These are challenging times for workers in Britain. According to Statista, the UK unemployment rate during 2020 is set to rise from 3.8% in Q1 to 10% in Q2, gradually declining to 5.5% by the end of the year as companies begin to recover and recruit. If these predictions are realised, around 1.5 million jobs will be lost by the end of spring, with those made redundant needing to find work as soon as possible. Although vacancies will rise throughout the year, competition will be increased and job seekers need to do everything they can to land the role they want. Here, we’ll explain how a personal website can help you find a new job during the economic downturn.
- A personal website puts you on the map
Having a personal website means that businesses and recruitment companies looking for people with your skills and experience can find and contact you. The details you publish on your website about your skills and experience are indexed by search engines like Google and Bing so that when a recruiter searches for them, your website has a good chance of appearing in the search results.
The more keywords you put in your content, i.e. terms that recruiters may look for, such as job titles, skills and areas of specialism or experience, the more chance your website has of ranking highly for the companies you are targeting. If you also publish blog posts discussing some of the projects you have worked on and the kinds of things you have done, this can also help your site rank and give recruiters a deeper understanding of whether you’re the right person for the job.
Your website is also the place to put your contact page, giving recruiters crucial information on how to get in touch. - Put your CV online
You can create a page on your website that replicates your CV. It can include all your qualifications, training, employment history and skillsets. You can even include the contact details of referees (do get their permission first). This way, all the information that recruiters usually ask for is constantly available and displayed in the format that people want. Moreover, you can also upload a document file of your actual CV that recruiters can download and print out directly from your website. - Display your references and testimonials
A website is also a good place to highlight what your employers and colleagues have to say about the work you have done in the past and how you contributed to the companies you work for. This can help recruiters to see how your experience could be helpful for the post they are looking to fill. They will be looking for this kind of information but having it readily displayed on your website means they will not have to request it. - Showcase your personality
There is more to getting a job than just having the right skills and experience. Employers will want to know that the individual is the right fit for the company. They might, for example, be looking for someone whose values and ambitions match those of the company or someone who approaches challenges in a certain way. An ‘About Me’ page on your website gives you a place where you can showcase your personality, define the type of person you are and explain what you are interested in. Not only will this help recruiters in their search for the right person; it also helps you find the company that matches your own needs. - Publish your portfolio
Portfolios of previous work can be extremely helpful in helping you land your next job, giving a detailed insight into some of the projects you have worked on but in more depth than you would have included on your CV. For some, like gardeners, architects or product designers, this is best presented with the aid of images that illustrate the actual work you have done. For others, it can simply be a series of mini case studies highlighting what the projects were and the things which were involved. - A professional presence
Not everyone has the wherewithal to create a personal website, so creating an online presence speaks volumes to recruiters about your level of professionalism and commitment to your career. It shows you take your work seriously, have professionally presented yourself and your work and that you go above and beyond. All these are key attributes that employers are looking for. - Give yourself a competitive edge
Getting your personal website online and making your details accessible to recruiters immediately gives you a competitive edge over those job seekers who do not have a website of their own. They have less chance of being found and contacted by recruiters and are reliant on having to look for jobs rather than having the jobs find them. Indeed, even if you are not right for one job, having a website means recruitment executives can quite easily keep you on file for future roles or send your website address to other colleagues who may be looking for a person like you.
What’s more, businesses are keen to find individuals who are proactive and forward-thinking to fill their vacancies and having a personal website is a clear indication that you tick both boxes.
Getting online is easy
It has never been easier or cheaper to create professional standard websites with your personal domain name (e.g. yourname.uk) or email address (e.g. [email protected]). A domain can be purchased for around £10 a year, web hosting for less than £3 a month and the software needed to build a website, such as WordPress, is free. What’s more, WordPress is a user-friendly platform that is easy to use (no coding required) and can be installed on WHUK hosting accounts with a single click, enabling you to start creating your website straight away.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a new job by choice or necessity, having a personal website can be a valuable way to showcase your personality, skills, experience and portfolio while making it easier for recruiters to find and contact you.
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