Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Ah, the padfolio. In the business school where I am a Masters of Accounting student, you do not exist until you carry the right padfolio. I staved off the pressure throughout my undergraduate years, but once I hit the graduate level, I knew I would never be anyone until I had my very own padfolio. In business school, the padfolio is the equivalent of the nerd's iconic pocket protector, the rich socialite's miniature puppy, the varsity athlete's letter jacket...at least back in my day. This, my friends, is one of the "right" padfolios. From a distance, it looks expensive and important. I have carried it around every day for the past two months and, while I haven't written a single word inside, this padfolio has caused my fellow students to look upon me with reverence and awe. Whispers follow me down the halls. Even my professors treat me with more dignity and respect when I open this padfolio, whip out my Bic, and smooth the immaculate pages of my 5"x8" legal pad. I can only imagine the crazed scenes I will create when I fill the mesh pocket with business cards to provide to interviewers. Buy this padfolio. It doesn't matter what you do, what you wear, what you say: as long as you carry this beauty under your arm or across your chest, you can forget to put your pants on and still be looked upon as a true professional. Update 5/4/2014: Well, folks, I've seen some recent reviews discussing the poor quality of this most excellent padfolio and would like to offer my personal experience since the time of this review. I began my journey to professional excellence in November 2012 when I purchased this beauty from Amazon. I had just gone through the interview process for a busy season internship with several firms and did not receive a single offer. What?! Moi?! I cried, I wailed, I screamed at the heavens, I ate way too many Little Debbie Fudge Rounds....and then I made the best purchase of my life: this padfolio. I carried this padfolio with me to school nearly every day to delude myself into believing I was a real professional. If I could make myself believe it, I could make anyone believe it - and it worked. With my head held high and my padfolio tucked securely into the crook of my arm, other students eyeballed me with wonder and amazement (as described at length in my original review). When the next round of interviews came around in September 2013, I was prepared. Mostly. I printed out multiple copies of my resume on fancy-dancy paper and tucked them securely behind the notebook in my padfolio, but I forgot to take it with me to my first two interviews! Why? WHY?! I heard nothing. I was nothing without my padfolio. When my third and final interview arrived, I walked proudly into the interview room with my padfolio and blew it out of the water. I carried my padfolio with me to the office visit and walked out with an internship offer. This was no coincidence, ladies and gentlemen: the padfolio will indeed inspire you to exude such confidence that you can achieve anything with this baby by your side. I kept it on my desk at work, and for the first time, I wrote in its sacred pages as I took notes for training. I displayed it prominently on my desk each day, and on April 15 when my internship ended, the partners offered me a job. Does it serve other purposes beyond improving one's professional appearance and demeanor? Well yeah, it does come with a small legal pad and a full-sized notebook (which has perfectly-spaced lines on high-quality paper that I love). But that's not why I bought it. The purpose behind my acquisition was to improve my professional appearance. It's not an Otterbox for my resume. It's not some heavy-duty construction military-grade notebook. I am an accountant; I get angry and throw things when I do taxes. Throw some paper clips at your cubemate if you feel you must. Throw a stapler (not at your cubemate). Do not throw the padfolio. It is not made for throwing, or leaving in a hot car for the glue to melt, or for any type of abuse in general. Love it. Cherish it. Keep it clean. Maintain its immaculate appearance. Take care of it, and it will take care of you. It looks good. It will make YOU look good.