Feature Articles

Blogging can be a good catharsis, a way to disseminate information, the perfect way to give your brand a voice but it can also be the answer to how do I stand out in a pool of candidates when looking for a job.

While not everyone is capable of writing the Great American novel, everyone can write a consistent and informative blog (albeit there are different levels of writing talent/skill). A blog can be a nice addition to your resume, because when done properly it can show your prospective employer that you can forge relationships, that you're accountable and that you can string a coherent sentence together.

Certainly some jobs are directly related to your abilities in social media. Interviewing for a job in marketing without getting to know at least the basics of the social networking world, would be foolhardy in today’s world. Other positions are closely related to social media, like sales. One can easily comprehend how showing that you can relate to others can help you land the position. But why would writing a blog help you land a position in retail, for instance?

In today’s market jobs are at a premium and the competition is fierce. People looking for entry level are competing with displaced managers for intern positions. Optimists believe the economy may turn around next year but it’s essential (that even once it does) to be prepared for a period of zero job growth. Controlling/forecasting the economy is next to impossible but doing something to stand out among the competition is as easy as starting a blog.

If possible, begin blogging ahead of the job search (that way you’ll already have a community built prior to your interview). Choose a topic you're passionate about (that won't offend or hurt your chances to get a second interview or the job). If landing a job in retail is the goal, why not blog about fashion? Comment on celebrities, what’s hot on the catwalk, making the most of what’s already in your closet, etc. But whatever topic is decided upon, use polite conversation guidelines -- as in no talk of religion, politics, race, age, etc. Also, stay away from endorsing or panning brands (just in case you end up interviewing with that brand's company or competitor). Find the tone that best fits you – funny, informative, sarcastic; but do try to avoid overdosing on rants and rages (even if there is some humor in that).

Next, connect with others. Comment on other blogs. Invite people to yours. Host guest bloggers. Enjoy yourself. Make new friends. Learn something. When you do, comment on that. In general, be the ideal guest in someone’s home. Don’t be bombastic, spoiled or interruptive. Do pay compliments, give thanks and make pleasant conversation on topics that interest your hosts. Also, stay out of direct mud-flinging. After all, you never know where bloggers earn their bread and you don’t know just how far one’s community reaches. The last thing you want is to be sitting across the interview table from the blogger you defamed (or his best friend).

If you have dedicated some time to cultivating a community, you will eventually have a vital energized group with which to bounce ideas, trade stories and impart knowledge. But it doesn’t stop there. Now you have to take an interest in them in an even greater way. Visit their sites. See what they’re interested in. Use their interests as future topics. After all, you want readers and they want to read something that interests them.

When interviewing for a job, you want to be the candidate they remember. You can do that by wearing a crazy-colored suit or you can bring something to the table that others haven’t through your social networking tools/skills. Show them you are able to connect and have authentic conversations across geographic and economic barriers. Don't just drop the blog URL on your resume and expect it to speak for you. You must draw the correlation for the employer of how this virtual audience will translate to your ability to impress a physical one. Show the employer how you interact with your contacts, the knowledge you've gained from these connections; in other words, show an aptitude for growth. Get excited about what you're doing and the interviewer is bound to also, even if she doesn't embrace technology like you do. You can even explain how you were self-taught because you saw a trend in the market and decided it was something you needed to know more about. Don't just tell your potential employer that you are a go-getter, show him.

Social networking is not something you can begin the night before the interview. Just like in life, it takes a while to cultivate connections and have meaningful conversations, but the beauty is that you can accomplish this on your schedule, whenever you have the time -- after the kids are in bed, on your lunch hour, waiting in a doctor's office...you get the picture. The learning curve is minuscule and the investment is minimum but the return can be oh-so sweet when you are shaking that hand and being welcomed on board.