Why You Need a Personal Website and How to Create One that Wows

Jobseekers, or even those who are currently employed and just open to new opportunities, all share a similar goal: They want to stand out from the competition. The best way to stand out, of course, is through your accomplishments, but how do you promote those accomplishments? Your resume and social media profiles are certainly the most common and easiest methods, but there is a growing trend toward professionals using another tool: A personal website.

The reason for a personal website is clear: According to one study, more than half of all hiring managers are more impressed by a candidate’s personal website than by resumes. A personal website not only shows allows you to share your accomplishments and experiences in greater detail, but also serves as a cornerstone of your brand identity.

“But I Don’t Know Anything About Building a Website!”

While there are plenty of reasons why you need a personal website (and we’ll get into those in a moment) the fact is, most people don’t have them. And the primary reason? They don’t feel like they have the skills to design an attractive and functional skills, or they don’t have the budget to hire a professional web developer to do it for them.

The fact is, though, that there are plenty of resources that make personal website creation easy, even for those who don’t have any experience in coding or web design. Check out a resource like Top 10 Best Website Builders for services and in no time, you can create a site that shows exactly who you are and what you can do.

Five Reasons Why You Need a Site
Now that you know it is possible to build an attractive site, why would you want to do so?

1. A Website Improves Your Search Results
The majority of hiring managers and recruiters search for candidates online before making hiring decisions and a personal website gives you some control over what they find. A site branded to your name is likely to be among the top results that a recruiter will find when searching for you, and offers a prime opportunity for you to shine.

2. A Website Serves as a Portfolio
While some job opening listings request that applicants provide work samples, a personal website allows you to share more of your best work. Additional writing samples, presentations, and other deliverables give potential employers greater insight into your abilities.

3. A Website Helps Build Your Brand
From the images and fonts you choose to how you choose to arrange your site, it contributes to your brand and image. However, a website does more than that. By adding testimonials, links to your blog and social media, and your portfolio, your site helps establish your credibility and communicates what you are all about.

4. A Website Helps You Network
Your website is accessible 24/7 — even the most committed professional can’t claim that! While you are busy working and living your life, your website is networking for you; others — who you might otherwise have never met — can get to know you by perusing your site and then reach out for a live conversation or meeting if they want.

5. A Website Helps You Become a Thought Leader
Your own site is the best place to share your blog, as well as other content that you find compelling and your thoughts and interpretations on it. If you put in the time to keep it current, others will begin seeking your opinions, and your reputation will grow.

What Your Website Should Look Like
Before you begin designing your personal website, take some time to think about how you want to present your brand, and gather the content that you want to use. Look at your website as a tool for telling your story; everything that you include on the site should contribute to that goal.

With that in mind, ideally, your site should include:

• Your resume
• A short bio and mission statement
• A portfolio of your work.
• A means to contact you, including links to your social media accounts when appropriate
• Testimonials. Don’t forget to include links to news articles, blogs, or other sites related to you achievements.
• Photos and videos. The more interactive and visual the site, the better.

Again, you do not have to be a professional web designer to create a compelling personal site. With a sense of your personal brand and some easy tools, you can build a site that will get you noticed and open the doors to new opportunities.

Photo by Hurst Photo