Posts Tagged ‘blog’

Why Job Seekers Should Blog

If you are a job seeker, and you like to write–blogging might just set you apart from other candidates. When I started my blog in 2009, I wrote exclusively about HR. Then I started writing about Recruiting. That morphed into transforming this into an editorial blog where I critiqued what was going on in my industry. When I launched HireFriday in 2010, I changed the focus of this blog to help guide job hunters through the labyrinth of the job search process. In this economy, it’s important to help job seekers. That’s always been my passion.  So hear this job seekers, if you are serious about leveraging social networks to land your next position, use blogging as a way to get noticed.

How do you get started on this path to accelerate your re-employment?

1. Find a blog template that you like, and that expresses your professional interests (note be industry appropriate).  I happen to like WordPress.  However, there are so many new, and innovative blog mediums, take your pick.
2. Practice writing your posts in Microsoft Word (or Word For Mac, which is what I use). Write the way you speak, but be sure to use spell and grammar check. Blogging is far more informal in tone than other mediums.
3. Find free industry relevant photos for your posts (I like google images, and morguefile). Consider using more than one photo. According to Rayanne Thorn, two photos enhance your search engine optimization (SEO).
4. Chris Brogan says  the number #1 rule of blogging is “Just be helpful”.  I agree.  I’d also add, be interesting.
5. Make it about your audience, not all about you.  Conduct research, find industry blogs, and bloggers you can link back to, it enhances your SEO.  It also helps you build relationships with industry leaders.

Read voraciously.  If you are looking for a job read as many blogs posts as you can.  Comment on blogs. Commenting on blogs is a great way to get started.  It also helps you build those relationships with influencers in your industry, or at companies (that might be in a position to hire you).   When I was looking for a job, I put my resume on slideshare, and posted it under a tab on this blog.  Another tip, blog at least 3-7 days a week to increase your google rankings, and keep your readers engaged.  Kris Dunn, author at The HR Capitalist blog wrote daily.  When I first started I spent Saturday, and Sunday writing as many short posts as I could, and then saved them as drafts.  Save your posts frequently while writing.  Back up your blog.  I wasn’t doing this on a regular basis when I had a PC. One day, my website crashed, and I lost most of what I wrote.  I got a lot of it back (but not all of it) and what’s worse is I lost the “twitter ticker” that counts how many times my posts have been “RT,” retweeted.  You are the brand, and recruiters, and employers alike will look at what you post.   While you are searching for your next job be extra careful to catch the errors.  Find a friend, or a family member who can proof-read for you.

My next, and most important point: in the back of your mind before you write each post add the mental salutation, “Dear Employer”.    Ask yourself, is this something I want a future employer to see?   In a round about way, you can articulate your value proposition with each post.  You can do this without sounding like ‘spam post’.   Be authentic, show some personality, but as I’ve said in previous posts be smart, sound smart.  Never say anything on a social network that you wouldn’t want to see on a bill board the next day.

In essence, job seekers should blog. If done properly, blogging can and will position you as a thought leader in your industry.

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Yesterday, Jessica Miller Merrell hosted HFChat on Twitter.  We discussed how blogging can aid your job search. There were a wide range of sweeping opinions as to whether or not blogging can help, or hinder your job search.  I tend to air on the side of caution in most cases; however, if done right, blogging can put your job search on the fast track.  Last year I wrote a post, “Job seekers, clean up your act.” In it I said, “protect your digital reputation.”  I’m all for being authentic online. As I said in that post, “don’t be authentically stupid.”  Blog smart, and remember anything you say in your blog posts, or on anyone else’s blog posts becomes a permanent record.  Don’t say anything on a social network that you wouldn’t want to see on a billboard the following day.

blogging can move your career forwrd

With that said, I got the last two jobs through my activity on Twitter, Linkedin, and this blog.  This blog served as a showcase for what I know about HR, Recruiting, Social Media and Job Search.  I’m passionate about career development in any form that it takes, and I care deeply about putting Americans back to work.  That is why I started HireFriday.   I’ve gotten clients through blogging.  My digital footprint has served me well.  Your digital footprint can do the same for you.  If you are a job seeker, don’t just start blogging for the sake of blogging. Create a strategy, and develop goals for what you want your blog to do. Consider your audience and write for them. Examine your greatest strengths and expertise, and write about it. Develop your voice, and start writing.

Yesterday, there was one good piece of advice, if you aren’t a good writer, blogging might not be your venue.  However, if you have strong opinions about your industry, and you want to share them, get a friend to proofread, and edit your posts. (I’m single, and don’t have someone sitting in the next room to edit for me which is why you might find little boo-boos in my posts).  If you are uncomfortable writing, maybe video blogging might be a better channel.  Video has better SEO than written blogs anyway, so give it a shot.  There are different types of bloggers, identity bloggers, industry bloggers, and people who write about their hobbies.

This blog is my identity blog.  It’s where I editorialize about issues that I observe going on in my industry.  I often critique what I see, and what I hear.  However, when I was a job seeker, I was very careful to use this blog as a place where I could demonstrate my industry knowledge, and expertise.

The take away from this post is simply this-use your blog to shine a light on what you do best.  Demonstrate your skills, knowledge, and abilities.  Your posts will draw the eyes of the people that hire you, and might just give you a leg up over your competition.  Remember, everyone is watching you, and reading what you say.  Don’t kid yourself about that for a minute.  Stay upbeat, and positive while you are fully engaged in your job search.  If you missed yesterday’s HFChat, and you want the skinny on what everybody said, click here and read the transcript.  I’d like to thank Cyndy Trivella, Tom Bolt, and Steve Levy for being such great moderators of our chat.

