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Linking to Online Profiles and Personal Web Sites
With the growth of social media, blogs and personal web pages, it is now becoming more common to see these links on resumes. Web page portfolios, LinkedIn profiles and blogs have the capacity to showcase more about who you are and what type of work you have done.
Some believe links can enhance a resume by allowing the potential employer to go online and find out more about the candidate. However, there are some drawbacks to putting these links on your resume, especially if your web page or profile is not perfectly polished and professional.
Here are a few things to consider:
- Web page portfolios are great for showcasing your work, especially if you are in a technical or creative industry. They can be especially beneficial for the college graduate or entry level job-hunter who may not have the work experience to prove their abilities.
- Blogs are another way to highlight your personality and expertise. They are a good alternative for those whose career may not produce actual physical work samples to showcase. However, keep in mind that blogs are very opinion-oriented and can open you up to negative comments or feedback that potential employers can read.
- Online professional profiles, like LinkedIn, offer the advantages of highlighting your expertise, posting related links and offering recommendations from colleagues all conveniently located in one spot. However, you should once again consider that the social interactive nature of profiles make it difficult to control all content on you page which may make you vulnerable to content you would not like a potential employer to read.
- Online social media sites, like Twitter or Facebook, should only be linked if you use them for professional branding and networking and not for personal social interaction. Also, if you do not have much of a following on these sites then it will not be advantageous to include them. Only a professional profile with a strong following will portray you as an expert in your field.
- Maintain an updated, professional and polished site if you are going to use one of these links on your resume. Make sure all content is grammatically correct. Create design and formatting that is professional and appealing. Remove all content that may be considered personal and/or inappropriate in nature.
- Photos are commonly expected on profile sites, which is a great advantage for potential employers, but may make you vulnerable to discrimination based on your physical appearance.
- Google yourself. Many hiring managers now conduct online searches on potential candidates. If you belong to sites that you would not like potential employers to see, than you need to check your privacy settings to make sure your profile is not available for public viewing.
Check out LinkedIn's Blog on this topic: "Should I put a link to LinkedIn on my resume?"