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Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Blogging for a Job

Mirty asked something in passing in the comments to Haveil Havalim which I found interesting. First,
PsychoToddler said...

Wow, this is like a full time job for you!

December 19, 2005 1:40 PM

A little later,
Ezzie said... PT - Well, ummm... I guess it kind of is. Which reminds me: I need a job!!
Which resulted in
Mirty said...

This [ed: HH] is great. Are you really looking for work? I thought you were in school? (I know, one can be working and in school...)

December 19, 2005 11:28 PM

And was followed by
Ezzie said... Mirty - actually, that's a good question: I'll be out of school, but still have 2-3 classes left. I'll be able to work full-time: Perhaps I'll post my resume - what do you think?
So - what do you all think? Should I wrote a post on the blog, asking for a job? And should I post my resume as well? It's not as if I am anonymous, and I would readily give out my resume to anyone who might be able to help me find a good job - so would this really be any different? I don't think so, but perhaps someone else has a good reason.

Hey - if great J-blogger Meryl Yourish can look for a job this way, why can't I?

16 comments:

  1. It is one way, but if you're concerned that your views may be held against you may want to think twice about posting your resume. You're also not likely to get Chris Muir to assist you :-)

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  2. I think it's a bad idea. I wouldn't want a potential employer to take my daily musings regarding life or whatever into account when making a hiring decision about me.

    (Although, if you are looking for a job with the RNC, this blog may be your ticket!)

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  3. Not unless you're trying to get a job writing blogs. Neil Kramer did (I think it's a paying job) with Blogebrity.

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  4. Ezzie,

    I have to agree that you are playing with fire by notifying a potential employer about your blog.

    They may not be real excited about your having one and as was said who knows what impact your views have on them.

    It could be good, bad or indifferent, but why take the chance.

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  5. Wow - thanks for all the responses!

    I'm actually surprised: I would have expected more people to say they think it's a good idea. So far it seems it's 5-0 "No".

    I will point out a few things, for devil's advocate purposes: (response to whose statement in parantheses)

    (David) I'm not too worried about people holding my views against me. I'm very open about where I stand on things (though of course with common sense), and in general I'd say the accounting field tends to lean the same way as I do about most things.

    (Krum) In a way, I actually would. I'd say that you probably point out more problems than anyone else with my writing [which I very much appreciate - keeps me in line and deflates my ego], and even those aren't too bad. I tend to avoid talking about my personal life, save for a few funny stories here and there - no putting down of others. And LOL on the RNC - though I'd much prefer DoD... :)

    (PT) Now how cool would that be? Getting paid to blog...

    (Jack) ...gotta run - be back later!

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  6. It's all about connections here, I guess there is no harm in posting your CV. Hey, if it works, I might try that too ;)

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  7. As an employer I would worry that you'd spend MY time blogging. Best to keep your private life private.

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  8. Actually, Blogging for Business is getting pretty hot, and some employers may be looking for a person with blogging skills.

    Here's a link to someone who knows a lot more about it than I do, and who might be very helpful:

    http://thisisgoingtobebig.typepad.com/

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  9. [continued from above] (Jack) I understand the concept of "why risk it", but I'll tell you why I think it generally reflects well: I put the blog on the top of my resume, and went to an accounting :::drawing blank::: that our school hosted. A couple of the firms actually asked me about the blog, and seemed quite positive about it. I saw an article a few months ago that talked about blogs and resumes, and actually felt that if you have a "normal" blog (not one that discusses why you want to kill yourself etc) firms look at it positively.

    (Mirty) Very interesting point. I wonder if the reason so many people blog from work is because they feel limited in what they can and can't say and need that outlet. It might also be a reason companies might like it: The people look at it and subconsciously think, "That's exactly what I wanted to say a couple hours ago!"

    (IfYouWillIt) Hey, someone who's all for it! I wonder if that's a generational difference: The bloggers who grew up when computers were foreign, despite their own proclivity for computers, (rightfully) feel that the workplace is/may still not (be) accepting of "new" ideas like blogs, while the younger generation thinks it's this great new concept - your blog is just another way of expressing how you're different from the crowd.

    (Mommy) LOL. I was thinking of writing that I bet I know what you'll say... :) I'd be willing to sign that I would not blog about my job (actually, many companies already require this), and that I would work at work not blog.

    (Irina) Interesting! But how could it catch on for enough money? Can a blogger bring that much more to the table than any other blogger that it's worth it? Ads are one thing, if you're popular. I guess I will have to read more about it.

    Thanks all for your input so far, would love to hear more! I'm still debating myself, though I think I know how I'm leaning for now.

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  10. Oh! "Fair" It was an accounting fair. That's what goes where it says :::drawing blank:::. Duh.

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  11. No, what I meant was that blogs are often use to promote whatever business you're in, not necessarily the company in general, but issues that are important to a job. For instance, one PR company, has its own official blog, which includes personal information of the CEO, but also ideas on how to improve in the various areas. I know that the blogging employees of that company use their blogs to post about various issues the company deals with, drawing the attention of the public at large. Of course, given such freedom, they tend to be very satisfied with the place, and that's why they write about it in very positive terms... Blogging for Business is even taught as a class at my university. I understand that issues of confidentiality may arise, and a company might limit what you write about your duties in that company, but other than that, I think it's a great idea. If you check out the link and get in touch with the person, he might explain how you can use your blog for promoting yourself to businesses rather than scaring them away. A time will come, I'm sure, when even the most conservative of companies, will see the usefulness of some form of blogging, and adapt it to their own needs.

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  12. Ah - I understand now. It makes sense that a PR company would be the first to utilize blogs for their purposes, and it's incredibly smart to use blogs as a way of getting employee feedback, and as you said those employees will generally tend to be more satisfied.

    Thank you very much!

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  13. No problem, good luck with your job search! ; )

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  14. Perhaps your readers could give you some pointers on job hunting. How many resumes did they send out? How many interviews did they have? Pointers on the interview process? Your writing skills are good, any suggestions for jobs utilizing all your skills? Hmmmmm, math, sports, writing, cooking, baking. Your personality is such that people find you very likeable and you get along well with everyone. What more could a mother want?

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  15. Irina - Thanks!

    Ma - Good suggestions! Maybe I'll turn Blogging for a Job into a series.

    And... Awwww, shucks, Ma! :) All you left out was "younger, wiser" ;)

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  16. Mo - I will not lie about anything, but that was funny...

    The liberal capital argument is a good one, though even in NYC accountants tend to be conservative. I've thought about this before...

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