Quintessential Careers Press:
Job Search 2.0: Advancing Your Career Through Online Social Media
Chapter 3: Building a Digital Presence, Making Yourself "Findable," and Optimizing Your Presence for Search Engines
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Add-ons that are optional but highly desirable include:
- A career portfolio, which includes key samples of some of your best work, as well as other artifacts reflecting your unique talents and abilities, as part of your site.
- A blog if your site is not already a blog. (We cover blogging in greater detail in Chapter 5).
Let's look at what it takes to establish these components. You'll need Web space in which to publish your page/site. Check with your Internet Service Provider. Many providers offer users space on their Web-servers, while colleges and universities often provide Web space to students while enrolled. For a search engine that enables you to find Web sites with free Web space hosting, go to FreeWebspace.Net. For low-cost or other types of hosting, sites like HostSearch, DotEasy, ActiveWebHosting, and WebBusiness. Domain registrars like GoDaddy also provide hosting solutions.
Next, your site will need a design. Thousands of templates are available for download or purchase -- or you can even hire a Web designer -- to develop the key look and navigation strategy for your site. (If you decide you want to create a blog -- see Chapter 5 -- several major platforms are available to so). Whatever you decide to do, make sure you have a fairly easy and quick method of updating, revising, and adding content to your site.
At a minimum, your Website should include an index page that includes your key value proposition -- typically expressed in the same way as you would verbally with an Elevator Speech -- along with contact information and a short bio.
Now, let's look in greater depth at the individual components your Web page/site could contain:
Online resume
Posting your own resume -- your way -- out there in cyberspace can be a terrific supplement to posting your resume -- their way -- on major and niche job boards. Since many employers now require resumes to be submitted in an unattractive and unadorned text format, publishing your resume on the Web gives employers 24/7 access to a more graphically pleasing version of your resume. Learn how to publish your resume on the Web here and learn resume basics here.
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