Reaching the end of your studies can be a bit of a comedown, and entering the ‘real’ world of finding and securing a new job can be daunting. Especially as more people are applying for jobs and candidates are having to find new ways to impress potential employers.
We spoke to HR professionals and graduates about how showcasing your skills online can help you stand out against a sea of candidates, so while we can’t help you figure out your aspirations our research can help you in your job hunt.
89% of HR recruiters think an online portfolio showcases workplace skills1
It’s no easy feat entering the job market, on average 17 people are applying for every job and over half of them will be suitable for the role, that’s quite a bit of competition! Considering this, catching the interest of a recruiter can not only be a challenge but becomes more and more important as the competition for jobs increase.
So, how can you stand out? Start by creating an online portfolio on a personal website to showcase your skills and personality in this digital age. After all, our research shows that almost nine in every ten HR professionals are more likely to hire or proceed with a candidate that demonstrates their experience in a portfolio1.
While paper CVs are still widely used in the normal recruitment process, 40% of HR professionals believe CVs will become digitised in five years, with 15% thinking they will be non-existent1. Don’t hang around waiting for this to happen, take advantage of this insight early and create yourself a great online CV to stand out from the crowd, after all, less than a third of graduate jobseekers have an online portfolio.2
What can a online portfolio do for you?
Creating and owning your own space online in the form of an online portfolio is exciting and a proud accomplishment. Not only this, but it’s an effective way to showcase your experience, skills, talents and personality so you can give recruiters great insight into the person they could hire, beyond the traditional CVs and a list of grades.
It also allows you to easily show all your latest work, references and achievements wherever you are, without having to remember and carry a bulky paper folder around.
Updating it is easy online too, and you won’t have to struggle to fit all your new accomplishments onto two sides of A4. You can easily show and discuss your online portfolio in the interview, submit it with your application and offer them the link for a perfect ‘leave behind’.
Don’t think you have to be in a ‘visual’ occupation, like graphic designers or photographers, to make the most of an online portfolio, all job applications, from accountants to town planners, can be enhanced with this digital showcase. HR recruiters will always look for evidence of presentation skills, organisation, IT skills and dedication, which are all skills demonstrated not only within your online presence but also by creating it.
What do you need to do now?
Dedicate some time (and a few pounds) into registering your own domain name, normally your own name is a good place to start but you can always add in industry terms if your first choice isn’t available, and building your portfolio to showcase who you are and what you can offer.
Find a domain
Don’t worry, there are templates and advice out there to help you transform your work experience and part-time jobs into impressive, employable skills that should set you apart from other candidates.
For all students, now is the time to join that small proportion of graduates who are already boosting their chances of getting a job with an online portfolio. After all, 88% of HR recruiters are more likely to give you a shot if you have one to support your application1, so don’t miss your chance to stand out.