Posts Tagged ‘how-to’

Create a Professional Web Presence on a Budget

Sunday, January 4th, 2009

 
icon for podpress  Create a Professional Web Presence on a Budget [13:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2117)

Jeff Siarto, the new co-author of Head First Web Design (and my boyfriend), shares the best resources for creating or improving your blog, online portfolio or personal website. Listen to the podcast and check out the links below.

Start a Basic Blog
Wordpress
Although there are many blogging options, we recommend Wordpress.com. It’s free to start a blog using yourblogname.wordpress.com.

Create a Custom URL
Namecheap
To create a custom URL, such as yourblogname.com, you must buy a domain name. These typically run from $10 to $40 per year, although you should generally pay no more than $15 per year for a .com, .net or .org domain. Check out Namecheap or GoDaddy to get started, or look at ICANN’s complete list of accredited registrars.

You can map the domain name to your Wordpress blog for $10 per year. For more on this, read Domain Registration and Mapping on Wordpress.com

We also recommend using a WHOIS Guard-type service to protect your privacy. Namecheap offers a free year with new domain name registrations.

Host Your Own Site
Dreamhost
Although free hosting may be a good place to start for those on a budget, there are some limitations. For more control and features, higher bandwidth, no ads and more storage space, you might opt to host your own site for. Expect to pay around $100-$200 per year for good hosting (we recommend Dreamhost).

Create an Online Portfolio
Squarespace
If you’re looking to go into a creative field, an online portfolio is a must. If you don’t have any experience with web design and don’t have the budget to hire someone to do it for you, check out Squarespace. This service lets users create custom websites without any programming knowledge.

Consider your blog or online portfolio an investment in yourself. Ultimately, the more professional your web presence, the more impressed your potential employer will be. This could make all the difference when it comes time to look for a job.

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Resume and Informational Interview Dos and Don’ts

Sunday, June 29th, 2008

 
icon for podpress  Resume and Informational Interview Dos and Don'ts [9:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1242)

After seeing a number of resumes and students for informational interviews, Bryan Blaise, Kevin Saghy, Joseph Tateoka and I wanted to share a few important how-tos.

RESUME DOs

  • Limit your resume to one page
  • Use bullets, not asterisks
  • Link to your LinkedIn profile and/or website
  • On your cover letter, add hyperlinks to relevant organizations, etc.
  • Take the time to gear your resume toward the job you are applying for (a resume is not one-size fits all)
  • Show that you are a great writer and can be concise
  • Put your most important information upfront—think of the inverted pyramid you use for writing
    1. Work experience
    2. Relevant volunteer or internship experience
    3. Any other activities you’ve done that can play up a certain area of expertise or strength
    4. Where you went to school
    5. Your GPA (if it is good)

RESUME DON’Ts

  • Don’t list your “connections," especially people you have only met once
  • Don’t make margins smaller than 1/2 inch (and even that is pushing it)
  • Font sizes shouldn’t go above 12-14 or below 9
  • No word Art
  • NEVER use emoticons or exclamation points

INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW DOs

  • Do your research so that you are prepared to go in and ask good questions
  • Arrive prepared—dress nice and have your resume printed out
  • Even if you talk to multiple members of the team, you can still ask them the same questions—you may get different answers from different people
  • Even though this isn’t a formal interview, remember that this is still your chance to impress the team—they often regroup after your meeting to talk about you and may decide to consider you as a candidate
  • Use this as an opportunity to ask the questions you might not ask in a normal interview (For example, get feedback on your resume

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