Online Job Search Portfolio - FlexJobs

Online Job Search Portfolio - FlexJobsOnline Job Search Portfolio 71Isnt it nice to find a website that is well-designed, easy-to-use, and tells you exactly what you want to know quickly and without hassle? Or to find a website that instantly inspires you as soon as you see it? (Were looking at you, Pinterest) Recruiters feel the same wayabout finding a job candidate whose application is easy to read, clean, and thorough. They like it when job candidates make it easy to hire them by creating easy-to-read application materials which paint a detailed, well-matched picture of the candidate. Aside from your resume or cover letter, one great way to accomplish this is by creating your own professional online job search portfolio. Its a lot easier than it sounds, and it can be very helpful in your job search.Who should platzset up an online job search portfolio?Anyone with a work history theyd like to show off should consider an online job search portfolio. Specifically, professionals whose work can be easily showcased online are a great match for professional portfolios, includingWriters and JournalistsArtists, Actors, Musicians, PerformersDesigners (Interior, web, graphic, fashion, etc.)Advertisers/MarketersTeaczu sichs, Professors, Tutors, TranslatorsScientists and researchersReal Estate ProfessionalsSports and Fitness ProfessionalsEven if you dont fall into a profession that easily translates into a portfolio, you can use an online portfolio to show off your resume with a little more pizazz than a piece of paper or a PDF allows. Professionals from almost any industry could benefit from having an online portfolio.What do you use to create an online portfolio?Creating a website for yourself sounds expensive, but its not. In most cases, its free. Use a free blog creation site like WordPress or Blogger to get started. They have lots of templates to choose from, so you can select one that looks more like a website than a blog for your portfolio. These sites have two gr eat things going for themTheyre FREE, andThey make it very easy to set up a basic site, which is all you really need.What else can you put on your job search portfolio?By creating a portfolio using a blogging platform, you can also demonstrate your knowledge of current events in your field by writing the occasional blog post about the news in your industry and your thoughts on it. If you decide to blog on your professional profile, your entries should be well-written, professional and intelligent-sounding, and free of errors or questionable material.What should you name your professional portfolio?The best name for your site is your name. For example, Jane Smiths portfolio name could be janesmith.wordpress.com, or even janereedsmith.wordpress.com, if she wants to distinguish herself from the other Jane Smiths of the world. If employers are searching for your full name online, the best option is to name your portfolio using your full name as you have it written on your resume. So, i f Jane Smiths resume header says Jane Reed Smith, she ought to name her portfolio the same way. Consistency is key, so employers always know what they find is YOURS and dont confuse it with someone elses.What should you include in your portfolio?A brief bio about yourself, your experiences, and your openness to future work Show your personality and be positiveA brief overview of your resume (you dont want to copy it word-for-word, just display the highlights)Links to any work youve done on the web (articles, if youre a writer websites if youre a designer, etc.)Snippets of your work, including videos, pictures, and written piecesQuotes from previous clients about how great you are to work withContact info name, e-mail, and perhaps phone (though name and email are most important)A link to your LinkedIn profile if you have oneWhat do you do after you get your online portfolio set up?Once youve got this set up, have friends and colleagues look it over to make sure its attractive to ou tside readers, and to spot any errors you might have made. Then, include the link on your resume, in your LinkedIn profile, and anywhere else you can think of. Facebook, Twitter anywhere you think recruiters might find you. Keep updating it, keep it simple, and keep the job search faithDo you have a job search portfolio? Share it with the group by leaving your link below