That’s right, I just used “blog” as a verb, like “google” or “text.” It’s been long enough now that blogging has become an acceptable part of our online experiences. We read blogs, learn something from them, and leave comments almost every day.
But there are still so many mistakes people make when they attempt it, if they attempt it. Inconsistent frequency of posts, using inside jokes only a few people understand, and failing to break up the post into smaller manageable chunks are just a few mistakes.
When done right, your blog may be the difference between you and another job candidate. I have seen this over and over again in my practice. And despite the evidence, very few job seekers take advantage of this affordable way of making a splash. Are you going to separate yourself from the competition and start a blog?
Here are 5 reasons blogging is going to help you find a job:
1. You show you are intelligent: Even if you have a killer résumé, hiring managers still doubt you, as they should. More than 20 percent of résumés contain flat-out lies. So you might look smart on paper…but a blog is going to demonstrate you really ARE smart. This reduces perceived risk and makes it easier for hiring managers to respect you.
2. You show that you know how to write: When I graduated from Brown University in 2000, our keynote speaker told all of us despite the open curriculum, we are expected to know how to do just two things when we leave school: To think and to write. I can’t name a job that doesn’t require writing skills, whether internally or externally. You will write emails, memos, presentations or sales copy. A blog will show your new company that you are up to the task.
3. You demonstrate you are motivated: Everyone goes into a job interview promising high performance and passion. But when that flame burns out after three months on the job, that new hire becomes a liability — a very costly hiring mistake. Alleviate your hiring manager’s anxiety by showing you are who you say you are — you care about this work enough to research and write about it at least twice a week.
4. You have something to say: Very few hiring managers want to hire “yes” men. They are looking for co-pilots, for creative tension, for dynamics in the office. Even if a hiring manager doesn’t agree with your opinion, at least you had one and had the courage to voice it. Not only does this demonstrate self-confidence, you also differentiate yourself from other candidates in a non-competitive way.
5. You are a leader in a community: When you blog consistently, obtain some Google page rank and spark discussions in your comments, you begin to look like an expert. In marketing, there is no force more powerful than social proof. Comments on your blog make you look like that charismatic kid in high school who always had people buzzing around him. Invariably, the thought will cross the hiring manager’s mind, “Well, if other people listen to this guy, then he must be legit.”
Joshua Waldman helps frustrated job seekers leverage social media to find work FAST! He is the founder of CareerEnlightenment.com and the author of the new book, “Job Searching with Social Media for Dummies.” Sign-up for his newsletter today and get access to his exclusive training videos for FREE.
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About CAREEREALISM
Illustrating you are a subject matter expert is one of the most impressive effects that a blog can have on any potential employer. However, be wary that a blog takes consistency and thought. A poorly produced blog will turn employers away from your resume. Be sure that if you are going to start a blog, it is a project you can commit time to. Also, it helps to be passionate about what you are writing!
This article from CAREEREALISM.com gives some best marketing practices to stand out by utilizing social media. One suggestion is to blog about whatever may be of interest to you to show potential hiring managers in your sphere of influence your commitment to your profession and potentially to their departments. The author of the article advises employees to demonstrate that you care about the job by volunteering to research and write about new trends and business cases effecting department goals or operations. Perspective hiring managers do not necessarily look for their staff to agree with their ideas. I agree with the advice of having the courage to stand behind your convictions and being prepared to back them up. Your boss may not agree with your reasoning but you are showing self confidence and problem solving abilities. I recall getting a position because I expressed an opinion on how the company could strategically augment their recruitment strategy. The hiring managers did not agree with my idea but liked that I cared enough to come to the table with solutions. I was hired for the position on the spot. In doing a job search utilizing social media, it is essential to continue to blog so that your name and brand comes up on search engines like Google, Linked In and Facebook.
Absolutely! As a job seeker, I agree that Job seekers should blog. The reason why is that what ever is not listed on your resume, it shows here. You're displaying/selling yourself out there, let them know who you are. Show you're intelligent,demonstrate your ability that you can think and write internally and externally. You're self-motivated and driven individual who differentiate yourself from the rest of the candidates in a good way. Show your self-confidence by standing tall, thus ready for the new challenge.
This is really interesting and I'm interested in blogging, but I still don't understand how it will help me get a job? Do I put the site on my resume? Do I talk about the type of job I want to get? Why would it, if I'm talking about my personal stuff, get someone to want to hire me over someone else?
I like the idea of blogging, but to blog for a job you really have to have something to say that is job appropriate. I know I don't. I have a blog, but it's got much more of a personal slant and I could probably never bring it up during an interview with a Fourtune 500. I usually love this site, but I'd like to respectfully disagree; everyone who wants a job shouldn't blog unless they have something unique to say and they have some degree of passion about the subject. Otherwise, the internet will be bogged down by mediocre blogs from people who are just hoping to get ahead…and there are already enough of those out there.
It's also a good way to help manage your online reputation.