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(If this blog song doesn’t crack you up, I don’t know what will

Why do I blog?  Because my heart cries out for a voice.  Before the days of blogs, I wrote copiously in my journal.  Should your blog be like your personal journal?  Heavens no, if it is written for a business-based audience.  Yes, if you are an identity blogger, and maybe if it is your hobby.

Lately, I’ve been writing about distinctly personal matters: self-esteem, spirituality/religion, and things I’d never say in public, or to a group of people I don’t know.  So then, why do I share these things with you?  Because you are my readers.  My audience is primarily comprised of job seekers from the HireFriday Community I founded in February.  HR & Recruting professionals read my blog.  There’s so much controversy about how much information is too much information.

That’s a judgement call.  I say write within the parameters of the interests of your readers, be true to your professional brand.  My brand is HireFriday.  That brand is also Margo Rose the human being, and HRMargo the HR/OD/Recruitment professional.  I can’t separate my audiences.  I could have a different blog for each audience.  However, I choose not to do that.  Rather, I write about what’s on my mind.  I write primarily–editorial opinion pieces about things going on in my industry, and things that are of interest to my HireFriday job seekers (all of whom I love dearly). I strongly encourage the job seekers in the HireFriday Community to blog about their expertise, their strengths, and to use it as a portfolio piece. It’s a great way to be found. It’s a great way for job seekers to establish professional credibility. If I were looking for a job, I’d blog only about professional topics (which I did). Blogging & Social Media channels helped me land my job this year. I have struck out on my own again, and I have more personal freedom to write about what I really want.

Jessica Miller Merrill articulated the following image.  The Mullet.  She said, think of broadcasting your social media message like the style of the mullet, short up front (personal) long in the back (professional).  I love that model because it is accurate, sound advice.  However, my mullet wears bangs, as I tend to share more of my real self, opinions, philosophy up front.  I still share the bulk of my blog for my professional audience.  I also know that my brand is quite personal.  It’s also an acquired taste, it’s not for everyone.

I read a few hundred blog posts a day (I used to teach a speed reading course, so I am blessed to be able to read at lightening speed).  Reading blogs is the best way to learn how to blog.  I was inspired to by by Jory Des Jardins.  She is an identity blogger.  I love the BlogHER website and community she created.  I was again inspired when I attended HRevolution in 2009.  That is where I really learned how to be a blogger.  I made zillions of mistakes.  I still do.  It’s all about falling down, getting back up, falling down, and getting back up again.  That’s how I learn.  I learn most by reading other people’s blogs, attending conferences where people discuss blogging, and following blog chats on twitter.

Blogging is my joy.  I won’t make a living as a blogger, but I will have a place where I can sound off about things that matter most.  My birthday is around the corner, Tuesday, September 21.  I feel so blessed to be a baby boomer who embraces technology.  Blogging is a form of therapy for me.  It is also one of my greatest joys.  My blog is almost 1 year old.  What a miracle.

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Margo Rose Crazy Controversy Sells

Every now and then I wonder why shocktalkradio, shocking blogposts, and controversy sells. I spend hours researching and writing about my guests for my benign blogtalkradio show, Compassionate HR. those blog posts are rarely retweeted. As soon as I write a shock talk post, everyone retweets, and links back to it. Strange. My google analytics spike when I write something slightly mean spirited, and controversial. It’s ironic because I am the Compassionate HR blogtalkradio Host. I am a servant, steward leader. I spend 99% of my time helping others grow, and get HiredFriday.

Yet, my kick-butt posts are read furiously. Why? Is it because people don’t expect it? I really don’t know, but I find it frustrating because I spend no time researching controversial posts. I spend hours researching the meaty posts chocked full of tools and tips you can use.

I grow weary of this sad fact. Particularly when I hear those crazy posts are texted, emailed, and passed on like hot cakes on a yum-yum griddle. People love racy stories. It’s why shocking stories, and bad news is reported voraciously on network news. One day, I hope to present my findings about HireFriday, and Compassionate HR. Let me track back to the denotative definition of the word, Compassion. It means acknowledging suffering, and having a desire to express empathy, and a quest to alleviate suffering. It also expresses the power of equanimity.

Compassion doesn’t sell on my blog. Should I re-think my methodology? I am in the process of developing my new HireFriday website. It promises to be chock full of treats, and tools, and career related gems you can use. It will not be the least bit controversial. Albeit, my job search methodology is a bit unconventional, it is powerful. I have learned so much about career development through my Master’s Degree training, my experience as an outplacement facilitator with an international outplacement firm, and through my own painful career transition back into human resources after my 4 year stint in the Pet Industry.

Pain is a powerful motivator. Pain has been my greatest teacher. Compassion, and empathy are my teachers too. I am a spiritual woman. While my behavior falls short of my goal sometimes, I realize that like my Mother, my personality is an acquired taste. It’s not for everyone. My quirky personality is the result, in part, to the fact that I am in the midst of menopause. My hormones rage at times. I get hot flashes, and post shocking posts reflect that fact. I refuse to take estrogen, because I don’t want to suffer health related risks. My physician suggests that estrogen replacement should be a resort.

So, I will continue to be moody, and get angry and just plain stupid stuff that I never bother me when I am serene. As I grow, learn, and strive to become the woman I want to be, it is my hope to first do no harm. When I do so, I must make restitution immediately.

I now leave you with today’s theme song. It is one of my favorite songs by Aretha Franklin. R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

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