How to create your own "for-hire" page

Erin Mikail Staples -

If you haven't caught the news, I'm on the quest for my next dream job! The past week has been a whirlwind of emotions and plenty of time spent putting things into place. Now that I'm in the right mindset to start my job search, I'm excited to dive into this new week with a refreshed mindset.

Twenty-four individuals lost their jobs due to the layoffs at our organization — almost half the company. While traumatic and frustrating, it was strangely relieving to go through this process with 23 others. We created a Discord server to keep in touch. Spending what would have otherwise been our workday instead reviewing portfolios, rewriting resumes, or placing introductions where we can.

Oh, and for whoever in this group is the first to land a full-time role — we're already planning a virtual party to celebrate. 😉

One thing that has been interesting throughout this process is how different folks approach the job search. These individuals were thrown into the job hunt for no fault but rather because of a shitty macroeconomic situation.

My colleagues are Smithsonian-Inducted Podcasters turned magazine editors-in-chief, library maintainers with a breadth of knowledge in systems maintenance, full-stack engineers, lead developers, senior IT systems engineers, developer education experts with a passion for podcasting, bad puns, and 11ty, social content and ops geniuses, and so many more. (PSST — Looking to hire one of these whizzes, check out this sheet or email me, I'll gladly introduce you!)

So it’s no wonder that my now-former colleagues have brilliant ideas about how they go about searching for their next job. Maurice Cherry, Editor in Chief of Gravity Magazine and our brand/content lead, shared his "for hire" page with us. Inspired by Julie Pagano, Brenna Flood, and Andy Pressman, the page showcases what he's looking to do next, what work he did, and what makes him tick.

Consider this a sort of "reverse job posting": instead of having to weed out job postings that are looking for their next "rockstar" or for prospects to "join their family,” taking this approach is a way for you to put your expectations out to the world and see what's a great fit.

My brain was excited about this concept — and I looked at a bunch of different “For Hire” pages to break down what is essential to include on my page.

The Parts of a "For Hire" page.

Looking at a few different “For Hire” pages, I've outlined the important categories to include in your page below.

Let's break down each of these sections and what should be included in each:

  • Hey! I'm for hire!
  • Who am I?
  • Relevant experience
  • What I aspire to be
  • What makes me tick?
  • Processes
  • How I work
  • Who am I not?
  • What I am not looking for.
  • Where can you find out more about me?
  • Big wins of projects.
  • Links, references, etc.
  • What are you looking for?
  • What is important to me for an organization to have?
  • What values do I expect you to uphold?
  • What industry are you in?
  • Here are some added things to consider.
  • What might this look like?
  • Titles
  • How I work in the organization
  • Added nice-to-haves.
  • When can I start?
  • Where are you located?
  • Why a for hire page?
  • How should I get ahold of you?

1. Hey! I'm for hire!

If you've made it this far down on this post, this one seems obvious. But, if there's anything I've learned in being an educator, it's to make no assumptions. Building an inclusive, diverse learning environment also means that you're providing room for everyone from any background.

Tell the world you're for hire and what type of work you're looking for. Are you open for full-time roles or contracts? For example, this for-hire page by @visakanv is for marketing consults, while Maurice's page is for full-time roles.

2. Who am I?

Tell the world a little about yourself: what makes you tick, what work experience you have, and what do you bring to the workplace? This is slightly different from a coming from page, where you might specifically showcase your background and perspective on things within the context of your work experience.

Relevant experience

What makes you well, you in the workplace? What have you already accomplished and are proud of? What experience do you bring to the table?

Highlight that here — tell me why I should care as a recruiter or hiring manager and what measurable impact you've previously brought to the table.

What I aspire to be

What are you looking for in this next adventure? Be upfront about it. Share the type of work you want to do that gets you excited to get up in the morning. Showcase how you've done it well and what makes you the very best at what you do.

What makes me tick?

What are you looking for, and why are you looking for that? Are certain things important to you from a moral, ethical, or value perspective? Tell the world about them here. Don't be afraid of being upfront about it. Those who resonate with what excites you will be the first to tell you. There's nothing more fun than geeking out on the internet with someone!

Processes

How do you do what you do? What processes do you believe in, have put in place, or better understand? Showcase your experience building, learning, navigating, or iterating workflows and how they've helped you (or hurt you).

How I work

How do you work day in and day out? Are you a highly cross-functional person, or do you rather work by yourself? Do you thrive in an office setting or wish you could be at home? Tell the world how you do your best work here and what it means for your future.

2. Who am I not?

Who aren't you? What don't you want in your next adventure? Tell the world what isn't a fit and what you're not interested in pursuing in your next journey.

What I am not looking for?

What job titles aren't a fit, and what wouldn't you be happy doing? What industries are you not excited about or not quite fueling your passion?

3. Where can you find out more about me?

Regardless if this page isn't enough for your future employer, or it’s more than enough, and you’ve tickled their fancy — where can they find out more about you?

Big wins of projects.

Share your big wins here, with links!  Conference talks, awards, and even highlights from the last week.

Drop those social sites, side projects, and links that make you look great or showcase exactly what you're great at!

4. What are you (a prospective employer) looking for?

What is important to me for an organization to have?

Are policies, practices, or previous inclusion requirements important to you? Time off? Healthcare? What else are you expecting from an organization?

What industry are you in?

Industries that tickle your fancy or pique your interest! If relevant, showcase why they're relevant. Maybe you’ve got a penchant for social justice, a heart for SaaS products, or want to get your hands dirty in hardware — share that.

5. Here are some added things to consider.

Titles

Share the titles you're interested in and why you're interested in them. Tell the world what you're open to! Are you only open to a certain level, or is that negotiable depending on the organization?  Share this with others!

How I work in the organization

Are you an IC level or people manager? Do you want to be on a big team or a small team? What size of an organization excites you? How much autonomy do you have?

6. Added nice-to-haves.

What are those added perks? Unlimited time off? Matching 401K or equity? Office stipend? Sweet, sweet swag or in-office snacks? You dictate what is important to you here. While these items might not be deal-breakers, adding what might sweeten the deal can help companies help you.

7. When can I start?

Tentative start date and if there's any flexibility here. This can help set expectations as you start the process of interviewing and discussing timelines with recruiters, potential employers, and hiring managers.  Are you planning on taking a break or looking to jump right into something?

8. Where are you located?

Where are you located, and are you interested in relocating? Another good point to add here would be what time zone you work in — in a world where we’re increasingly going remote and connecting with different folks across the globe, the 9-5 in many industries is part of a bygone era.  Open yourself up to new opportunities.

9. Why a for hire page?

Why did you make this page, and why is it important to you? What are you doing differently throughout this hiring process?  Be transparent and human here.

10. How should I get ahold of you?

Drop those details, and when can someone expect a response from you? Do you have a contact form, best email, or even timeline that someone can get back to you?  Are you scheduling introduction chats on a Calendly link, or are you waiting for them to send their time to you?

These are just some of the core items I’ve seen in for hire pages; depending on the industry you’re applying to or your background and work experience, this might look different. Creating a for hire page is only one part of the process; putting yourself out there and ensuring it’s in a place where it can be seen is an entirely different process. Don’t be afraid to syndicate your for-hire page on blogs, explain your thoughts and why they’re important, and share it across your social media that you use for online networking — you never know who’s watching.