There’s a better way to market yourself to employers than that black-and-white resumé you’ve sent out over and over again.
With a personal website you can show employers why you’re a great candidate for your dream job—and if you keep it updated, employers might even start to seek YOU out.
A website can benefit job seekers in almost every field, since companies are increasingly finding candidates and researching job applicants online. Owning a website with your name as the domain improves your chances of showing up in an employer’s search and controlling what information they find.
Everything from your choice of layout, to the information you highlight, to your portfolio of work, gives hiring managers insight into your personality and unique talents. Just make sure it’s your talents that stand out, not grammatical or technical errors.
To do this effectively, collect portfolio pieces, text and photos, and then put these sections together:
Bio. A succinct “About me” page will provide information that’s not part of your resumé. Sharing your hobbies, interests and accomplishments can connect you to curious employers on a personal level. Keep it interesting, but avoid potentially controversial details such as religious or political views. Including a headshot can add a level of trust, but make sure it’s professional—no smartphone selfies!
Tagline. Underneath your website title, include a professional headline that summarizes who you are and what you do (or want to do). Short, snappy sentences with key words used in your field will give search engines more chances to pick up your site, and give potential employers a quick picture to remember you by.
Professional objective. A summary of your skills and the services you provide will tell potential employers how you can help them. From your resumé and portfolio, it can be hard to deduce exactly what you are looking for in a job or what you’re good at, so spell it out.
Portfolio. Collect samples from your past projects that give a snapshot of your abilities. With each inclusion, emphasize the skills you needed to complete the project in a short paragraph. Always include a link to the live version, use high-quality images, and consider uploading your pieces in multiple formats to avoid download problems.
Resumé. In case a potential employer is only given your web address, include your resumé so they can have a full understanding of your credentials and experience.
Blog. A focused blog keeps your website fresh and demonstrates your dedication. Play to your strengths and write posts or create short videos that are relevant to your field, or create mock-ups of a project you would like to work on. This is your chance to show off your insider know-how.
Contact info. This should be easily accessible, since the entire point of your website is to put you in touch with employers. Your name, email and phone number should be displayed prominently, as should the option to follow you on professional social media streams. For safety reasons, leave off personal details like your home address.
Testimonials. Positive references from former employers, colleagues or clients can polish your professional image. Make sure the same references are also on your LinkedIn page so it’s clear they’re from real people.
Once you’ve put the work in, show people and consider their feedback. Add the URL to your resumé, email signature and social networking profiles, and get hired.
Websites to help you get started:
Show us your websites! Tweet the link to @Career_Options and we’ll share the best examples.
Very great post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I’ve really enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing in your rss feed and I’m hoping you write again very soon!