Consumer

PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ― Finding a job can be tough work. You beef up your resume, you scour job boards. But Your Money Team finds the newest way to get your name out there may be right at your fingertips. 3-On Your Side's Jim Donovan shows us how job seekers are creating their own personal websites to get a leg up on the competition.

When musician Will Lindow wanted to re-invent himself, a paper resume just wouldn't cut it. So he built Willlindow.com and packed it with things like an in-depth bio, pictures and snippets of his music. Lindow says, "Anybody can be on LinkedIn and anybody can be on Facebook, but if you can create this other medium it's a little bit, you know, more elaborate."

More and more job job hunters are creating personal web sites. Workplace productivity expert Bob Kustka says, "It gives you an advantage over your competition. You can create an image, a messaging, that your competition may not be able to create."  It's also a way for employers to access your info at lightning speed.

There are a slew of do-it-yourself programs available online from companies wanting to host your site. Many of them are free if you don't mind a few advertisements, or you can pay a small monthly fee. Lindow used Wix.com.  "You simply drag and drop elements into the editing environment and once you've created your own Web site, you simply go and publish it," says Wix.com CEO Allon Bloch.

Experts say getting creative will help you grab attention. But before you start, think about your target audience. Design something that will be attractive to them. Kustka says, "You want to make sure that what you have up there isn't just what you like. That the imagery you're putting on, the use of the language, the graphics, are going to have a positive impact on your prospective employer."

A week after Will Lindow's site went live, he got a job offer that fit what he was looking for. Before launching any personal website, for job hunting purposes be sure to have a friend or family member check your site to make sure that any lanugage posted won't be taken out of context.

Experts have this additional advice when developing your own personal website:



DO'S

1. Create a Personal Brand- Throughout your entire career web page you want to convey a central theme. E.X. Environmentally focused college grad, tech savvy start-up person or finance industry veteran. A personal website helps form the image in the recruiter or potential employer's mind that can set you apart.

2. Go Beyond Work Experience - Show the top 3 most important accomplishments of your career. Use images and slideshows to demonstrate your creative work and succinct prose to exhibit your storytelling and writing skills.

3. Link Up - Include links to business and appropriate social networking websites like LinkedIn and Twitter as well as career related blogs and websites you enjoy. Also, linking to your own blog will reinforce your online resume and keep potential employers focused on you as an applicant. The longer you can keep them reading, the better.



DON'TS

1. Don't Get Too Personal - Creative and digital careers require as much polish as conservative (i.e. legal or financial management positions) ones. If you're a musician, include music clips and artwork. If you're an accountant, music may express who you are but may work against you. Photos of your vacation do not have a place on your career website unless it somehow contributed to the arc of your career.

2. Don't Simply Repeat- Employers will be disappointed by career websites that are nothing more then your resume posted online. This is your chance to really express yourself professionally so make sure you go beyond the one page resume.

3. Don't Bore Them - Your online career webpage is where you can paint a more colorful picture of yourself. Maintain a professional tone but make sure your page is vibrant though pictures, video and interesting text. No need for superfluous language. Be clear and concise.



Here are some sites that can help you get started:



http://www.wix.com/

http://www.squarespace.com/

http://www.tumblr.com/

http://wordpress.com/

http://www.blogger.com/start

http://www.vox.com/

http://www.typepad.com/

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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