The Internet has changed the way that people search for jobs. Gone (or nearly so) are the days of searching the newspaper for openings or calling on various local businesses to check for openings. Now this can all be done with the click of a mouse. That itself is not a secret but for a job seeker there is something else that the Internet can help you with in finding a job and that is having a personal webpage.
Personal websites are all over the Internet. It is a great way to share your interests with the world or what is going on in your life. It also is a great way for a prospective employer to meet you before you ever set foot in their place of business. In other words it is a great way to create a positive first impression.
What are your interests? Sports? Art? Travel? A personal website is a great way to share those with others. The person that is doing the interviewing may have the same interests or even the big boss could. It’s an easy way to break the ice in what is otherwise a very stressful event for both you and the interviewer. It also gives you the opportunity to present yourself in a professional manner. Employers do want to know if you can be professional and really don’t have any other window into whether or not a prospective employee can be. In the past some asked to see a person’s social media accounts but that has prompted much backlash. A personal website helps to avoid all of this, after all what you do on social media is your private business. It is also illegal for them to do so in some states. Your personal website allows you to present yourself to the world and anyone who views it as you want. It is your own after all and you and only you control the content.
When a prospective employer gets a resume the first they will do is check it out to see if that person has whatever it is that they are looking for. You’ve probably heard that most resumes are tossed out by HR at this point so it is important not only to have the proper qualifications but to also make yours stand out. Having your own personal website can help it do just that.
The next step may be to Google your name to see what comes up. A prospective employer will do that and if your personal website is available it allows you to control the narrative of you. Sure they will do a criminal background check and possibly contact references but that comes later. Think about it another way as well. Have you ever Googled your name to see what comes up? It could be out of date information or there could be someone else with the same name in your area. Would you want a prospective employer mixing up that person for you and having that determine whether or not they bring you in for an interview? You might be surprised with how many people share your name not only in the US but around the world. Of course it is much easier if you put your URL on your resume as well so that there is no confusion!
One of the major reasons that people do not want to create a personal website is the fear that putting any personal information on the Internet could be dangerous. This is not an unfounded fear as identity theft is rampant all over the world. Remember one thing when it comes to this: YOU control what is put on the site. If you do not want to tell the world how old you are, you don’t have to. If you don’t want to tell the world what your favorite high school teacher (or the answer to any other secret question) is you don’t have to. If you don’t want to give out your email address so people (and spammers) can contact you, guess what? You don’t have to. This is your website, you control the content.
So what is holding you back at this point? Cost right? Developing a website is expensive isn’t it? Well, not really. You will be the person developing it removing almost all labor costs and that is a great learning tool as well so don’t forget to add that to your resume. WordPress is an easy and intuitive program to use and is the top development program in use today. At Nicely Done Sites we can also offer very reasonable hosting rates that anyone can afford.
If you are interested in building a personal website Nicely Done Sites can help. It does not matter if you are 16 or 60, anyone can do it. Why not make the Internet work for you for once?