Ploymint

Welcome to the age of technology folks. We are no longer frantically searching the classifieds of every newspaper to find an opening. We are no longer mailing hard copies of our resumes to HR departments nationwide. We are no longer making first impressions on our interviews.

Wait, what? You read that correctly. Typically, an interview is not the first impression a hiring manager has of you. Ah, the beautiful world of technology! With a simple google search of your name, an employer has a first impression of you. Scary, right? It doesn’t have to be if your personal website is one of the first things that this hiring manager sees.

What is a personal website? It’s right there in the name – your own website. An online page where you can sell yourself. Brands do it all the time, so why can’t we? With a personal website, you are able to show off even more skills, control how you are perceived, and stand out from the crowd.

Now you may be asking yourself, what are the keys to making a great personal website? Firstly, please promise me you are not going to think of this as your Facebook page or your Myspace page. Yes, it has the same idea in the sense that you are making your own personal page to attract attention, however this type of attention is quite different than the type you wanted when you were fourteen and had a top 8 on Myspace. This type of attention needs to gain the attention of employers, keep them interested, and make them want you. How can you make your personal page achieve this?

Here are some guidelines from other personal website examples:

Keep it simple.
No one likes to read long novels (unless of course it’s the Harry Potter series, obviously). Employers don’t want to read wordy personal pages. Keep it short and sweet. A great example of one is graphic designer Jessica Meltzer, who’s simple, clean, organized page allows a future employer to see that everything is done with detail and professionalism.

Show off your skills.
Some professions more than others should take having a personal website more seriously. For instance, if you’re involved in any sort of the arts, a personal website is key. You need an online platform to showcase your skills, resume, and more. This online website will back up the claims made on your resume by allowing future employers to see your work. Illustrator Bee Johnson doesn’t even need text on her personal page to show of her skills. Her illustrations are loud enough.

Be Bold.
Your personal page should not look like your college thesis. Think of that monotone professor you had in college that you never wanted to listen to; this is how employers will feel when reading your page if it’s simply in black text on a white background. Spice it up a bit. Be a rebel and bold, italicize, underline, and more. Photographer Elena Jasic knows this. Her in your face, changing, background, allows you to see the intensity and detail in her work.

Let your personality shine.
Be funny. Showcase your personality through this page. It should be as if someone reading your personal page can actually picture you saying all of these things to them personally. You want to show yourself off. You can be funny while still being professional. Remember, the goal is to receive attention! Saxon Campbell‘s personality shines in his “under construction” homepage of his page. The coming soon grabs my attention and makes me want to check back to see its completion. In the meantime, it links to another site where you can see his work still. Genius!

Be truthful.
Social Media is used for millennials to exaggerate their lives, don’t even try to deny this. Your personal page should not be like this; it should not be a fabrication. Do not post untrue skills, experience, or attributes on this page. Remember, this page is public. Someone who knows you can easily stumble upon it and rat you out. It’s not worth the risk. Lies always have a funny way of coming out! Here, I’m so happy to be able to feature one of my great interns Jennifer Fraccalvieri! What made her stand on when she applied for the internship was this personal online page. It showed that even though she was still in college, she’s driven, organized, and knows how to stand out and act professional. I can also personally vouch that everything on this page is truthful. College students – take note!

There are plenty of low-cost and free options when it comes to finding a hosting site for your personal webpage. Take advantage of a good, old(ish)-fashioned Google search and explore the possibilities!