Blogging has come a long way since its early days. Blogs are now viewed as an excellent form of professional and personal communication that can attract a wide online following.
Landing a good job in a highly competitive job-seeking environment requires going the extra mile, and blogging can give you the edge you need to land your next job. A blogs can make a powerful positive impression on potential employers.
If you have a good one, it can easily outshine your resume and cover letter. Here are seven tips to make your blog an effective job tool.
1. Make it visible to recruiters
Job recruiters search for the best applicants to fill positions. Every day they weed through tons of applications and resumes in the hope of finding the few people that meet the employer’s criteria.
Recruiters now regard a blog to be one of the best ways to find top candidates. They do constant online searches to discover new talent and find out more about they people they are interviewing.
Blogs are useful because they provide recruiters with a well-rounded view of you as a person. Recruiters can become more invested in you after reading your blog.
2. Create a career-targeted blog
You’ll want to stay focused on creating content for your targeted audience, which is employers and recruiters in your industry. Everything on the blog should be aimed at impressing these readers.
3. Keep it professional
The tone of your blog should remain professional. That doesn’t mean you always have to write about industry-related topics. But watch the language you use.
Also, make sure to proofread each post for spelling and grammatical errors. Your blog is supposed to present you in the best possible light, so avoid sloppy writing at all costs.
4. Stay on top of current trends
One thing that delights employers is to see you are someone who monitors current trends in the industry. This shows you’re sharp and maintain a strong interest in the field.
Read up on current news. Also, read other people’s articles for topic ideas. Use the most credible sources so your writing stays factual. You want to come across as an expert in your field.
5. Be engaging and interesting
Include some personality in your commentaries. Avoid coming across as too stiff or superior. Employers are people too, and they generally hire people they like. It’s okay to let your true personality shine through — grammatically, with professional language.
6. Provide useful and convenient links
Include an “about me” page and provide links to your online resume or CV. Turn them into downloadable PDF files so potential employers can easily save a copy. Link to professional social media pages as well.
7. Network and promote
Spread the word about your blog by promoting it on social media sites and relevant forums. The more places you find to share your blog, the better.
Blogging is a great way to make a lasting impression on potential employers. Becoming a savvy blogger opens up new career opportunities and sets you apart from the average job applicant.
