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Tips On How To Make An Online/Digital Portfolio For Job Seekers

August 30, 2019 by Akanksha Aggarwal Leave a Comment

Are you looking for a place to learn to create your online portfolio? There are several ways that you can get your digital profile built. You can either hire someone or use templates available online. Making your own portfolio online is not at all difficult, so you can create one on your own without anyone’s help.

You would only need some tips that will lead you through the process and help you create an amazing profile for your job interview. In this article, you will find such tips for an online portfolio for job seekers that I have collected while I was making own portfolio digitally.

Importance Of Portfolio

There were days when a one page CV used to suffice the expectations of a company when it came to the introduction of their potential future employee. But it is hard to impress them now! You have to bring up your A-game on the table to show that you deserve that job.

Long gone are those days where your degree spoke for you. Your online presence does your work for you now! Especially for those who are in a type of professions which requires an online presence, like writers, social media experts, and more.

So, it is time to up your game and get yourself an online portfolio for your dream job. You do not need to ask your designer friend to do the work for you. It is quite easy to make a portfolio for yourself. You just need a proper platform to create one. There are many platforms where you can create your profile and promote yourself.

The biggest example would be LinkedIn. It is one of the best platforms for job providers and job seekers to co-exist. You can include every detail of your professional history and present and can let the recruiters know that you are open for any opportunity.

Easy, right?

Some people do not like to be restricted with the limited space available to express on sites like LinkedIn. For them, the idea of having their website or blog would be great. Having your personal blog is a plus for content writers and Digital Marketers. Why is that? Because this way they can show their success and work through hard proof – their own personal project.

How To Write A Portfolio

When you make a portfolio of your own, you are actually revealing your credentials to the world. You are creating a piece of evidence of your history of employment, your projects, the work that you have done, designs you have created, plans and certifications that you have successfully achieved. All of which is easily accessible via the internet.

This profile shows everyone your potential and capability for any future opportunity that you might want to grab. It shows how much you have work on yourself and for the company you are part of. If the work that you do is something that you are doing on your own, then it shows how much you have excelled on your own. It would give insights into the skills you have, the methods that you have used, and the impact that your work has.

The digital portfolio of yours will be also helpful to you in impressing your potential employers.

So, in short – creating a portfolio online is really simple and ensures that a wider audience knows about your experience and skillset.

How To Make An Online Writing/Art/Modeling/Photo Portfolio

If you are from a creative field, like writing, graphics designing, photography, etc, you will have great benefits from having an online profile. It is absolutely necessary for you to have an online or offline showcase of what you do and how you do it.

If you are thinking that why a portfolio when you are carrying your resume with you? The answer would be that your resume doesn’t fully reveal your work. You can have a better impact on the recruiters by showing the projects instead of theoretically explaining it to them.

Here is how you create the portfolio:

1. Look out for samples. The best way to get the things right is by looking at portfolios of famous personalities in your field. Obviously, they are online and you can have a look at it anytime; so why not take advantage of that and take super cool ideas.

The other idea is that you can select a template from those available on any online portfolio builder. There are many you can find online like crevado, portfoliobox, wix, and more. But remember though that the template you choose must include the following:

It must represent all of your core strengths, the experience you have had so far, your technical abilities.
The design of the template should be fresh, create your own if you do not find any fresh results.
It should emphasize more on your strong points rather than just displaying them.
It should be customizable so that when later on you want to edit out some things(which you would trust me) you could do so. Your portfolio must always be fresh and up-to-date.

2. Remove anything that your profile doesn’t require. If you have experience in different roles, and they are not relevant to each other then you should not ramble about everything at the same time. Stick to your targeted role and base your portfolio around it. No one would like to read and scroll for hours just to know how you are suitable for their business. So, keep it short, relevant, an to the point.

Here is a tip. Present yourself as master of one thing instead of a jack of all trades. Any big brand would only likely hire someone who knows what he is doing instead of someone who is all over the place.

Like, look at this portfolio of Kyle Decker, a web designer. There is no random bling on the page, just a cute little design that catches your eye. You can look at it at kyledecker.me

You can focus on the industry you are expecting to get a job in or show your professional progress over time. The later one is best for those who are at entry-level, it shows how much you have gained in a little time.

