Since the coronavirus wreaked havoc on the American economy, businesses across the country have transitioned into a remote work model. As unemployment rates reached an all-time high, competition for remote work has gotten tougher. Prior to COVID-19, remote work was already on the rise. Studies showed that many employers preferred remote work benefits over financial bonuses. Companies that offer remote work programs benefit from more flexibility, a greater degree of autonomy, and more personal freedom. 

From a job seeker's perspective, however, finding a great remote position just got more complicated. Because businesses are no longer limited by location, the candidate pool is significantly higher. Many job ads receive hundreds of applications. If you want to stand out, you should design a website that acts as your digital resume. Here's what you need to know: 

Introduce Yourself

Traditional resumes don't offer the opportunity to introduce yourself the way online resumes do. With a website resume, you're able to show your personality and be creative with how you communicate your talents. This is a great way to stand out from the crowd. Don't be afraid to talk about your hobbies and interests. 

Take a moment to briefly discuss what you do outside of the professional workplace. Most importantly, pay attention to the language you use. How you use words will help embody the perception you create for yourself. For example, think about how other brands use language to communicate their brand values. Keep this in mind as you start writing your introduction. 

Your introduction is also an opportunity to highlight hobbies that could demonstrate a skillset that will help you in the role you're applying too. For example, if you participate in a softball league, it shows that you are able to work on a team, socialize, and balance your work life with your extracurriculars. 

Portfolio 

When applicable, websites are a great (and often necessary) way to showcase your portfolio. If you work in a creative field, a portfolio is a must, and making an online portfolio is a sure way of making your portfolio stand out. Perhaps you've found applications that leave a field for a portfolio or website. As you can imagine, candidates who provide a link will likely stand out more than those that don't. 

Take this time to let your work shine in the best way possible. To guide you in the right direction, take a look at sample portfolio websites. Notice how others leverage design to highlight their work. Additionally, you should also keep in mind that portfolios aren't just for creative work. If you have metrics that show how great your email campaigns performed, take a screenshot and display them on your website. 

Choose Your Resume Display Strategy 

There are several ways you can choose to host your resume on your website. The first way, and likely the easiest, is to link to your resume directly from your landing page. In this method, you'll use a single page website that includes a button that links directly to the PDF version of your resume. If you have a resume that you're already happy with, this might be the best approach. It's also quick and intuitive for the user. 

Another resume display strategy is to create a page for each section of your resume. While it takes more work to create a website like this, it can be a great option if your resume is full of experience and qualifications. You can still use a single page website with this layout. Users will simply click one of the static navigation options and automatically scroll to the selected section. 

The third way is to create a multimedia timeline of your work, which can be a great option for creative professionals. Start with your most recent job, creating a description and adding any relevant photos. With a multimedia timeline, the website visitor simply scrolls down the page for a more immersive resume experience. 

Pick a Template

Starting a website is easier than ever before. Simply choose your host and pick a theme. Every host offers free themes to start, and these free options may work just fine for you. Alternatively, you can choose a premium theme that features a better design and more customization options. Take your time searching through different themes. If you search for resume themes or portfolio themes, you'll find dozens of great potential options that are pre-built for you and offer plenty of inspiration. All you have to do is plug and play. 

If you aren't confident in your ability to create a website resume-even with a theme to work with-consider using a platform like Upwork to find freelancers with relevant skills to turn your vision into a reality. Many freelancers can work within your budget. Having someone work on the technological aspects of your digital resume is a cost-effective way to ensure the job is done right-and save you time and potential for human error in the long-run. This way, you can continue to focus on searching for the best new position.