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Sign Up NowSo, you chose to apply for the role you really want. You already know you need to be noticed. After all, many other candidates will be trying for the same opportunity.
Yes, you could write a casual email, attach a custom video, or even mail a cake. Yet most hiring managers do not respond well to these ideas, because they can feel unnatural.
If you're thinking "Oh no, the cake was my best idea! Just tell me what to do already.”
Build a personal website. Why? Because it is flexible, practical, more interesting, and even...more enjoyable.
56% of hiring managers are more impressed by a candidate’s personal website than by other personal branding tools, yet only 7% of job seekers actually own one. (Forbes)
What does that suggest? If you need to market yourself as a candidate, a personal website may be one of the smartest ways to do it.
Your name, your background, your work history, your abilities, your character, and your voice are all part of your brand. Times have changed, and now you need to promote your own story.
The truth is, most employers are not searching for average workers.
They want people who perform well, especially in tech companies and startups. These are the people who help a business grow and shape the team culture. Few companies want someone who simply attends meetings and adds little.
Yes, it sounds blunt, but it is real, and the best option is to adapt.
One strong way to show that you are that rare candidate is to give future employers proof.
Still need more reasons to build a personal job website? Here are a few:
The drawback of a resume is that you send it privately, and usually only a small number of people at the company will read it. A personal website is different because it is online and can be viewed by anyone on the internet.
You may worry about sharing personal details online. But you do not need to share private matters. Showing professional information is usually low risk, and many people already do this on LinkedIn.
In fact, it may help you, because you never know who may come across your profile and reach out to you. Of course, always include your contact details.
You need to show that you are willing to spend time and effort on things that matter, such as finding a new job. This can prove that you take opportunities seriously.
Although building a personal website is easier than many people think, a lot of candidates still never do it. If you add your website link to your resume, you may appear more professional.
Of course, make sure the site looks clean and contains strong content. Having a website alone is not enough. It needs to be a solid one.
You cannot fully show your abilities in a resume, even when you list many skills.
A resume is only a short summary of your work life, but a personal career website can present much more of what you have done.
This is especially useful when you are applying for a creative role, where showing your work is very important.
This matters a lot. There has been plenty of discussion about hiring managers searching candidates online and checking social media accounts.
If you have a personal website, they can find the main information about you there and may rely less on your Facebook or Twitter pages.
Of course, this does not mean you should ignore your social profiles. Keep in mind that you can largely shape what employers see when they search for you.
As mentioned earlier, having your own personal site can make you look more serious and prepared. Creating a website is also another learning step that can support your path toward the role you want.
You can improve abilities such as coding, page layout, graphic work, writing copy, and related areas.
Even if you do not build the site from zero, and instead use ready-made themes from a good hosting service, it is still creative work that helps you grow.
But enough about the reasons to make one. Let’s move to the more useful part, how to build a personal website that can help you land your next role?
If you have ever looked into marketing basics, you have likely come across AIDA. I’m not talking about the opera, but the short form: Attention, Interest, Desire, Action.
Many marketers treat this method as a top formula, which may be saying too much. Still, it works. So why not apply it when making your personal website? Its main aim is to interest the hiring manager enough to invite you for an interview.
Let’s break this down a bit more. What is the real purpose of a personal website during a job search?
Oddly enough, it is not getting hired on the spot. There is only a small chance you get the role right after a manager visits your site. Unless they need a freelancer, of course.
The true purpose of your website is to help you get invited to an interview. Then, and only then, the website has done its job.
When planning your site, use AIDA as a guide. In the end, you are becoming the marketing and sales team of YOUR NAME, INC. You need to promote and sell your skills, background, knowledge, and desire for a fresh challenge.
Now, the AIDA steps may seem unclear or not fully obvious. That is fine. Here is a quick view of what they mean for your personal website.
Even if you are the perfect person for the role, it means little if the company knows nothing about you.
Because of that, your first goal is to catch the hiring manager’s attention. How?
You find a vacancy on the company careers page. It asks for your CV and cover letter. Send them, even if you also have a website you want to share. You do not want an employer to think you are careless when you ignore a simple request like attaching your resume.
Still, that email, the first point of contact, is also your chance to stand out.
Your aim is to mention that you have a personal website. That detail alone says plenty. It shows the company matters to you, proves you are serious about the opportunity, and that you invested time and effort in the process.
It also shows you are willing to do more than most applicants.
With clear wording, your next goal is to guide the recruiter to your website. Once they open it, your chances of getting noticed rise sharply. Still, this is only the first move.
Once the recruiter arrives on your website, you need a strong opening, clean structure, and a solid first impression. You want to pull them in and keep their attention. More than that, you want them to want to learn more about you. Try to create real interest.
To do that, use a strong homepage design. Strong does not mean busy, overloaded with photos, lines, icons, and extras. A simple page can still be powerful.
Not really into design? No problem. In most cases, your website text matters more than appearance. If you have strong skills and experience to present, that goes much further than stylish visuals.
A short intro or bio is the key part of the homepage. Make sure you keep it balanced, a few short paragraphs are enough. Who are you? What do you know? What is your current role? What value can you offer? What are you seeking? What is your outlook, and maybe what interests do you have? An AI summary tool may help make these paragraphs shorter and clearer.
That is more than enough to help the recruiter decide whether your application deserves the next step or not.
If you are a student without much experience, you can also mention your future goals. Are you studying Finance? Say you are an aspiring investment banker.
At the same time, share only enough so the hiring manager wants to know more about you and your background. Whether it is a few lines or two to three paragraphs, your introduction should create interest.
Once you have their attention, recruiters will want evidence behind your claims and clear outcomes. That gives you a strong chance to present your best strengths.
One of the most important parts of a personal website is the human tone. Let your personality come through. In the end, you may become their co-worker. They want to know what kind of person you are. Of course, you should still keep a professional standard.
You should also explain real problems you handled and the way you solved them. Be sure to include any successful side projects you started to help others or support your community.
Do not just say you love design. Show how you used design thinking to solve a real issue.
Be ready to support every claim with real examples. Did you help raise sales by 50%? Great, include it and explain what you did. Did you bring well-known speakers to an event you managed? Add a short explanation.
Include your relevant jobs, internships, workshops, certificates, courses, and even personal hobby projects. Yes, those can also help you win a role.
Be sure to include keywords that match the job post. But if you have read our guide on adjusting your resume for a specific role, you already know that.
After passing the earlier steps, you are in a strong position to earn an interview invite. You have caught the hiring manager’s eye and shown that you could fit well in their company.
Now you need to give them space to think. It is a simple but important step. The chance they return later can be quite high.
Keep your contact details visible on the screen at all times.
If not the email address itself, then at least keep a clear link to your contact page easy to spot. That way, they can act right away the moment they decide to reach out.
In fact, the main purpose of your website should be this final step of getting in touch with you.
Learned how to build a personal website that can support your job search? Now take that online advantage further by creating a strong resume. With our AI resume builder, you can make a resume that adds to your digital presence.
Join our community of job seekers and get benefits from our Resume Builder today.
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