Smart job-seekers know what tools to use to make themselves stand out, and one of these tools is a personal website. According to a survey by Workfolio, 56% of hiring managers regard personal websites highly, deeming it to the be most impressive hiring or self-marketing tool. With this being the case, if you don’t have a personal website, you should definitely consider creating one!

Here’s why we think it’s important:

• It shows that you take your career seriously

• Improves your ranking on search engines

• Allows you to control what others see when they search for you

• Showcases your skills

• Helps your optimise your personal brand

Workfolio found that only 7% of jobseekers surveyed have a personal site, despite an astounding 77% wanting one. It turns out, aside from being too technologically challenging, people also don’t know what to include on a personal website!

So here are a few hints to help get you started:

• Your resume: It’s important to include a resume on your personal website.

• An ‘About Me’ page: Include a short summary about who you are and what your skills are. These are usually written in the third person.

• Blog: A blog is a great way to show off your knowledge of your industry.

• Professional photo: It’s always a good idea to include a professional photo of yourself. This can be placed on your ‘About Me’ page, or on your homepage.

• Samples of your work: Depending on your industry, this is not always necessary. However, if you have completed projects in the past, your personal website is a great place to showcase them.

• Contact information: Provide a way for people to contact you. If you don’t want to put your email address online, use a contact form.

• Social media links: Link to your social media profiles. If you’re not currently on social media, get on social media. It’s another great tool for job seekers.

• Testimonials: Testimonials from previous bosses or former colleagues rate highly with recruiters. It boosts their confidence in you and your skills.

• Unique email address: You should create a unique email address, using your personal domain name.

Don’t forget to:

• Keep your website up-to-date and professional.

• Make sure your website is complete. If you are still working on your website, or it’s undergoing major structural changes, keep it offline until it’s 100% ready to go.

• Ensure there are no spelling mistakes and/or grammatical errors, also profanity is a definite no-no. Don’t let the small stuff impact your opportunities.  

Be sure to get a personal website for the new year. Don’t be afraid! Be bold because life is too short to play it safe, and you never know what opportunities will come your way.