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6 Reasons You Need a Personal Website

By U.S. News & World Report

Your résumé alone may not be enough to land your next job. There is mounting proof that having a personal website is a powerful way to differentiate yourself and share your softer side.

Sixty-seven percent the human resources professionals surveyed for a recent Domain.ME study said a personal website provides more insight into a candidate than a traditional résumé alone. Here’s why you need a personal website:

1. Your personality shines through your website. Companies receive hundreds of résumés for a single job posting. A personal website provides you with the opportunity to separate yourself from the crowd and highlight in greater detail the assets that make you a desirable candidate. According to the Domain.ME study, nearly one third of the 300 HR professionals surveyed agreed that a personal website can provide a competitive advantage for job seekers in the market for a new job.

2. You seem more human when you have a website. A résumé is a sterile document, often void of personal information that shows your interests, how you process information and what motivates you. Due to limitations on how long a résumé should be — either one or two pages — the résumé also lacks the space necessary to tell your full story, unlike the personal website. Sixty-eight percent of the surveyed HR professionals want to learn more about you and are looking for personal qualities that aren’t easily evident on a résumé. Furthermore, half the survey respondents believe a personal website helps to humanize a candidate.

3. A personal website is a tie-breaker. Let’s say you have a personal website listed on your résumé, and another candidate with similar qualifications doesn’t. What helps recruiters make a decision on who to call? Four in 10 surveyed recruiters would be more inclined to contact a candidate with the personal website when considering two candidates with seemingly equal qualifications.

4. You can write your way to your new job. If writing is a strength, and perhaps a major component of the jobs you are pursuing, flaunt it. Providing samples of your work is evidence recruiters can see and evaluate. You can add written content to your personal website, submit and article to a professional association you belong to or even add a long post to your LinkedIn profile. According to the study, more than 25 percent of recruiters feel self-authored articles relating to work or volunteer activities could boost a candidates chances.

5. Increase your odds of being found. Many recruiters find themselves searching online for the perfect candidate. Branded.me When you have a personal website, that small piece of digital terrain you own could turn up in a recruiter’s search results. Savvy recruiters realize they can’t completely rely on a résumé database, and the survey findings back this up. More than half of recruiters conduct an active online search in addition to considering online résumé submissions.

6. An online presence is the wave of the future. Get a jump start on this growing trend. Branded.me research shows that only 4 percent of people currently have a personal website, so you’ll stand out as an early adopter of the trend. Plus, you’ll learn a few new skills along the way. in the Domain.ME survey, 83 percent of HR professionals said their jobs will become more dependent on online content over the next five years.

If you are ready build your brand and personal website, you should know that it’s simpler than ever to create a website with easy-to-use tools, such as Branded.me, About.me, Squarespace, WordPress, Weebly and Wix. These are just some of the platforms available that don’t require a lot of technical know-how.

Hannah Morgan writes and speaks on career topics and job search trends on her blog Career Sherpa. She is the author of “The Infographic Résumé” and co-author of “Social Networking for Business Success.”

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6 Reasons You Need a Personal Website originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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