The case for personal websites

When you apply for a job, the first thing a recruiter or HR professional is going to do is Google you. In 2010, you are who Google says you are. For the forward-thinking employee, this represents a chance to get a leg up on (and even eliminate) the competition. There is no better way to impress a prospective employer than to put your best foot forward online without anyone asking you to. Have you registered www.yourname.com? What are you waiting for?

Since 2005, I’ve maintained a personal website. It has grown from little more than a resume and a few links to what is now the hub of my online strategy and networking. I use it to hone my web development skills, position myself for key opportunities, and optimize the search results for my name. I’ve gotten countless unsolicited compliments, web design inquiries, and even a few job offers as a result of my website. What started with a class project (creating what we called an Interactive Resume) has turned into a service I now provide for clients across the nation.

Not looking for a job? No problem.

Are you interested in doing some consulting on the side, positioning yourself as a thought leader in your field, or simply seeing if anything interesting comes your way? There’s no better way to accomplish these things than to share your knowledge with the world online. Clients of mine have been reconnected with lost friends, secured international internships, and have garnered the attention of multimillion-dollar firms as a result of their websites.

Why should you work with me?

In working with me, you benefit from a comprehensive, strategic approach that has been developed over the years. From rock-solid Search Engine Optimization (due in no small part to the Thesis Theme Framework used on every site I build) to carefully crafted executive summaries that highlight strengths you might not even be aware of, I’m confident that you’d be hard-pressed to find a better one-stop solution than with me. I don’t simply copy and paste your resume into an HTML document and send you a bill; I work with each an every client to understand their goals and strengths before writing the first line of code.

What you gain from the process is not just a website; you’ll have a newfound understanding of how to strategically market yourself to employers, grad schools, and future clients. Most of all, you benefit from my skills as a storyteller – the crafting of a compelling overarching narrative that I will craft, tying together your work experiences, strengths, and gifts.

Do my services align with your goals? Let’s talk about it today.

Willie Jackson is a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Consultant & Facilitator with ReadySet, a boutique consulting firm based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is a frequent writer and speaker on the topics of workplace equity, global diversity, and inclusive leadership. Connect on LinkedIn or get in touch.