Resume websites

I am considering creating a resume website for myself and I was wondering what anyone's thoughts were on doing this.  Do you think it is beneficial to have one?  What information would be good to have on the website?  Have you found them to be useful when looking at potential employees?  Have you ever found an employee through a search on the internet?

I think keeping a well-done resume site is a great idea.

As always, be careful what personal information you post and how you go about it. Consider putting your e-mail address in an image to cut down on spam while retaining aesthetics and look into Google's GrandCentral if you're interested in making a phone number available on the site.

GrandCentral numbers are (currently) free and provide great features that help you screen calls while forwarding everything to a phone number of your choosing. I believe the service is still by invitation only so check around with friends to see who can get you in.

Todd,

You bring up a very good point in posting your email address as an image to avoid spammers.  This would have been something that would not have been in the front of my mind and would have surely regreted later if I did not do it.

I checked out GrandCentral as I had not heard about it until you mentioned it.  I definitely don't like making my phone number available to the public so this is a good way around it.

On a side note.  I could see GrandCentral as a beneficial tool in small business.  Especially if your business deals with a lot of phone calls.  You can easily manage and sort the calls, forward them to others, you can record calls and save voicemails forever so you will always have record of what was said.  It's definitley something to consider.  Especially if it remains free...

A resume website or Portfolio website is a wonderful way to make accessing your information easy and desireable.  You can make it so that employers or clients are able to see the information they want (as much or as little).

Here is a good example of a resume / portfolio website :  http://www.heathropolis.com

What about also creating a profile on LinkedIn.com?
The more places that you have your details listed the better

LinkedIn profiles are another thing I wonder about.  I can see they have the potential to help a person in their professional career, but do companies or busines owners ever really look to them as a good source to find new employees?

I agree the more places you can promote yourself the better.  It's so hard to fit everything about yourself on a one page resume so its nice to give your potential employers opportunities to find out more about you if they choose.  Also, the more information about yourself on the internet allows for a better chance of being found by companies looking for new candidates for their open positions.  Of course as long as all the information is good information

Hello Kelly

I think a LinkedIn profile would help but to what extent I'm not sure.  It probably depends upon the industry you are in.

Have a look at the following article
blog.linkedin.com/blog/2007/07/ten-ways-to-use
(I can't add URL's to posts so you'll have to add the start and html end bits)

It suggest, amongst other things

• adding a link to your LinkedIn profile in your email signature - which I hadn't though of doing
• adding links to/from from your website / blog - you get backlinks which help with search engine ranking
  

You can also search for  ..

• people in your industry to see where they are working
• lookup companies you want to work for or approach
  
• see if the person who is interviewing you is listed - this could give you an edge.
  

From your profile you get to see how many times you've come up in searches and how many times you've been viewed.

There is also a question facility where you could ask or answer questions to increase your visibility and credaibility.

I feel it's worth a go, certainly shouldn't do any harm and you never know.
It's another backlink to your website so it's got be worth it for that alone.

If you do create a profile and don't know anyone to network with (I'll happily join your network if you wish), try joining one of the 'LI-on' groups (LinkedIn Open Networking) who will not refuse any application to network - you have to be careful who you approach on LinkedIn as you can get banned for spamming.

Good luck!

Your suggestions are very helpful. Thank you!

Planning the organizational structure of your resume website in advance will make it easier to create the navigation of your site. You will want to include an area for work experience, skills, education, and professional development. Depending on the type of job you're seeking, you may want to include a portfolio section to showcase samples of your work.