Web Portfolios and the Job Search – Do I Need One?

Have you ever gone into a live employment interview and felt like you had no control over the situation, were not adequately prepared, or in the case of a telephone interview, like you were unable to truly connect with the interviewer on a personal level? If you are like most people the answer to these questions is quite often yes. A viable solution to these problems in today’s highly competitive employment market is the Web Portfolio.

A Web Portfolio is a web presence that is devoted to showcasing your experience, skills, and achievements to prospective employers. It serves as a single resource that will help you improve your chances of getting your resume opened and reviewed, allow you to expand on your experience and value to an employer, and greatly improve your overall interview presentation. Links to your Web Portfolio can be placed on various networking sites that you belong to, as well as directories. Links may also be sent to recruiters.

A Web Portfolio will:

• Make you stand out with a higher quality impression, improving your competitive edge in the market, as well as your negotiating position regarding offers


• Provide hiring managers with easy instant access to your credentials before, during, and after the interview


• Improve your image as a tech-savvy candidate in the marketplace


• Allow you to communicate skill, experience, and achievement details not otherwise possible with a one or two page resume, in an organized non-overwhelming manner.


• Eliminate the danger that email resume submittals will not be opened due to fear of computer viruses since a link to the web portfolio can be provided


• Serve as an invaluable presentation aid during live or telephone interviews helping to overcome nervousness and communication barriers leading to more effective networking, interviewing, and negotiation results by creating a stronger connection with and greater recognition by the interviewer.

The truth is that most employment candidates can enhance their probability of success with a Web Portfolio. It highlights their uniqueness as a candidate and helps them stand out in what is more often than not a pool of hundreds of candidates for one position.

Sample Web Portfolios

Michael Kelly
Certified Advanced Resume Writer
Certified Web Portfolio
Certified Employment Interview Consultant

PersonalandBizWriter.com

Copyright © 2009, Michael G. Kelly

What good is a Cover Letter to Job Seekers?

Job seekers often send a resume out without a cover letter. This occurs frequently in today’s web search environment where resumes are sent out with a mouse click. This is perhaps because of the ease of sending out resumes quickly to many employers, causing an attitude or belief that a cover letter is unnecessary. Some Job seekers tend to wonder just how important it is to include a cover letter.

A cover letter is necessary for one simple reason: over 99% of resumes that are sent without a cover letter are discarded without even being read!

A cover letter differs functionally from a resume. While a resume is a document that provides a broad-based view of your entire career, the cover letter is much more specific and targeted. A cover letter is specifically designed to team up with your resume to get you an interview by highlighting your skills, experiences, and achievements; identifying your value to the specific organization; capturing the prospective employer's interest in you; and motivating that employer to invite you for an interview. It is an opportunity to sell your qualifications and successes, demonstrate your expertise, and create excitement and enthusiasm that places you above the competition.

The days of treating a cover letter as a mere formal request to review a resume and grant an interview are gone! Cover letters are an integral part of your self-marketing and branding to employers. Don’t send a resume without one!

Copyright © 2009 Michael G. Kelly