Posts published on June 27, 2018
7 Student Tips To Build a Personal Website To Get a Job
BY JANE HURST
In this day and age, having a killer resume is not always enough to guarantee you will get a job. Employers today often look past the paper trail and onto the screen. Having a personal website that promotes your brand will enhance your chances of landing your dream job. Not all website are created equal, however, so here are some tips to make sure your website shines above the rest.
- Take your time
When you decide to create a website, keep in mind that this is not a one day task. Building a personal website that catches an employer’s eye takes a bit of time. Usually a good site can be done in about a week. The worst thing you can do is rush through the process.
- Your words
You are building a page about yourself, so you need to use your words and let your personality shine through. Be sure to take your time and figure out exactly what you want to say about yourself and your brand. If you rush this section it will be sloppy and future employers will not even take the time to peruse the rest of your site.
- Introduction
This section is the most important part of your page. Employers will see this first. Make sure your wording expresses who you are and what you want to accomplish. You can use this section to highlight your resume or make it short and sweet and to the point.
- Resume/Portfolio
On this page you want to present your portfolio or a link to your resume. You can use images to highlight what you have accomplished, or you can use simple links and explanations. If you are a writer, you can use this page to link to published or sample articles. Employers are looking at who you are. They will understand if you have not published, yet. Show them an article you wrote for class or a sample your personal writing. The important thing is to show yourself through your work.
- Links to Social Media
If you look around you can find your best website builder to help you with the above tasks. A good website builder will also show you how to create links and boxes for your site. Some important links to remember are your social media sites. Providing links to these sites sends your employer the message that you are using them to complete and promote your brand.
- References
A reference page is a good addition to your personal website. If you have published anything or have been mentioned in any online articles, this is the place to include links to those articles. Also a list of people who know you and have shown an interest in your work should be included here. Professors, advisors, and employers are all good sources for references and they will show employers that you have stood out among your classmates and employees.
- Proofreader
The last step, and an important one, is getting people to proofread your page before you go live. They can double check phrasing, spelling, and offer critiques on your layout. Ask your professors if they would be willing to look at your personal website. A couple of family friends should also be included to give you a well rounded critique of the page. Once everyone has seen it and you have performed the necessary edits you are ready to go live. Do not forget to promote your page on your social media sites and keep it up to date.
Byline:
Jane Hurst has been working in education for over 5 years as a teacher. She loves sharing her knowledge with students, is fascinated about edtech and loves reading, a lot. Follow Jane on Twitter.
