As an employer I used to ‘Google’ applicants for jobs. See what presence they had on the internet.
I was usually disappointed, other than the odd Facebook account (and sometimes I mean ODD), or a banal twitter feed, or the occasional picture somewhere, most applicants left little evidence of their views or thinking.
And whilst we are warned not to indulge in silly pictures or posts in case these come back to haunt us, i would like to turn this around and propose that the internet is a great way to get a profile to boost your changes of that great job you want.
Resumes certainly don’t get you jobs anymore, they may get your foot in the door, but after that they are typically trashed. So how can one make a positive impression while seeking to build a career; by Blogging.
As we have discussed previously, more often than not, hiring managers rely on trusted recommendations and evaluate applicants based on tangible things they have accomplished.
And this is where blogging can assist you build a positive profile to get you that next role.
… Blogging is the new resume.
Blogging is an effective way to illustrate expertise, personality, and most importantly, thought process, and the traditional resumes lack this entirely.
Blogging Opens Doors
Several years ago I started actively blogging, writing 1-3 essays each week. Initially it was about the food and beverage industry and subsequently after conversations with younger colleagues, on this four, where I discuss challenges for managers in the HR and commercial areas. The research and thinking that goes into blogging, hones my expertise in these topics, and the more I write, I hope the better I write.
You Can Benefit from Blogging
Not everyone can or wants to maintain a high level of dedication to blogging. And that’s OK. Regardless, blogging is an excellent vehicle to share ideas, expertise, and interests and leave your views out there for prospective employers to consider. More than that thinking about putting your thoughts down in writing enables you to hone both your reasoning skills, writing skills and professional skills.
Blogging Isn’t for Everyone
I highly encourage people to blog but before you jump in, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- You Need to Enjoy It — Blogging isn’t for everyone. It’s difficult to blog sustainably. If you’re not intrinsically motivated to do so, you’ll quit. Blogging does not mandate frequent writing, but the more you put in, the more you’ll get out.
- It’s a Long-Term Investment — It’s highly unlikely your first, second, third, or 50th post will “go viral.” First, you must accept that most people don’t care what you think and that quantity leads to quality. But it isn’t about immediate fame, its abut building your skills and creating a live resume for your career.
- It’s Not About You — Readers don’t care how awesome you are. Too many bloggers continually write self-promotional pieces. They read either to be informed or to be entertained- and if this is a skills and job enhancing blog then its information and views people are searching for.
- Write About Your Passions — Another common mistake is to choose topics based on other peoples’ interests. You shouldn’t write about topics because it’s all the rage. You should write about topics you’re genuinely passionate about it, and I hope you find a little passion in my writing. And if you’re passionate about topics without mass appeal, that’s fine, again go back to the fundamental purpose honing your skills and building an online resume.
- Don’t Let it Become a Distraction — Once you’ve built an audience and habit of writing, it can be hard to stop. While valuable, don’t let blogging substitute the important things in your career or life, that may not be as enjoyable. Do “shitty” work.
Should you include your blog in your resume
I would hope having started a blog related to your career and skills that you would be sufficiently proud of your work to include it in any resume. And with luck you’ll be sought out for new roles as a result of your outstanding work.
So take your career passion a step further and put it out there. Start a blog.
Have you got a blog- why not share why you started and how it helps you here.