Why Blogging Can Give You an Edge in Employment

All things being equal can blogging give you a distinct edge in employment? As an employer myself, I think the answer is a definitive yes. Let’s see the reasons why.

When a blogger mentions his blog in his resume you get another way to know about him and to evaluate him. A blogger is a known quantity from his blog. All things being equal that alone can weigh in favor of a blogger, a point well expounded in innvovationzen.

Having a well read blog automatically indicates that he can communicate well which is a definite asset for any employer. Many good employees cannot be useful for the company because of lack of effective communication skills. Even a blog unrelated to his specialty for which you are hiring can provide tons of information about the blogger.

Today almost every employer Google’s about a potential candidate, especially for senior positions. Having a blog can easily increase your perceived popularity on the internet as well as provide him with more information about your capabilities.

The overall theme of the blog matters too. Suppose you are hiring a software developer who has a well read software related blog, you know that he is definitely interested in his profession and is just not another cog in the wheel for whom your cherished product / project is “just a job”. If his blog is popular you may have a potential goldmine in your hands. Also you can get a direct feel of his capability from the contents of his blog.

A popular blogger in your team can do wonders for your company’s public relations. Robert Scoble single-handedly de-demonized Microsoft for the rest of the world. Jeremy Jawodny is literally the human face of Yahoo while Matt Cutts is the human face and mouthpiece for Google. Each of them have done or are doing wonders for their respective companies. When I think Google, I think Matt, same goes with Jeremy-Yahoo association too. In reality they aren’t probably nearly as important as their perception goes, however they do communicate the most through their blogs. In today’s world perception matters a lot.

There is a flip-side too. A popular blogger making a decent income from his blog will always compare your job with the prospect of full-time blogging. More importantly he may sometimes be inclined to blog in company time. Another risk is that he may unintentionally reveal information about the company that you are not comfortable to share with world at large or your shareholders. However all of the above can be easily addressed with clear upfront communication with the potential employee / blogger about your expectations and with a clearly written blogging policy for employees.

In conclusion I think a well written blog, even if it is not popular, can give a distinct edge over other candidates.