WASHINGTON — Many say the paper resume is dead — that’s both the good news and the bad news.
In the digital age, the days of trying to fit all of your accomplishments in a single page of heavy stock paper have either passed, or are waning.
Jobseekers and professionals still need a way to tell the world about what they’re doing or hope to do, and much of that communication is done online.
That’s raised the importance of two concepts — web presence and personal branding.
And then there’s the nagging question: “If everyone else has a website, why don’t I?”
For many, WordPress, Tumblr and other microblogging platforms are the answer.
Yet, even those relatively user-friendly sites require more than a little design and layout experience, and a lot of time to produce a professional-looking site.
Enter Strikingly.
Need a website? Have a minute?
David Chen is the CEO of Strikingly.
With a single click, a user can build a professional-looking website, which utilizes information in a person’s LinkedIn professional networking website.
Chen initially contemplated integrating users’ Facebook information, but realized the information posted on Facebook wouldn’t help people get hired.
“They see a lot of you partying or making unprofessional comments,” says Chen.
Chen says most people don’t consider employers will likely do a Google search and peruse social media accounts when considering potential employees.
“All of them can harm your online branding, and as a result, your career,” says Chen.
With Strikingly, once the information from a user’s LinkedIn account is integrated, the new resume can be tweaked, both editorially and visually.
Links can be added, photos uploaded, and backgrounds changed to suit the user’s preferences.
With a free Strikingly account, the user’s website URL will include strikingly.com, followed by the user’s name.
With premium plans, a user can have a personalized .com domain name.
Always have a resume handy
Being able to quickly access and share an online resume is considered vital by many, as is the importance of the resume looking good when viewed on a mobile device.
Chen says the websites created with Strikingly are pleasing to read on desktops, tablet, or smartphones.
Since would-be bosses might flip-through job applications during a coffee break, Chen says online presentations should be easily digested on a mobile device.
“Weave it together as a story line, of why I should work for you, why you should hire me,” suggests Chen.
“That’s really kind of a cover-letter style of web presence,” says Chen.
