Constructing my portfolio has been eye-opening, to say the least. It’s spotlighted crucial experiences that I don’t often consider but use every day. My dive into this portfolio began with the tricky task of crafting an abstract for my very first intricate online help system. Due to a non-disclosure agreement, I needed to get a little inventive in describing my role in the project without spilling any confidential beans.
This migration project was like plunging into three different universes at once. The first universe was the maze-like world of topic-based information in the complex oilfield services software. The second was the ever-evolving sphere of software development, and the third was the uncharted territory of software migration. It was like a brain workout I’ll never forget.
In retrospect, the hurdles were pretty hefty. But back then, I was a fearless newbie eager for any challenge that came my way. I treated every obstacle as an exhilarating hurdle. What I slowly realized was that transitioning from a VAX mainframe (think of it as a vintage computer system) to Windows was a group-wide learning experience. This realization helped me get a grip on my steep learning curve, aided by standout support from the project lead.
The gig was about morphing ASCII help files into a snazzy Windows-compatible format. Sounds simple, right? But as we delved deeper, it was obvious that a straightforward cut-and-paste job from ASCII to a Word document was not going to cut it.
As the project evolved, the software did too, in ways that went beyond a mere operating system shift. It turns out that just switching the operating system messed with how the software functioned at its core. So, a one-to-one mapping of the old and new was out of the question. Those ASCII files? They were basically just launchpads. I found myself dissecting the new interface, decoding oilfield jargon, and essentially writing a ton of the text anew. And you know what? I was living for it. Why spill all these details? Because I’ve stumbled upon a hidden gem in portfolio-building. It offers a golden chance to revisit and really think about the value I’ve brought to my past roles. Building this portfolio has been more than educational—it’s been downright empowering. I’m getting a clearer picture of what I can offer in each project I undertake.
Have you built a portfolio showcasing your work? What was your experience, I’d like to hear about it.