Virtual Resume websites, like the ones listed below, are online platforms for a person or company to create, edit, post and share a resume.  Resumes that are created using a web based platform allow freelancers a way to create their own web profile that allows them to showcase their experience and skills in a non-traditional resume format.  Virtual resumes allow recruiters the chance to view a freelancer’s resume online and with the help of videos, photos, images, music, etc., a freelancer can give more information about themselves that could not be covered in a traditional 1 page standard resume.  With a virtual resume, a freelancer can take the resume created on sites similar to VisualCV.com and add them to their blogs and social media pages.  More and more, job recruiters and companies are searching for freelancers on social media websites, and through blog feeds to find the perfect freelancer. 

Using an online resume gives a freelancer the benefit of referencing proven/successful templates and provides help in building/writing the resume.  They are easily shared either through email, links or as attachments, and can be edited and saved with ease.   Freelancers connected to internet trades can use these websites not only to publish a professional resume, but also to network and search for jobs.  Most of the virtual resume builder sites give added options such as a job search section and a networking tool, which streamlines the entire job search process. 

A few alternative options to using a virtual resume site:

• Build a personal website that can act as a virtual resume
• Create a  blog
• Use social media to promote yourself to a wider audience   

Whether using a virtual resume website or creating your own virtual resume and promoting it on your own, you should make sure that you create both a flash version and a non-flash version.  Many recruiters may be viewing a virtual resume using their mobile devices, which may not properly display your information in flash version.  This also will allow you a chance to increase your google rankings.  Many recruiters have begun to search google to find out more about potential candidates, sites using flash cannot be crawled by search engines.  Having two versions will ensure that your resume will be viewed by everyone, as well as increasing your google ranking and avoid the risk of your information being overlooked.

Here are a few sites found:

1.       VisualCV – Free to join.  By far, one of the most popular of the virtual resume websites and would be perfect for freelancers.  Making the news right now, as it is the first streamlined, all-in-one resume builder that includes the benefit of media content. This is free to use and to share. You will be given a direct visualcv profile URL link that you can use to promote yourself and direct traffic to view your resume.  

2.       NavAgility – Free to join.  Helps you create a social timeline which, in a freelancer’s scenario would be a resume timeline. The site provides background on “What’s in it for me” and “How does it Work” as well as providing an example of a CareerPath Timeline (resume timeline). The look and feel of NavAgility’s CareerPath Timeline is more graphical and less of an online marketing brochure.  You can have an unlimited number of media elements (e.g., photos, images, audio, video, documents, links) attached to them.  

3.       Optimal Resume – $99.00 to join.  This is a type of traditional online resume builder. It is easy to use and gives a person a million templates and examples to look at. Gives the option, as well, to add a video blog. It is not free ($99 a year) but is sharable and easily edited.