Online Portfolio or Resume? Maybe Both

Attempting to stand out from the piles of resumes mounting up for most job openings today, some job seekers are resorting to unconventional ways of getting in front of busy HR managers and recruiters.

My advice: Stick with traditional resumes. Don't be misguided into thinking that bold graphics, photos, mixed type faces and fonts will call positive attention to your resume. The folks at Microsoft offer excellent free resume templates for basic resumes, job-specific resumes and situation-resumes.

Recently, I've seen more online portfolios from individuals who feel they need to go further than a traditional resume. Originally developed by individuals seeking highly creative positions, online portfolios provide a broader picture and examples of an individual's experience and interests.

During the first round in job searches, most employers are too busy to spend much time reviewing anything other than your resume. Online portfolios have a better chance of being reviewed if you make it through the first round of interviews. At that point, an online portfolio can differentiate you from others.

Chris Spooner of Spoon Graphics recommends 10 excellent resources to help create your online portfolio. He also provides a tutorial for online portfolios along with mini reviews of each site.