Want to stand out from other candidates? Creating a personal website might just help you do so.

If you're on the job hunt and frustrated feeling like there's more to you than just a piece of paper, don't worry, you're not alone. We all face the same struggle at one point. The good news is, there are other ways to get noticed by prospective employers. One option is to build your online image to help pave the way for your success in the Internet age. Your new secret weapon is creating a personal website.

Let's get down to business and start exploring the reasons you need to start creating a personal website.

1. A personal website helps recruiters find you much more easily.

Sure, recruiters have a resume database, but that doesn't mean these submissions are the only thing they consider when searching for the ideal candidate. They also use Google to their advantage and conduct online searches for top-notch talent. This means that they can stumble upon you and your personal professional website. Of course, you should bear in mind that when you apply for a job, your potential employer(s) will look you up online, so owning the search results with your unique domain name, together with making a great first impression, will help you secure an interview.

2. By having a personal website, you'll gain a competitive advantage.

Since a personal website also includes your work experience and education, in this respect it's similar to a resume. Some even consider it a personal resume website. However, once you start building your personal website, you'll be given a plethora of possibilities to polish your online presence. Make the most of them to showcase your strengths and demonstrate why someone should hire you. Make sure you add your portfolio/work samples, relevant images and client testimonials to stay head and shoulders above other applicants.

3. Having a personal website will boost your chances of landing a job.

As previously mentioned, your personal professional website gives you the power to stand out from your competitors. You need to show everyone what you're good at, not just inform them about it. Samples of your work or your blog content can be the X factor that gets you short-listed for an interview and gives you the opportunity to shine.

Let your sleek website speak for itself. Moreover, if another candidate meets all the requirements and has a similar education/work background, but doesn't have a personal website, this could be a differentiating factor. Furthermore, by having a website, people from all around the world can get to know you, follow you and interact with you, which can result not only in new connections, but also better job prospects.

4. A personal website gives you the freedom to be creative.

When you start creating a personal website, you are given the opportunity to get your creative juices flowing. Whether we're talking about your bio, your original articles or the layout you've chosen, your personality will shine through your own corner of the Internet. Every single detail/element of your site speaks volumes about who you are both as an individual and a professional, so make sure you use them to your advantage. There's no better way to kick up your creativity a notch than by creating a personal professional website.

5. A personal website is more dynamic than a resume.

It's a wise idea to regularly update your resume and have multiple versions for different job prospects. What sets a website apart from a resume is the fact that you only need to update it, as opposed to having to rewrite and print new versions of it. You'll keep adding fresh things to your personal website - new projects, awards, skills, etc.

6. Having a personal website helps you acquire new skills.

Once you start working on creating a personal website, you'll see what works for you and what doesn't. You'll keep customizing and polishing your personal website in order for it to have a professional look and feel. To enhance your personal brand, you'll test new ways of conveying your message. Moreover, you'll learn how to craft the content that tells everyone what you're all about. Not only will you know how to engage your visitors, but you'll also learn how to be more visible on social media and how to promote your site. In addition, when you realize you need to rank well on Google, you'll also grasp the basic aspects of SEO. Acquiring additional skills will do wonders for your career.

And now you're probably thinking to yourself: 'I know I should have one but how do I create a personal website?'

Luckily for us, creating a personal website has never been easier thanks to various Content Management Systems (CMS). WordPress and Joomla are probably the most popular platforms, which is no surprise given their ease of use. Moreover, to make this process even easier, we can leverage website builders such as ucraft that aim to facilitate this process and make it possible for everyone to create a stellar site that reflects their personal brand and business goals. Yes, even those without any coding skills.

Want to see how your resume stacks up? Try out our free critique today!

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