Blogging can be a powerful networking tool that makes contacts with far-reaching people. This can help you in the development of your career. Blogs should be held and used as a tool in the job searcher’s toolbox. Here are some examples of job blogging results.
Jeremy Ryan, a 21-year-old web designer graduated with a liberal arts degree from a small west coast college. Web design had been his hobby for 8 years. Jeremy created a resume blog that focused on his Internet skills and projects that he had worked on. He used his blog to chronicle his job search as well as giving out the latest web tips that he found while surfing the Internet. Within 3 months Jeremy landed his dream job with an advertising firm.
Blog reading recruiters
According to a Wall Street Journal article, Wal-Mart Stores recruiting manager Ryan Loken spends 2 hours per week reading thru blogs locating candidates for management positions. Blogs have helped Ryan fill 125 corporate jobs. Many of the candidates were referred from other bloggers, but some were the blog writers themselves.
Blog for a specific job
Utah blogger Carolynn Duncan had her eye on a position at Provo Labs. Provo Labs is a web 2.0 consulting company. Carolynn created a blog “Why Provo Labs Wants to Hire Carolyn Duncan” at blogspot. Not only did she get the interview, but she landed the job.
Blogging to find your perfect job is a great way to make yourself heard and seen online. You can use your blog as your “online resume”. By using it this way, you are making yourself visible to the widest group of potential employers. Your resume blog could be much more in depth on what you do than your traditional paper resume.
Post stories on your resume blog about your projects, accomplishments, education and any other topics that you are really passionate about. Always be fresh and unique. Use your resume blog to encourage two way communication by enabling comments on your posts.
Sounds like a great idea, if the company is clued up with online stuff. A great way to get the companies attention. We speaking about this last night Anton, I don’t know if
I’ll be able to work for a boss again.
True Ivin, but sometimes a blog won’t be enough. You have to let them know what you are doing, and why you are doing it. I’m getting there…
Great article Anton. I agree that blogging could help land your dream job, but this is often almost a by-product of the blogging itself. So yes, if you have a plan and its cleverly executed kudos to you. But the stories I love best are those individuals that started a blog simply for the love of blogging and because they felt they had something perhaps a little different to say….. And then, bam! They have the attention of thousands, advertisers lining up and product sponsorship knocking down their doors. Now THAT’s a job!