Jobseekers are increasingly concerned about their web presence, but not all professionals benefit from online portfolios. It depends on your industry.
Creating a website allows you to showcase digital examples of your work, so this approach is best suited to candidates looking for a job in a creative industry such as video production, graphic design or journalism.
If you do create a website for job-hunting purposes, make sure you keep every aspect of it professional. Remember, it needs to showcase your professional skills — not your personal life. Like your CV and cover letter, a website for job-hunting purposes must be professionally appropriate. So keep personal photos and comments from friends off your site, and keep your tone appropriate too.
We also suggest you profile the strongest examples of your work. After all, this is your chance to demonstrate what you can offer an employer, so be sure you stand out for the right reasons.
However, outside the creative industries, employers rarely request or expect an applicant to have their own website. Instead, it is more important to have a LinkedIn profile, connections with companies, recruiters and industry leaders, and be active in professional groups.
You can also use your LinkedIn profile to showcase examples of your work and achievements.
On the subject of online profiles, keep in mind that it’s also important to adjust the security settings on your personal social media accounts so that only your private network can see your updates. It’s also a good idea to check privacy settings regularly so that you are aware of what you are broadcasting publicly.
This article appeared in the Classified Post print edition as Time to get online?