3. Now, as we are talking about creative roles, I would suggest being as creative as you can but keep the limits. If you add unnecessary details and designs, it may backfire. You should match your profile to the role you are job-hunting for. If you are a writer – you should focus more on showcasing your best-written articles.

4. As I mentioned in the last point, add your past experience according to your target job role. Your latest published book would be relevant for the job, but your amazing boy-band that plays in the near-by club might not! Unless the company wants to hire a band for their next party.

Here are some tips: Be focused on being specific, if you have any printed work – include its high-quality photographs.

Like this portfolio of Joy Fonderson shows all her work along with the case study. Impressive right?

5. Now here is the important part – include captions to all the work that you have included in the portfolio. A well-written description of what you have contributed to your past works if definitely going to catch the reader’s attention. Include the information about the company you worked for, the role that you played, the objective of the project, positive results after the project was handed to you.

Online portfolio examples

I read the blog on format.co and found out some of the influential writers that you can follow; and also, their online professional portfolio. You can check them out to get an idea on what an actual profile looks like.

I liked these three the most:

Max Campbell

What I liked most: Very simple profile, a list of all the writings projects that he has covered so far.

Scott broker

What I liked most: The site is perfect, he has also mentioned his contact information and about page just one click away!

Jennifer Fernandez

What I liked most: The pop of colors, the high-quality images of her work, everything is brilliant.

Impressive right?

So what are you waiting for, get going and start working on your best online portfolio?

Do share if you find this article useful!

10+ Do’s And Don’ts Of Cover Letters For Resume | Writing Tips

July 17, 2019 by Akanksha Aggarwal Leave a Comment

We all know how Cover letters are necessary for every application you submit online. They not only enhance our possibility of bagging the jobs but also help the recruiter get to know us in a way much better than they could ever know about us from our resume. Cover letters, in general, are a great way of introducing us to any organization in a simple yet effective way.

If you are a newbie and want to know why cover letters are necessary or how to craft a cover letter on your own, then you can read my blog here – writing a killer cover letter in no time.

In this article, we are going to take a step further and understand what are the things that we must include and what things are better left omitted.

Tips For Writing A Cover Letter

Let’s begin with the elements of a cover letter that everyone must remember and master. These elements are as necessary as adding your experience in the resume. Why is that? Because these elements describe you and let the readers know what they can expect.

1)) The first thing that you must always remember to add in a cover letter is the letter heading. What does that mean? A letter heading is just like a company’s letterhead which will include your name, contact information, social profiles, instead of any company’s information.

Not sure what information you must include? Here is a list of things that a recruiter will expect your cover letter to have:

Your name (duh!)

Contact Number (most important)

Address of correspondence

Social Profiles (LinkedIn, email address)

Website (if available)

Apart from these, if you have any other information that you think might interest the reader, you can include that too.

2)) Next, the address of the addressee and their correct names plus their designation is important. Why is that? You see, when you send someone a letter, they expect you to know that you are sending it to them and not a random person. Also, it will make your letter personalized and won’t look like you have used the same letter for all your applications. Don’t do that too though!

3)) After you have written the proper address of the addressee, write the date and subject like any other letter. Then you can start writing your letter.

4)) At the end, don’t forget to include your signature to maintain authenticity.

Easy, right?

Writing a simple cover letter that goes with most of your applications is easy, but writing a cover letter that bags you an interview in your dream company is not that easy. You might think that you will just add the summary of your resume and all will be done – It’s a big no!

There are certain things that you might understand for crafting a letter that catches the eyes of the recruiters in a second and compels them to open and read your resume. There are a lot of resumes in many corporations that go unseen just because the HR was bored while reading the cover letter. True story!

So, what makes a good cover letter? Well, not much! You just need to be true, relevant, impressive – together.

Let’s talk about some things that you can add and should take care of in the cover letter if you want them to hire you!

