What to Put on a Personal Website (Complete 2025 Checklist)

Personal websites have quietly become one of the most effective ways to stand out in 2025. While resumes still matter, they can’t fully show who you are, how you think, or the work you’re most proud of. A website does all of that—without making recruiters dig through a PDF.

If you’ve been wondering what exactly you should include on your personal website, this checklist breaks down every essential section, optional add-on and credibility booster to make your online presence look sharp, modern and ready for opportunities.

Let’s start with the bigger shift happening in hiring—and why your website may matter more than your resume this year.

Most professionals still rely only on resumes, but hiring in 2025 doesn’t work the way it did five years ago. Recruiters now skim LinkedIn, portfolios, online activity and personal websites before shortlisting candidates. A resume is static; a website is dynamic. It evolves with your work, communicates your identity and gives people a clearer sense of your strengths.

Research also shows that digital presence influences first impressions more than written documents. A clean, well-structured personal website shows intention and clarity—qualities hiring teams actively look for.

Think of your resume as a snapshot, and your website as the full story. You need both, but the website brings your professional identity to life.

Here’s the complete checklist of what to include. You don’t need everything at once—start with the core sections and grow over time.

1. Homepage (Your Snapshot)

Your homepage should instantly answer three questions:

• Who are you?
• What do you do?
• What’s your focus right now?

Keep it clean: a short intro, your role, and one strong line summarizing your value.

2. About Me Section

This is usually the second-most visited page on any personal website. Use it to explain your background, the type of work you enjoy and what motivates your career direction. A short narrative works better than a long biography.

Linking idea: Readers can explore a full breakdown in your “About Me Guide.”

3. Professional Summary / Profile Summary

This is where your resume summary meets your website voice. A few lines describing your strengths, skills and direction give structure to your entire website. Keep it specific—not generic buzzwords.

4. Work Experience

This shouldn’t be a copy-paste of your resume. Instead, highlight:

• Your top roles
• Your key outcomes
• Your favorite achievements

Focus on clarity and readability.

5. Projects (Your Most Important Website Section in 2025)

Projects show your thinking, creativity and execution—especially for designers, engineers, product people and students. Even simple or small projects matter.

Include:

• What the project was
• What problem you solved
• What you contributed
• What the outcome was

You can also add visuals or prototypes.

6. Skills and Tools

A clean skills list helps recruiters skimming for match-fit. Group your skills by category (technical, creative, analytical) and mention tools you’re confident with.

7. Personal Branding Elements

This includes:

• Your tone of voice
• Your mission or philosophy
• Your interests
• Your values

It’s subtle, but it makes your identity memorable.

8. Testimonials or Recommendations

Even one genuine testimonial adds credibility. It can be from a mentor, coworker, client or teammate. Keep it short and honest.

9. Contact Section

Make it easy for people to reach you. Add:

• Email
• LinkedIn
• Relevant links

A small form is optional but helpful.

• Case Studies
• Certifications
• A blog or writing section
• A “Now” page (what you’re focusing on currently)
• Press mentions
• Resume download button

Add these only when you’re ready—don’t force them.

Even polished personal websites miss a few useful elements:

• A clear direction (“Currently seeking roles in…”)
• Small personality details
• A simple call-to-action
• An easy way to get in touch

These small things make your website feel current and human.

If you don’t want to manually write HTML or design layouts, modern AI tools can convert your resume into a polished personal website instantly. You upload your resume, the AI creates the structure and all you do is refine the sections.

This saves hours and lets you focus on upgrading your content instead of fighting templates.

A personal website is the modern professional identity hub. It makes your resume come alive, shows your strengths clearly and gives people a reason to remember you. With the right sections and a clean structure, you can stand out instantly—even before a recruiter reads your resume.

Start simple, update regularly and let your website evolve with your work.