Posted under Career Management, Internet Job Search, Job Search, Networking, Online Identity, Technology on July 17th, 2008
An article by Sarah Needleman in the Wall Street Journal over a year ago so deftly covers how blogging can help you land a job, that I wanted to point it out, in case you hadn’t seen it.
Whether you accept it or not, you’re going to be Googled in a job search and your online identity can make or break your chances to land in a job you want. Take advantage of blogging to help control what people find out about you online.
Recruiters routinely troll the blogosphere to locate, learn about, and assess top talent. Robust blogging gives an indication of your knowledge level, niche expertise, passions, personal brand, and, of course, your writing skill.
Writing about non-career-related topics provides evidence of how well rounded you are, generating the kind of chemistry that can help recruiters determine whether you’re a good fit for their client companies.
Sarah’s 7 tips to make your blog recruiter-friendly are right on the mark:
1. Clearly identify your specialty. Include a tagline in your blog’s banner so its theme can be quickly recognized. Also, write a concise “about me” blurb that readers can easily find.
2. Show you’re current on hot topics. For example, relate a recent news item about your area of expertise to a project you completed and link to tangible evidence of your work, such as a press clipping or PowerPoint presentation.
3. Provide more information. Include a downloadable resume and if you have a profile on a networking site such as LinkedIn.com, link to it.
4. Exercise common sense. Never write about anything negative or proprietary concerning current or former employers.
5. Omit personal information. Unless it’s relevant to the job you want, avoid writing about how much you love Fido or the cute things your kids do.
6. Keep it polished and current. Post new entries at least three times a month to show that you’re committed.
7. Contribute to other blogs. Insert an inbound link to your blog to draw more traffic and boost its search-engine rankings.
If you want to attract the kind of recruiters who can help get you into your next job, blogging is a great way to do it. It also affords myriad opportunities to build community and networking connections, while expanding your personal brand online.
Don’t have the time to invest in your own blog? The next best thing is guest blogging on another blog, as I do here on this blog. Look to relevant sites where you can share your expertise, such as professional associations or maybe company alumni sites.
Posted by Meg Guiseppi
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