job seeker, it is important to always remain optimistic, proactively market your skills, stay active in the design community, keep your finger on the pulse of the market, pursue every employment lead to its conclusion and maintain positive professional relationships.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="post" style="border: 1px dashed #2F1F0E;"><div style="padding: 10px;"><strong>Jason Ivaliotis</strong> began his professional journey as a designer and educator at Miami University in 1999. Over the last decade he has gained a wealth of experience as a project designer and team leader for various architectural firms, completing a wide range of diverse international projects and competitions which include large scale urban planning, high rise architecture and commercial development, cultural and educational projects, civic spaces, retail and corporate interiors and product design. Jason holds a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Miami University where he graduated with Departmental Honors in 2003, and a Master of Architecture from Columbia University where he graduated with an Honor Award for Excellence in Design in 2007. He is currently working toward LEED professional accreditation and NCARB registration. In recent years, he has been employed by various design firms including: HLW International, Samoo Architecture PC, FXFowle Architects, Tsao & Mckown Architects and Rafael Viñoly Architects.<br /><br />Jason is a partner and cofounder of VERSA, a design, visualization and research collaborative based in New York City. He is particularly interested in exploring architecture’s role in the choreography of human experience through the establishment of physical parameters and spatial relationships and their effect on social interaction.<br /><br />In 2008, Mr. Ivaliotis was appointed to the faculty of the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture Planning and Preservation where he currently serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Architecture. Jason’s ongoing research and experimentation at Columbia University explores the interplay between generative software platforms, physical modeling, virtual analysis and automated digital fabrication techniques to create variable, folded component systems that function simultaneously as both structure and envelope. Throughout the course of his academic and professional endeavors, Jason approaches architecture as both a fine art and an applied science that remains fluid and versatile to serve the needs of an ever-changing society.</div></div>');