Should Today’s Job Seekers Have Personal Websites?
Although the job market is brighter these days, it’s still critical for job seekers in 2016 to showcase and exemplify what makes them unique. One way to do this is through a personal website, with such websites bringing a host of other advantages as well. Here are the top three reasons today’s job seekers should have personal websites.
1. 24/7 networking: How would you like to be able to job search 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and never get tired? A personal website helps you do this as you are always accessible to potential employers (or folks connected to them). When they search for keywords you’ve used on your site, they might find you and be impressed with your expertise. If nothing else, you enlist valuable contacts who broaden your network.
2. Branding: A personal website allows you to quickly and effectively convey your authority and skills for a variety of jobs. You need to use the site to express your personal brand; what needs do you meet, what do you specialize in, and what kind of worker are you? Think of how phone companies or even mystery authors market themselves.
3. Visibility: Many employers turn to social media and the Internet to check on job candidates before calling them in for interviews. Your personal website can serve as a huge advantage for you in this way, but only if you use it correctly. Present yourself professionally, and if you are able to reserve a personalized domain, make sure you jump on the opportunity. You may need to opt for a .me extension, but that’s okay.
If possible, make sure to include the following items on your website:
- Your portfolio (with photographs and examples of work)
- Contact information
- Associated logo
- Your tagline (which encapsulates what you do)
- Services you can provide
- An “About Me” page or section (include information on where you grew up, your family, etc.)
- Link to your blog
- A call to action