Cover Letter Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s Of Cover Letters

Make sure you understand the job profile and know what you are applying for. If you are unsure you can re-read the posting. The thing is that the cover letters are supposed to be personalized according to the job profile. If you are not clear what the job posting is then you won’t be able to write it properly. And a general letter will not be sufficient for different companies and roles.
Address the letter to the intended reader only. Suppose you have written the letter to HR manager of the company but it turns out that the recruiter is someone else – that wouldn’t cut the deal right? So, how do you know who to write the letter? As I have already talked about on my other blog about perfect cover letters, you can always call them to know who will be the recruiter. Sometimes the job postings mention who to address the letter to, but you get the idea.
Check and highlight the keywords relevant to the job. Not sure what those keywords are? You will find them in the job posting. Just go to the requirements sections and you can see for yourself. Why is it necessary? If you are applying online, your cover letter will be scanned to check if you have required experience or not, and that will be done by checking those major keywords.
Your passion must show in your letter for the job position, for the company. Show that you are committed to what you do and are enthusiastic for future roles you will be playing.
Along with your passion, show them that you are the person they are looking for. Mention how you can overcome hurdles on your way, give some real-life examples if possible. Tell them how your past experiences made you fit for that job.
Keep the letter short, straightforward, and free of grammatical errors. No one would like to read a foot long letter which is actually just a story about your life. Be logical and put in only what matters for that job. Everything else is right there in your resume already.
Don’t just talk about you require and are seeking. Talk in the language of the company and speak about what you can bring to the company.
Make sure you end the letter with a call to action asking for what the letter is for. It could be to set up a meeting or to make an appointment for an interview.

Don’ts Of Cover Letters

As I mentioned in the Do’s section, don’t bore your reader. The application that you created and sent with such expectations will be sent down the shredder in no time if you do so! Make the presentation of the letter unique so that it stands out and lets the recruiter understand that you mean business.
Don’t repeat things, keep the flow, and give the reader plenty of time to digest what you are writing. Don’t ramble or confuse the recruiter.
Opening statement must be attention-seeking so don’t start it with a boring statement that would just kill the mood of the reader.
Make sure you don’t use slangs or unprofessional language in the text. It will just deduct your points instead of making the letter interesting.
Never ever think that cover letter is not of importance. Most companies don’t even expect applications if they don’t include a cover letter.

Conclusion

To say that we succeed in the first attempt is an exaggeration, never happens in real life. But, we can practice and use these tips on the internet to polish our skills until we make it. Right?

What are your opinions on this article? Do write in comments.

Step By Step Guide On How To Apply For A Job | Job Application Tips

June 7, 2019 by Akanksha Aggarwal Leave a Comment

Have you ever just wanted to give up on your purpose to Apply For A Job? After countless job postings, and countless of resume submissions, a person tends to lose hope and give up thinking that there might be a chance that they are not good enough. But, what if I told you that you can bag that dream job of yours by just tweaking your method of the job application a little? It’s pretty good news, ain’t it? In this article, I am going to share some amazing tips for you so that you can bring your job application game up and get your job fast.

Best Way To Apply For A Job

Many applications sent to any company go down the shredder without even being looked at. Do you know why? The reasons that the HR shreds down the resumes without looking at them could be any of the following

The resume is not visually appealing
The Cover letter is missing
They use an applicant tracking system, which couldn’t find the right keywords in your resume
Your method of applying was not correct
Your qualification and experience are not up to the mark
The position was already filled

Every company has a different application sorting scheme and has different requirements. When you apply online for any job, you must have noticed that the job posting has all the requirements written in a format which sometimes do not make a sense. It is because they scan every resume for those specific keywords. This is called the Applicant Tracking System, and it is used to filter out any non-eligible applicant without having to go through every single application manually. That is why you must take a good look at the postings for the jobs that you want to apply to and then create your resume according to that. Use correct keywords and mention all your skills separately.

So, this was how you make your job application stand out on the online portal. But how do you make it stand out in front of real people? By giving it enough thought and time. You might not be a creative person, but you can look at some samples of job application letter to take a look at how others create their resumes to stand out in the flock of applicants.

When you have submitted the application on any job posting on online job portals like LinkedIn, Monster, etc. you get called by the company if they liked your application. They review certain points that help you get more score than other applicants. While they have their own review method, you have to provide them something to show that you are qualified enough for the job and are interested in the company.

How To Apply For A Job

Let’s start with getting to know the market better. How you can search for the job, what are different platforms from which you hunt for a job, and how to get your application letter for a job vacancy ready.

