I have been thinking that "blogs are the new CV" for quite some time. Back in 2006 I wrote this post — and the concept has stayed with me since then. When I was hiring staff while working for Creata, the very first thing that I would do when looking at a resume was to scan the web for footprints. If a developer claimed to have worked on open source projects, then I wanted proof. If a strategist claimed to have led the creative planning for a brand, then I wanted to know who they knew.
My new post over at SocialMediaJobs.com.au today is an extension of my original post, with particular tips on claiming your online identity. And if you have any other tips, I would love to hear them!
Commonwealth Office has a really good set of blogs and really gets the use of tools … http://helpntips.com/
Gavin, I couldn’t agree more. Your online presence is both your brand and your CV. I’ve blogged about it more than once.
On blogs and CVs – http://acidlabs.org/2007/04/20/blog-resum/
On personal brand value and employment – http://www.acidlabs.org/2008/07/09/your-best-employees-are-on-loan/
Thanks for some more great thinking with socialmediajobs.com.au!
Gavin, I think blogging can also be very helpful for students when they begin job-hunting. Having a well-written, well thought out blog can distinguish a graduate from among all the others who may also have good grades.
Agree, David. When I hire people, I always check their profile online. If
they have nothing, then I have little interest in interviewing them.
As an employer, I would say “yes”. Many employers will perform a Google search on applicants in any event, so your online identity is going to be evident. If your blog is relevant to the job you are applying for, even tangentially, I think it is worth including, together with a couple of posts that you think showcase the blog best. After all, you have nothing to hide and it may seem odd if the employer has checked you out and you don’t include your blog on your cv.
Of course, at Nature we are actively looking for people interested in communicating science, and a blog is some evidence that the candidate has these interests (all candidates say that they are interested in wider communication than between fellow-specialists, but few show evidence of that fact. One big advantage of blogs is that you can show your talents even if you have not been published in a general publication.)
I understand what you write about your blog as evidence of “research seriousness and depth”. However, I believe (and it is just a belief, not based on knowledge) that a blog is an asset. It isn’t just about popularisation, but about showing how you write, clarity of thought, how you communicate ideas, and so on. I think it would be a nice opportunity, as part of an interview process, for the candidate to explain to an uncomprehending interviewer why their blog isn’t only about popularisation (not that there is anything wrong with that! To the contrary.)
If you tag your blog posts according to their subject, you can always provide URLs with the relevant tags for the purpose of a particular job application. Or, some people have several blogs for different functions, for example professional and personal.