Guest Author - Sandra Eggers

The best way you can differentiate yourself from the rest of the job-seeking crowd is to have an awesome online portfolio. Most people don't have one, and many that do, have thrown something together very quickly without putting much thought into it. If you take the time to create an impressive website to showcase your work, employers and recruiters will take notice.

Competition in today's job market is tight, but there are jobs to be had for qualified candidates. One of the barriers you may find between you and your next job is experience. You employer doesn't know you, or your capabilities, from the next person and the other hundred of job applicants. Luckily for all of us looking for our next job, the internet provides an exceptional communication vehicle for you to demonstrate your technical skills.

Think of your online portfolio as an expanded resume with samples, and it's all available to anyone on the internet. Having an online portfolio available also makes self-promotion easier, and sets you apart from everyone else. The key is to make your site a pleasant and memorable experience for visitors such as hiring managers and recruiters. Here are some ideas on how to make yours stand out.

KISS (Keep is Simple, Stupid)
No offense intended, and not to call anyone stupid, but KISS is the motto of many IT organizations, so now would be a good time to adopt it. The message here is to keep your website and online portfolio simple, quick to load and easy to navigate. Refrain from fancy graphics, wild colors and multiple fonts unless you are a graphics designer or in a similar field.

Basic Functionality
Provide the ability for the site visitor to print your resume and view it online. If you have worked on other websites, provide the actual link and URL. Sites that reside behind a firewall may require a little extra work to appear in your portfolio, and you will probably have to bring the files onto your server, so be sure to make a note of this somewhere. Always give the visitor multiple ways to contact you on each page, with a phone number and email address with link. Remember to put this on both versions of your resume as well.

Highlight Your Technical Expertise
When listing sites you've worked on, software that you have developed, or other accomplishments, make sure to note your involvement on the project and what the computing environment was. This will help a prospective employer understand what your strengths are, and the type of experience you have. You may want to include this as a summary somewhere on your resume as well as next to each project listed.

Don't Forget the Intangibles
Communication skills. Leadership skills. Organizational skills. Teamwork. These are all important qualities an IT professional should command. Include references to them on your site as often as you can, even if it's to mention a training class you've taken. These "soft skills" could make the difference between you getting the job, or the next person. Make sure your online portfolio communicates to the site visitor, and that it is representative of your abilities in these areas.

If You Don't Have Experience
Get busy and build something. Your online portfolio and website is a good place to start. If you have limited hands-on experience, you can almost make up for it by using your website as an active demonstration of the skills you do have. Write a Java applet, a DHTML page, sample aplication or database query, and highlight it as an accomplishment. Hiring managers will view your website as an indicator of your technical expertise, and your potential, so make sure it works.

There's no time like the present to get your online portfolio together. Learn enough HTML to get a basic one started, and continue making enhancements as you learn more skills. First impressions are important, and this may be your chance to impress your future boss, so take pride in what you build.


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