QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

We build and host a minimalist webpage (we call it a "workfile") showing your work samples and, optionally, your work-related biographical information. Please see our examples page.

Having a workfile promotes a positive, work-first digital identity. It's just as important to present yourself well in the digital world as it is in the physical world, maybe more so. We believe that there's no better way to do that than with your substantive work, front and center. What you produce is a better representation of who you are than what you like, how many connections you have, or your latest post on social media.

No. We do not support connections, likes, ratings, comments, posts, or similar features.

One difference is that we never push members into activities like posting updates or responding to connection requests. You have real work to do. We respect that.

The standard address for a workfile is https://www.workfile.org/johnsmith.

Yes, but only through domain forwarding or redirecting. Check with your domain registrar for details about this option.

Please see our examples page. The format is intentionally simple and consistent. The upper portion of a workfile includes a line drawing or photo of the member, the member's name and city, the member's workfile.org email address, and navigation links for different categories of items. The lower portion includes a list of items corresponding to the active navigation link. Each item in the lower portion includes an image, a title, and a text description. Complex items can also link to a dedicated page with any additional images, documents, etc.

Any original work product that embodies your personal skill and creativity. Basically, if it's something you made, it's something you can include. See our examples page.

You can include categories for additional types of work samples and categories for work-related biographical information. Examples of the latter include education, employment, service, and projects.

A work samples category is always first, but you can specify the order of the other categories.

We require a name (it doesn't have to be your legal name) and at least one work sample or work-related biographical item. Everything else is optional, including city, workfile.org email address, and profile image.

No. We automatically forward any emails sent to your workfile.org email address to an email address you specify. That email address remains hidden from the sender unless you choose to respond to the message.

We use an email forwarding service that automatically sends the messages to your regular email address.

Our email forwarding service includes a best-in-class spam filter, but it's still possible that some spam will get through. Keep in mind that your regular email address stays hidden from the sender unless you decide to reply to a message. If you're still concerned, you can choose not to have a workfile.org email address.

We handle your workfile content via a shared Google Doc. After you become a member, we'll send you a link to your Google Doc by email. We suggest bookmarking the link in your browser. Your Google Doc will include detailed instructions, including fields for images and text and menus for options. Remember that we can hunt for images and generate text on your behalf. That's part of our service.

We suggest making one. Google's cloud-based applications are great. If you would prefer not to do this, we can alternatively gather information for your workfile via email. Just let us know by replying to your welcome email message.

No. We can prepare descriptions for you as needed. You can revise any of the text we prepare (or replace it entirely), but that's optional.

Very little. You can simply provide an image (if available) and one or two sentences for each sample or item. Providing additional information isn't necessary, but it may help us write better text descriptions.

Typically two to three days if you provide your starting materials at the time of joining and then approve the first draft of your workfile promptly. We send the first draft within three days of receiving your starting materials. Each round of revisions after the first draft usually takes between one and three days. Once we receive your final approval, your workfile is typically public in less than one day.

To keep costs reasonable, we do not provide rewrites. You are, however, welcome to revise your content as needed at any time.

Access your Google Doc through the link in your original welcome email (or bookmark). If you lost the link, just let us know by email. We'll send you a new one promptly. Once you're in your Google Doc, your revisions will automatically populate as suggestions. When you're finished, we will briefly review your revisions for compliance with our content policies, accept them, and copy them into your live workfile. We'll also send you an email letting you know that the revisions have been published.

We do not place a limit on the number of revisions.

See our pricing page. Please keep in mind that our service is more hands-on than others. We actually find images and write content for you. That takes time, but we still try to keep the membership rates as low as possible.

Level 1 membership is permanently free. If you want to try out the service before committing, you can start as a Level 1 member and then upgrade later.

Companies that host content for free usually make money by selling advertising or special access to member information. We don't do either of these things.

Each work sample, job, project, service item, degree, etc. counts as a single item.

Absolutely. You can cancel at any time.

The "Account" link on the workfile.org home page takes you to your membership portal, which is managed by Stripe. Stripe notifies us of any changes to your subscription. We do not have direct access to your login or billing information.