Why Job Seekers Need a Personal Website

If you're trying to land a new job this year and you want to take your personal brand to the next level and go beyond your resume or LinkedIn profile, a personal website could be your secret weapon. Since few people actually have one, a personal website can be the differentiating factor for the hiring manager when deciding on the company's next new hire.

Your resume is a key marketing tool when conducting a job search. However, it does have limitations. Your resume cannot tell the entire story about you or the depth of your professionalism and experience. It has limited reach since it is only seen by those you give it to. In contrast, a website is available to anyone looking for someone like you. It is more robust than your resume since you can organize lots of your information on several pages. In addition, it's easy to update your professional content to remain current, which becomes instantly available to anyone.

Why have a Personal Website

1. It will get you noticed - In a Domain.Me survey of 600 professionals who have their own websites, 84% of respondents reported receiving tangible career benefits from their personal website. In addition, 70% reported believing that recruiters, employers reviewed their online presence prior to an interview. This demonstrates that employers and hiring managers are increasingly using the internet to find, and more importantly, vet, prospective candidates.
2. It is more than a resume - A website is interactive, evolving and dynamic. You can post testimonials, work samples and add more depth to your professional history than a resume. And your website’s design and tone of voice help to convey your personal brand, and show how you will be a fit in the hiring organization.
3. You will stand out - According to a study by Workfolio, a professional visibility company, 56 percent of hiring managers are more impressed by a personal website than any other branding tool you could use. Yet, only 7 percent of job seekers have websites. Set yourself apart from the pack by promoting yourself with your website.
4. Having an online presence is the wave of the future - By having your own website, you demonstrate that you understand and participate in the growing social media trends. Additionally, you'll learn a few new skills along the way.

How to get Started

1. Look for a service provider - There are cost-effective website service organizations that offer tools for creating and hosting your website. Examples are Godaddy, Google, WordPress, Wix and others. Many of these services have drop-and-drag interfaces and word processor like content editors. With a little patience and practice, you will be able to create your new site.
2. Start planning your website - Search online for personal websites of other professionals in your field or industry. See what they are posting. Ask people in your professional network for their input.
3. Get assistance - If you are new to website design, take advantage of learning resources. The service providers typically offer webinars and have a strong knowledge base. Look for free and economical classes at local libraries and adult education programs. You can also seek the advice and assistance from a web designer. 

Your professional website will give you creative freedom to express your personality and demonstrate your expertise in ways that are not possible through your resume. It gives hiring manages and recruiters more information to help decide if they want to bring you in for an interview. Having an informative, well designed website also sends a message that you are professionally progressive and take your career seriously.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about creating your own personal website.

Manage Your Professional Network

You've heard this before: "It's not what you know, it's who you know." Of course it helps to know things. But, it's more important to know people who can get you in the position to demonstrate what you know. Those people are your professional network. Building yours doesn't have to be hard. Here's how to manage your professional network...

Having a strong network is critical to your professional success. The trick is to make sure you are building a diverse network. Do so by adding people from different industries, backgrounds, age groups, ethnic groups, etc. Building a deep network by only including people from your current profession, industry, business or team leaves too many stones unturned, limiting potential opportunities.

If you are just getting started in building your network, begin by creating a list of fifty people you know. Everyone is a potential connection. Include classmates, friends, past and current colleagues, family members and members of associations to which you belong. Include contact information for each person on your list. You will be surprised at how well connected you already are regardless of your career level. Create and develop a professional business profile online. The most popular website for business networking is LinkedIn. Facebook and others will also serve you well. In addition, there might be a sites suited to your profession, industry or specialty. Once you identify you know, connect to your contacts and begin to cultivate your relationships.

We achieve our greatest success through our relationships with others. That's why it is critical to build and maintain your network. However, approach is everything. If you build your network with the goal of supporting others, you will be far more successful than if your goal is to solely satisfy your own objectives. Your network is a valuable component of your professional brand and success.

As you cultivate your relationships, the contacts you have will refer you to people in their own network. Build relationships with those new contacts and grow those relationships. Stay organized, ask each person you connect with the best way to stay in touch, and express thanks with a hand-written note or a thoughtful email. Then, you are well on your way to building a strong network.

To be truly successful at networking, you need to be continuously making new connections while at the same time nurturing the relationships you have. Remember, if you take the attitude that it is about you, you will be less successful in retaining your network. But if you treat your network as a group of people you serve and support, your experience will be much more positive and you will attract what you need to be successful.


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