In today’s fast-paced, high-tech world, a recruiter may glance at your submission on their Blackberry while driving and drinking coffee. Is your résumé or portfolio Web-ready? The following tips can help you navigate the Web.
The first step to getting your online résumé in shape is to make sure that you have an active Web site to show your work. “Employers will often visit a candidate’s Web site before looking at their résumé,” says Angie Williams, Assistant Director of Career Services at The Art Institute of Atlanta. Any noticeable errors on your Web site and the potential employer won’t bother looking at your résumé.
Williams recommends using your name or other professional moniker as your domain name. “When employers are looking for you, they will often try your name first,” explains Williams. Make sure your Web site is easy to navigate as employers need to be able to quickly find current contact information and a printer-friendly version of your résumé.
Based on the feedback Williams has received from employers, a one-page résumé is best; however, two pages are acceptable for higher-level positions. Williams recommends putting “the most important information at the top of résumé, such as relevant work experience and technical skills. The logic is that if an employer only glances at the top of your résumé, you want them to have an accurate idea of what you have to offer.”
Remember, employers can easily see hundreds of résumés for just one job. It is important to make sure your résumé looks different from the rest. However, “the design of the résumé should not overwhelm the text,” cautions Williams.
Williams’ tips for a creative résumé:
- Limit résumé to 2 colors; 1 color is preferred.
- Make sure type/font is legible.
- Make sure fonts are consistent.
- Be creative with the layout. For example, consider using columns instead of having two pages.
- List your experience in chronological order.
Outside of your own Web site, Williams recommends posting your résumé on professional sites. “Be strategic about where you post your résumé,” advises Williams. “CareerBuilder.com may be perfect if you are looking for a job in the insurance industry, but if you are a graphic designer you may want to consider Creative Hot List.” In addition, professional organizations, such as American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), will often have a place where members can post their résumés and sometimes a portfolio piece.
Social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn can be powerful tools when looking for a new job or client. “Make sure your social networking sites are professional,” reminds Williams. “If they are not professional, consider setting up a professional email that is unrelated to the email you use for your social networking sites. This will make it harder for a potential employer to connect you to a funky site.”
If you are a creative professional, such as an artist or graphic designer, an online résumé may not be enough to secure a job. This is where your online portfolio comes in. “Only a few years ago it was par for the course to travel around lugging a heavy portfolio case full of your treasured works,” says John Christensen, Instructor at The Art Institute of Dallas. “There was a fear of damage or not knowing what would happen if you left it with someone. The traditional printed portfolio will still be around for years to come; however, there is a growing trend to put a portfolio on the Web.”
An online portfolio provides potential employers and clients with 24/7 access to your work for a very cost-effective price. A well-prepared portfolio provides employers with evidence of your accomplishments, skills, and abilities. A good online portfolio is easy to navigate and includes relevant information about yourself, categorized samples of your works, contact information, recognition you may have received, and possibly links to other relevant sites of interest.
Kit Johnston, Director of Career Services at The Art Institute of Dallas, explains, “Online presentations help to demonstrate your professional abilities. They can be quite elaborate, for graphic designers and web designers, or very simple, for industries like culinary or fashion design. They should fit your personality and the position you are seeking. You want to impress the viewer in the first 10 to 15 seconds so keep it simple, easy to navigate, and to the point. Because it's online, the employer can pick and choose what they wish to review, and not waste time on what is not pertinent to their specific employment needs.”
But how do you get your portfolio online? Aside from your personal business Web site, Christensen suggests using “platforms such as dreamhost.com, godaddy.com, squarespace.com, and portfolio.com; or set up a blog site on Flickr.com, Myspace, and others.”
Both Christensen and Johnston agree it’s essential to keep the online portfolio current, simple, and well-captioned. Make sure it features works that have brought results, and by all means mention those results, achievements, and awards. They advise jobseekers to these common mistakes:
1. Web sites/online portfolios that are hard to navigate.
2. Zoomed and cropped thumbnail images that are hard to decipher.
3. Forgetting to include important contact information including phone number and email.
4. Nagging background music/Background music that you can’t turn off.
5. Portfolio pieces missing labels or captions. Add basic information such as project name, media, and dimensions.
6. Outdated Web site/online portfolio.
7. Typos!
In this online world, it may be easy to neglect your offline profile. However, the successful job candidate integrates the two. “Your résumé, Web site, and business cards all need to relate to each other,” reminds Williams. “And, you need to have a professional voice message on your phone.”
Whether you are updating your online résumé or your online portfolio, keep it simple, keep it typo-free, and make sure it is applicable to the position you seek. And if you are lucky enough to land an interview, Johnston recommends, “Always write a thank you note!”
To learn more about The Art Institutes system of schools, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/nz.