Personal Web Site Sells You to Potential Employers

Chicago - Today's job market is definitely a jungle.

Some experts say it can pay to get a little personal in your search for employment.

Jessica Taylor is taking a class offered at a West Loop coffee shop on how to build your own personal web site. Taylor said, “I wanted to take advantage of it because it seemed like it was the new up-and-coming thing.”

She also said at first she thought the concept was odd because she thought a web site usually has a function – like to sell something.

Instructor Jean Pickering said personal web sites are no different. Your personal site sells YOU.

Pickering said, “If you've got a web site and (potential employers) can see all the different things you're doing, and all of the different skills that you have, it makes you much more attractive to them.”

Pickering said personal web sites are becoming popular now because the cost of having such a site is going down. Thanks to wikis and blogs, you can develop your own web site for free.

Once you learn how to do it, you also need to know what to put on, and leave off, your web site.

Pickering said the top three items to post on your personal website are:

1. Your photo
2. A brief explanation about why you set up the site
3. Some examples of your work.

Be careful here. Experts say you should only post work that you own and not that is owned by your employer.

As for what not to post, Pickering said not to post any information that might hurt you. That includes financial information or when you will be out of town.

She also recommended not uploading any photos of your children.

However, Pickering said it’s good to include a photo or two of you on vacation or doing something you enjoy. That makes your site personal and allows future employers to get to know you.

After taking Jean's class, a personal web site doesn’t sound strange to Jessica any more.

No matter what your career field, Pickering said it pays to have a personal web site because it shows both potential and current employers all that you are capable of.