I don't see where it would hurt to take a portfolio with you when you drop in to talk to them. I really urge you to try to make personal contact with them and not just shoot them off a letter and resume' or call them on the phone, unless they've made it clear that is the only way to contact them about a job.

I think you would make a really good candidate, but right from the get-go you may be faced with some hurdles, depending on their personal paradigms. I had studied horticulture and then ended up going into a completely unrelated field when I had to relocate. Before that, I was in another completely unrelated profession. Both white collar. To get back in to hort, I had a lot of bias to overcome. By getting to talk to my prospective employer face to face, I could zero in on exactly what he wanted in an employee and concentrate on telling him how I could deliver just that.

I was offered a full time position, at one fourth my previous salary. What I didn't tell him was that I would have PAID him for the chance to work there for the practical experience. This was an entry level position because anything other than that in my area is/was non-existent. I figured I could work my way up if given a chance, at least coming away with a practical education, if not a fat paycheck.

I have my own business now, but I'll never forget the biases I have seen in the industry concerning newbies with education, previous white collar work experience, or age over thirty on entry. You may run into it, you may not. When I hire in seasonally, I don't need someone with my qualifications, and when I get "power" resume's I answer them .....always and try to steer the candidate toward other growers in this part of the state who can use their qualifications.

IOW, you'll know when you get to that point in an interview when (or if) to share, and if you decide to, you'll be ready. I guess I'm just saying delicately that some prospective employers get nervous about people they "think" won't be happy in a job because they (fill in the blanks) have never done it before, are overqualified, are used to higher salaries, are too old at thirty five........or all they need is a minimum wager person. IOW won't even give someone a chance, because they have preconceived notions about what their typical employee should be.

What I look for more than anything is enthusiasm, common sense and good work ethic.

Portfolios are usually presented at the interview. Make sure that you highlight the fact that you have made several systems and will happily provide a portfolio upon request.

Upon reading your post, I have two suggestion: 1) proof read your materials at least twice making sure you do so at one day intervals and 2) have someone else proof read it also. Just a minor but annoying thing, numbers less than 100 should be written out and any number at the beginning of sentence is always written out.

Good Luck!!!!