7 Dos and Don'ts of a Professional Web Site
NEW YORK (
) -- More and more companies are turning away from traditional resumes and looking at your online presence instead to vet you for a possible job. As such, having your own Web site can increase your chances of scoring a position.
"Employers are moving away from a one-dimensional to two-dimensional resume to a three-dimensional approach," says Bruce Hurwitz, president of
Hurwitz Strategic Staffing
in New York, referring to an individual Web presence. "It's good to have one now. In 10 years, probably everyone will need one."
A Web site will only help if it's created correctly, though. Here's what to do -- and what not to do -- when putting yours together.
Having your own Web site can be a boon for job hunters, but employers want to see you can do it right. |
Do keep it simple
"Think of it as the first sample of work they're going to see from you," says Carolyn Hughes, vice president of people at
SimplyHired.com
. "You want it to be easy to navigate and very organized."
You also want to make sure all of your contact information is readily available in the work you are using the Web site to showcase.
"Integrate other channels as well," says Samantha Zupan, spokeswoman for job search engine
Glassdoor.com
. "Put up links to your
handle and
(LNKD)
profile."
... But don't phone it in
Like a quality resume, the Web site should be devoid of typos and misspellings, clutter and inaccurate or misleading information. It should also illustrate that some time and effort was put into the formatting, which means those who don't know anything about making a Web site shouldn't try to do so on their own, says Jason Carney, director of human resources at
WorkSmart Systems
, a human resources outsourcing firm.
Do update it frequently
If you just put together the Web site and forget about it, the project may appear abandoned, incomplete or irrelevant, which could make prospective employers doubt the quality of your work performance.
Instead, "update facts often," Carney says. "But don't tweak skills." This could come off as disingenuous, since it gives the impression you are changing the information on the Web site to cater to all of the jobs you are applying to.
Do make printable information available
Regardless of technological advancements, some employers will still want to see a resume in written form. As such, it helps to include a downloadable PDF of your resume on the Web site so employers will be able to get all the information they require in a single visit, Zupan says.
... But don't keep that resume up right after starting a job
You may want to remove this PDF once your job search is over.
In fact, "kill your online resume altogether," Carney says, since not doing so may "send some strange signals" to your new employer or even your new co-workers.
Do be authentic
When setting the tone of the Web site -- for instance, you may be torn between writing your bio in first- or third-person -- it helps to stick to what feels right to you and your industry, Hughes says. This allows the site to act as a natural cultural screening and increase your chances of finding an employer you click with.
"Stylistically, it will appeal to the places you belong," she says.
... But don't be unprofessional
Similar to the rules regarding the professional use of Twitter or
, "don't put up anything that gives an impression you're not looking to give," Zupan says.
For example, Hurwitz says photos should always be conservative and not include anyone other than the person owning the domain name (for instance, no group photos from that last big party you and your crew attended).
Additionally, "negativity is never good," Hughes says, since it isn't valued in the workplace and won't help your quest for a new position.
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