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I’ve got a ton of real work and a few spec pieces. I’ve labeled one or two as spec but the rest were either lines that the client didn’t buy for a real campaign or, honestly, I just presented them as real work I had done. I don’t think there’s any harm in it. It’s not your fault if you have a super conservative client that doesn’t buy something.
But people have thought it was real if I didn’t say it was spec work because it’s super thorough
If you’re still a mid, keep it. There’s no harm especially if it’s passing as the real deal. No need to label it either. If people ask, tell them. Or, put it in the project description that you made it “just for fun”, or “it wasn’t real but you really love it.” Something like that.
I would say all the spec work should be out by time you’re a senior. So, in the meantime, try focusing on creating a real-world project that could best and replace the spec one you love.
If you have enough real work get the student work out of your book. Student work is to get a junior job.
Keep it in a for fun section or something. But your student ideas will not have any big sway on someone hiring you beyond a Jr level