Do Job Seekers Need a Personal Website? Will Personal Website be an Edge?

CURRENT GLOBAL CONDITION

Today, we all live in a world of rapid changes
and this seems to apply to the job market too.

---

Due to the global credit crisis, it’s been the most challenging times for those looking for new jobs. Today, we all live in a world of rapid changes and this seems to apply to the job market too. It’s no longer an employee’s market, and job seekers must adapt accordingly.

I’m talking about adapting technology to “find jobs” or the “jobs that find you”. If you’re looking for a job, you likely know that you need a LinkedIn profile, a good resume in pdf format, but have you ever thought about adding a personal website? You might be thinking “Can a Personal Website Help in Job Search?”

Why Every Job Seeker Need a Personal Website? A personal website could be your secret arsenal, because, according to Workfolio, 56% of all hiring managers are more impressed by a candidate’s personal website than any other personal branding tool - however, only 7% of job seekers actually have a personal website. Further, the Founder and CEO of Workfolio adds, “The employment market is an incredibly scary place to be right now as a job seeker—but a personal website offers several important things to improve the odds.”

Before writing this article, I reached out to several hiring managers here in Dubai and the other emirates in the UAE, and most of them said, a personal website with resume online with links to their social media and other work-related links, would send a message that candidate takes their career seriously and they said, candidates with website has more chances of getting hired. If you have missed my previous articles you can read them here, "Is Your Website AI Ready?" "Why Business Needs a Website" and "How Important is SSL Certificate and How to Get One Free"

What are the benefits of having a personal website for job seekers? Don't forget having a personal website for job seekers adds visibility, according to Statista 79.2% of hiring managers uses online recruitment process and the same study suggests 23% of the recruitment was done through a Google Search.

• Searchability, let the job find you. Having a personal website is like posting your resume everywhere and hiring managers will find your resume faster. You’ll also have greater control over what people find online when they do a Google search on you
• You’ll get to showcase your capabilities without the space restrictions of a 1- or 2-page resume. You will be able to add keywords to highlight your skills., which will be searchable by Google
• Because a website is dynamic and interactive — with room for photos, videos, and PDF downloads — you can make your story come alive in a way that’s impossible on paper or even with LinkedIn or any other online recruitment portals.
• You can use Google Ads or Facebook Ads to promote resume to the right audience.
• Additionally, you could start your own blog alongside your resume as passion and knowledge are two pillars for a successful career. It is also the traits most sought after by employers. Your website provides the best platform for you to show would-be employers the topics that interest you.