This document provides reasons and guidance for creating a personal website. It argues that a website allows you to have all your professional information and multimedia content in one place, provides more flexibility than a resume alone, and can help demonstrate your skills. The document recommends using Wordpress software and inexpensive web hosting services starting at $10 per month to get started. It also provides examples of personal websites and encourages sharing projects, appearances, ideas, and updates on social media to promote your site.
2. Why make a website? One of the first things I did was visit your website.... I think it gives one a very good idea of who you are as a person and what your professional interests are. -- Tom Reinsfelder, ALA New Members Round Table resume reviewer
3. Why make a website? I actually read your job related activities here before I saw it on your resume . A search committee member is also likely to spend more time looking at you and your stuff because of the website as opposed to just looking at a resume. -- Tom Reinsfelder, ALA New Members Round Table resume reviewer [emphasis mine]
10. Why: More flexible than a resume http://www.flickr.com/photos/kmtucker/1271742623/
11. You cant put multimedia on a resume http://jasonpuckett.net/2008/06/06/games-in-libraries-podcast/
12. You cant put multimedia on a resume http://jasonpuckett.net/ teaching/rss-workshop/ (slideshare.net)
13. Why: show your skills http://www.flickr.com/photos/fiftyfeet/125020968/
14. How: Just Use a Blog? Its free, but youve got limited features you cant choose your domain name and it doesnt really demonstrate any expertise http://www.flickr.com/photos/poagao/115922089/
15. How: Web Hosting http://laughingsquid.net/hosting/ Tiny Squid plan: $10/month
16. How: Web Hosting http://lishost.org/ All the space, all the email, all the bandwidth it takes: $10/month
23. Get seen Current content Post your updates: Facebook, Twitter, Friendfeed Commenting Google alerts http://www.flickr.com/photos/estherase/317660299/
24. A Little Data http://www.flickr.com/photos/sampitech/1346409923/
25. Epilogue You now have me thinking about putting together a website to promote myself. -- Tom Reinsfelder, ALA New Members Round Table resume reviewer
26. Thank You Examples http://brianmathews.com http://informationgoddess.info http://jasonpuckett.net http://nirak.net Links Web Hosting http://lishost.org http://laughingsquid.net Wordpress Blog Software http://wordpress.org http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelinlibrarian/223839049/
Editor's Notes
Hi, Im Jason. Im a library instructor specializing in technology. I have a website at jasonpuckett.net that I use as a blog and a portfolio for my library work. I set up my website several months ago as a way to showcase my skills and ideas while I transition into professional librarianship, and today Im going to talk about why and how I set it up and how I use it. I do not have a marketing or human resources background. This presentation is based entirely on what has worked well for me so far.