Hiring managers, recruiters, and HR professionals are often asked to peruse a candidate’s resume website. Part personal branding tool, part skill summary, these visually enticing landing pages provide visitors with an overview of the job seeker’s capabilities, experiences, and style. 

The Upside

Instead of listing job titles and previous employers like a traditional resume, these future-focused personal pages showcase examples of prior work and, thus, the potential value to hiring managers. 

Seeing work samples can reduce the risks associated with hiring an external person. The sites can also provide a glimpse at the person’s style, which may help determine whether they would fit into the corporate culture. 

The Reality

Unfortunately, given the workload of the average staffing professional, most resumes are scanned rather than reviewed in detail. It’s wishful thinking to believe that a recruiter would read your cover letter, much less comb through your website — ahem, personal page — for additional information. Therefore, candidates should think twice before investing time, money, and energy in a resume site. 

There are exceptions. If you are in a creative profession such as design, writing, or public speaking and want to showcase your work, a website can be an ideal online portfolio. In those cases, limit the site to professional content unless the personal tidbit you share is directly related to your offering. For example, no one wants to see pictures of your turtle unless you’re a pet photographer. 

Your Move

If you elect to build a resume site, be sure your design aligns with the brand you are trying to convey. For example, don’t paint yourself a serious thought leader on nuclear energy and have a playful, slang-field write-up. Congruency is key.

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