“In a tight job market, building and maintaining an online presence is critical to networking and job hunting. Done right, it can be an important tool for present and future networking and useful for potential employers trying to get a sense of who you are, your talents and your experience. Done wrong, it can easily take you out of the running for most positions.”–ELIZABETH GARONE

My article was originally featured on the USA TODAY COLLEGE website (By: Jen Glantz)

In today’s world, looking someone up in the Yellow Pages has been replaced with a quick and all-encompassing search on Google. We can all admit that we use the Internet as the know-all source to answer the who, what, where, why, when and how questions that dance around our curious minds about unknown people, places and things.

I can’t remember the last time I met someone new — on a first date, a job interview or otherwise — that I didn’t key their name into the search box to get a little background information on them. It’s our means of preparation, allowing us to learn about the people we may be spending more of our time with and a chance for them to learn about us.

So, in addition to sending out a polished resume and cover letter to potential employers, having your resume and portfolio accessible online is now more important than ever to complement your in-person first impression.

These are four simple-to-use and free websites that can help showcase your work experience in a positive, creative and informative way on the Web.

• About.me

The site allows you to upload a photo, a bio of yourself — which can either be your resume or a summary of your resume — and your contact information including links to your social media handles. Using this site allows employers to view a quick summary of who you are and what you are looking for. It’s a great way to begin cultivating an online presence for yourself.

• LinkedIn

This website is a one-stop-shop for displaying your resume, networking with colleagues and searching for jobs. The site is also a useful tool for those who don’t have a resume built yet, as it allows users to fill out different sections and create a resume on the site that they can then export and send out to employers.

• WordPress

On this platform, you can build a quick website by choosing one of many customizable themes, where you can then showcase your resume and multiple other pages on the site. This is a great platform to display both your resume and portfolio online.

• Flavors.me

Simliar to About.me, this site allows you to display a photo of yourself, your bio or resume and your various sources of contact information. It also allows you to link to different websites and social media platforms that you already have and displays the information in a very clean and easy-to-read format.

They say you are what you put out on the Internet, so be proud of who you are and what you strive to be by highlighting your work experience and professional goals on a clean and creative online platform. Next time someone has the urge to type in your name on Google, let them walk away charmed by your potential and eager to meet you in person.

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