Blogging for Job Seekers
A blog is a type of website people use to share information in the form of journal-style “posts.” The word blog comes from weblog. Blogs are a place where people write to express opinions and share subject matter expertise. If you use a blog to help your job search, follow the tips below.
Getting Started
First, choose a place to host your blog. You can use a blogging website or even set up your own domain just for the blog. However, to set up a blog site, you’ll need to pay for a company to host it. You will also need to install a blogging software on the server hosting the site, which can be confusing if you aren’t a technical person. Because of this, a blogging service may be the easiest route. If you own a domain, many of the operating systems provide a specific location for your blog.
If you’d like to write long, formal posts, try utilizing a service like Blogger or WordPress. If your ideal blog tends to be more short-form and informal, try Tumblr.
Once you’ve set up your account, follow these tips:
- Use the same profile picture you use on all of your social media accounts. This will help create your brand.
- Fill in the “About” section of your blog using career field keywords.
- Add links to your social media accounts.
- Add a static page that has your resume information and a PDF copy of your resume. A static page is used to inform visitors of certain information right away, without having to dig through your posts. The page remains unchanged that visitors see before they see your blog post feed.
Writing Your Blog
Now that you’ve set up your blog, it’s time to write some posts! As you write, keep these tips in mind:
- Write posts that express your opinions on career-related subjects; e.g. customer services, accounting practices, how to use a tool.
- Write about new ideas. How would you improve a standard practice in your industry?
- Share your opinion on others’ posts. Remember to give them full credit and link to the original article.
- Feature others. Write about the best practices that you find in your industry. Also, do company research to prepare for an interview.
- Stay positive! By keeping a positive attitude, you increase your chances of new employment.
- Schedule writing time in your calendar. This will help keep your postings consistent. It also ensures your readers to expect new content from you. After all, keeping an audience is as important as gaining one.
- Pin the image and share your blog posts on your social media accounts.
- Searching Blogs
In addition to writing your blog, search out similar industry blogs. Reading company blogs gives you a feel for their culture, products, and methods.
Provide positive comments and feedback. Also remember to link back to your blog when possible. This may open you up to new opportunities, including guest blogging requests or even a job interview!
Next Steps
Find out more about job searching with other social media platforms in our Social Media Guide.
Blogging for Job Seekers