My latest job search strategy involves building my portfolio Web site.
Why build a portfolio site? It’s a great way to get your name out there. It’s also another way for employers to get a better sense of you are – apart from the rigid constructs of a site like LinkedIn or Facebook. Most sites (WordPress, Blogger, Weebly) offer a variety of options, but if you know HTML, CSS, and Flash you have even more freedom to design away.
About a month ago, I had a fellow NPR intern help me register a domain site. But since then, I’ve been at a loss on how to get started. This week I decided on a host (Weebly) and have had a lot of fun playing around with my site.
For less than a dollar a month, my domain name is all mine. I’m using a free Web site builder that’s easy to use — you can basically ‘plug-n-play’ by dragging an icon for “new page” and you can change the theme whenever you want. (Think of it as the Mac version for Web site creation.)
If you’re looking at doing something similar, here are few tips:
- Purchase your domain name and hosting site. Ideally, it should be your own name, but it can also be a clever name or a phrase that helps with your personal branding (see the branding success story later in this article) Some examples include GoDaddy, NameCheap, 1and1.
- Design it! Some strong options include WordPress, Weebly or Sandvox.
- Research your options. Don’t just take my word on all of this! It’s not hard to discover how many sites offer tips and suggestions on how to get started. With just a few clicks, I found a great article from Smashing Magazine.
- Play to your strengths. So what if sparkly design isn’t your thing? Create a site that lists your accomplishments in a simpler way. Or just fill it with photos (if you’re a photographer, that is).ReadWriteWeb wrote a piece on how to design “cool, no-tech sites.”
I’ve run across several great starter portfolio sites from recent college graduates. These individuals demonstrate how to build a site that plays to strengths.
http://lizgoerlitz.com/ Liz graduated with a degree is multimedia arts, so her site has an especially animation-focused look.
http://rgvisuals.com/ Ryan is a recent photojournalism graduate, so his site is smooth, with a touch of Flash design, and filled with photos.
http://bradjward.com/ Brad is a recent MBA grad, and a pioneering social media guru in the higher education industry. His site points to his most recent recommendations via LinkedIn, but also provides entry points to many of his social networks.
http://www.maggiemertens.com/ Maggie’s site inspired me to check out Weebly. Hers is a well-rounded porfolio, and she makes sure to offer PDF files of her writing samples.
A branding success story. Mark Grossnickel, reported that his friend Eric Romer “…decided to break the mold. Hell, Eric shattered the mold.” How’d he do that, you ask? Instead of simply applying for a position with HeadBlade, he purchased the URL: hiremeheadblade.com (now called headbladehiredme.com), created a Facebook fan page, and even a Twitter account. Needless to say, he got hired. That’s going above and beyond.
Grossnickel commented on Romer’s strategy, saying “If you were on the hiring end, would you go for the guy who is crossing his fingers, or would you go with the guy who bought “hiremeheadblade.com?”
I’m no expert! Do you have any portfolio tips to add to this? In your opinion, what makes a good porfolio?
