Why Job Seekers Should Be Blogging - CareerEnlightenment.com

Get EngagedConnect with your readers by starting conversations in blog postsâ€" ask questions of your  readers or solicit their opinions on different topics. Comments boxes are excellent venues for refining  your position, further explaining ideas that are tangential to the main idea of a post, and debating  points, just be careful about how you handle sensitive subjects. Maintain conversations by replying to  comments, and continue the discussion on Twitter, potentially pulling a whole new audience.Take a StandThere’s nothing wrong with having a strong opinion. In fact, this can be an asset in many  professions. Future employers or clients will see in your blog that you know how to back up your  opinions with facts and that you can effectively persuade others to share those opinions. Don’t be afraid  to voice your opinion, but be ready to back it up with facts and figures.Be ProfessionalYour blog is not the place to display photos of yourself in compromising situations. It’s   as crucial a part of your resume as your list of previous jobs. You can use social media to control your  personal profile if you pay attention to what you post and to what’s posted about you. Be committed,  be fascinating, be passionateâ€"but be professional.Practice! The more you write, the more your “voice” will develop. This voice will enable you to build  up a community of readers whose responses will help to shape the direction and tone of future posts.  Whether you’re showcasing your writing, photography, or anything else, practice is the only way to  improve.Rinse and Repeat. A blog and the community surrounding it cannot be built overnight. It takes  commitment on your part to keep the blog going, supplying it with fresh content and visuals, making  sure outbound links stay current and paying attention to comments.A blog is a permanent display of your skills, your technical knowledge and your courage. It’s also a  tangible example that you can commit to building a project over time. It’s an ever-changing business  card that grows with you, showing your talent and passion.Amelia Hadfield is a recent university graduate and freelance writer, currently working with  UK promotional gifts distributor Ideasbynet  on  their  personal branding series. This resource helps guide job seekers through the ins and outs of developing an online personal brand.