Apply For A Job Online

Searching for the job

There are many ways through which you can find a job. You can look for one in the newspapers, through an acquaintance, from an online job website, or someone might just hand you a leaflet telling you “Hiring”. Whatever the source is, you must know what you are looking for. Which profile suits your qualifications, and which company you must apply for.

If you are just starting the hunt, start with any job search website. Build your resume and upload it in your profile. The website might ask you to fill all the details from the resume in your profile again. It might be tiring, but it will give you better exposure. Use correct keywords, relevant to your profession. Research a bit on what companies are looking for and how they put it up on their sites. If you are looking for a social media manager post, then you must use the correct designation instead of writing “I can handle your social accounts”

If you have a company that you want to work already in mind, then you might go and check out their website for information about vacancies. Most companies do provide the application process on their websites too. You just need to upload your well-built CV and write a few words on why you want to work in their company and why are you the right choice.

Job searching? Check.

Next comes – Doing research on the company.

Research Company Before Interview

You must know everything about the company that you have applied for, including any news about them going bankrupt. If you find any such news, you might not want to apply for the job. Look at their website, search them on social media, and Google them to know what the company is all about. This will also help you to get to know the company before you even join them. You might also end up finding someone who works there and is a friend of yours or a friend of a friend. The might refer you and add to your chances of getting that job.

This brings us to the next part of the application process, and that would be looking for references.

Reference Letter For A Job

How To Get A Reference Letter

While looking for references, you must not forget to call a few of your friends and relatives and ask them if they know someone at the said company. Because if they do, that might help you a good deal. When someone already working at the company, and preferably at a good position, HR takes it as a good sign and prefers you better. If you can’t find someone in a known area, then you might want to head to websites like LinkedIn and search for the employees or ex-employees of that company. Send them a few emails, chat with them, and make good relations. Now select a handful of people who you are confident about, and ask them to refer you in the company.

You must also ask for references from your current employer or colleagues, their words count the most as you have already worked with them and they know about your work ethics.

References? Check. Company Research? Check.

How To Write Job Application Letter

As I already mentioned, the way you describe yourself puts a lot of weight on your application. Create a good resume, attach it with the materials required for the job application, and add a good cover letter. Your Job Portfolio must be taken seriously so that your potential employers can take your application seriously.

I am mentioning some good points for you to keep in mind while you create your resume

Resume must be in a digital-friendly format.
It should be eye-catching. You can use templates for that.
As the resume is digital, you can use hyperlinks that lead to examples of your past work, or a presentation that you made
It should be compatible with the ATS system that I mentioned before.
Point out the skills that will add value to the organization
Incorporate the keywords matching to the job posting 2-3 times throughout your resume.
Add a beautifully designed cover letter too, include “why I am fit for the job”

Resume? Check.

Now what? Submitting? YES!!

How To Submit Job Application

After you have gone through research, building, and more research, it is time to submit the application. When you were looking through the job posting you must have noticed the submitting procedure on those specific jobs. Some give their direct email addresses, some provide their office address to manually drop your CV (or walk-in for interview), and for some, you have to apply on the website itself.

Take a not on which method suits the company best and work on it.

If you have to send an email to the employer, you must frame a good email and attach your CV to it. If you will just write “Here is my CV and Cover letter attached” you might get rejected. Instead, work on the content of the email, share a thing or two about why you want to work for them, and how you are suitable for the job. And then attach the CV and cover letter. It would surely get them to open that resume of yours. If you are still not sure to learn how to apply for a job through email.

Submission of the application? Check.

Follow Up Email After Application

Follow up and Reapply for the same job

It has been a whole week, and you haven’t heard from them yet? Send them a follow-up email. Be polite, and inform them that you had sent so-and-so email and would like to know the next steps. If they haven’t replied yet, and after a month you see the same job posting on their website again, you must reapply. But make sure you revamp your CV and groom yourself up to make sure they don’t reject your application this time too.

If you get the job, don’t forget to write a thank you letter for getting the job.

I suppose this was more than enough of what I could share with you. Whatever your job profile could be, if you work a little on improving your skills and also the showcasing part, you would be able to get the job of your dream in the company that you want.

What is your dream job and what are you going to do to get it? Share in the comment section!!