Think of the word “blog” and what comes to mind? Mommy bloggers?
People posting funny cat videos? Well, no more. Today’s savvy job
seekers are putting their skills to the test and blogging their way to
success and job opportunities. Here’s why a blog can get you your next
job.
1. It’s your resume, only better: Everyone has a resume.
But a blog allows you to highlight the skills on your resume, times
ten. For example, if you’re a writer, you can flex your writing muscles
and post examples of your creative writing. Even if you’re a tax
accountant, you can write your thought-provoking opinions on some of the
new tax laws or add a testimonial from a happy client. Just be sure
what you write is accurate and well-supported.
2. It gives you a positive digital footprint:
Whenever you apply for a job, the first thing a recruiter will do is
investigate you online. Having a blog will give potential employers a
fuller (and positive) picture of who you are and how you carry yourself,
both personally and professionally. And unlike being tagged in an
unflattering — and public — image of yourself on Facebook, your blog
contains content that you can completely control to project yourself in
the best light possible.
3. It helps you build a network: Employers are not
only looking for employees who bring knowledge and a superior skill set
to the table, but they also want someone who is well connected. So while
you might have 500+ connections on LinkedIn, having a blog that has a
dedicated readership shows that you know how to create — and keep —
connections, both in the digital world and the real world.
4. It keeps you current — and sharp: If you’ve been
scanning and searching the Internet for job postings for a while, it’s
easy to let your skills slip a little. Blogging will not only keep your
knowledge current, but it will also keep your skills sharp as you create
cool new content for your readers on a consistent basis. It can also
help you stand out as a career expert in your industry.
5. It makes you interesting to employers: When
hiring managers read resumes every day, it can get really boring, really
fast. If you have a blog that represents not only your skills but also
(hello!) your personality, that makes you stand out more than the other
seekers who submitted their resumes on fine linen watermarked paper.
Suddenly, you become a person — and a possible job candidate they’ll
call in for an interview.
Creating and customizing a blog makes you attractive to potential
employers. It will help set you apart from other candidates and give you
that added edge in finding a job.
Showing posts with label Business. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Business. Show all posts
7 Social Media Tips for CEOs
Businesses can no longer afford to have top leaders sit on the social media sidelines, a new study finds.
More than three-quarters of executives worldwide believe it is a good idea for CEOs to participate in social media, the research from public relations firm Weber Shandwick and research partner KRC Research found.
The study identified a wide array of benefits that come with top executives who are socially active online. More than 70% of those surveyed said CEO sociability increases information-sharing throughout the business, improves company reputation, demonstrates innovation, humanizes the company and improves business results.
"CEOs are now expected to be chief content providers for their companies," said Leslie Gaines-Ross, Weber Shandwick's chief reputation strategist. "Social media is not only an efficient and engaging way to relay information but is also linked in executives' minds with being a better leader."
The research revealed that CEOs who aren't using social media aren't necessarily being antisocial. Half of CEOs who don't participate in social media are already communicating with employees through company intranets, while more than 60% make themselves visible to external constituents on their company websites.
"CEOs must strategically utilize the right digital platforms that advance their communications — ranging from their own intranet and website to social network pages and feeds to video and image-sharing platforms," said Chris Perry, global president of Weber Shandwick's digital practice.
As part of the study, researchers developed a profile of the most highly social CEOs, which includes these elements:
Photo: Twitter CEO Dick Costolo. Image via Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
More than three-quarters of executives worldwide believe it is a good idea for CEOs to participate in social media, the research from public relations firm Weber Shandwick and research partner KRC Research found.
The study identified a wide array of benefits that come with top executives who are socially active online. More than 70% of those surveyed said CEO sociability increases information-sharing throughout the business, improves company reputation, demonstrates innovation, humanizes the company and improves business results.
"CEOs are now expected to be chief content providers for their companies," said Leslie Gaines-Ross, Weber Shandwick's chief reputation strategist. "Social media is not only an efficient and engaging way to relay information but is also linked in executives' minds with being a better leader."
The research revealed that CEOs who aren't using social media aren't necessarily being antisocial. Half of CEOs who don't participate in social media are already communicating with employees through company intranets, while more than 60% make themselves visible to external constituents on their company websites.
"CEOs must strategically utilize the right digital platforms that advance their communications — ranging from their own intranet and website to social network pages and feeds to video and image-sharing platforms," said Chris Perry, global president of Weber Shandwick's digital practice.
As part of the study, researchers developed a profile of the most highly social CEOs, which includes these elements:
- Use an expansive set of social tools: Hyper-social CEOs realizesociability goes beyond dropping messages into a Twitter or other microblog feed. World-class sociability requires a strategically crafted plan for driving the company's content across several channels.
- Keep a blog: Highly social CEOs see the value in long-form content creation as a way of giving their perspectives context, meaning and depth.
- Leverage the website: These leaders realize that the website remains "digital ground zero" for company information-seekers and offers a platform for content to be delivered in multiple formats.
- Self-author: By taking a DIY approach. Their frequent postings influence their determination to author everything themselves, although they probably take input from their marketing and communications executives.
- Be forward-looking: These CEOs intuitively understand that technology and social media are the future of content distribution and they want to be part of this communications revolution.
- Be spontaneous yet not too informal: Socially adept CEOs maintain the formality of their office but let stakeholders know that they can react quickly and seize opportunity.
- Engage stakeholders. These CEOs see the value in sociability and use it to reach out to a wide portfolio of stakeholders.
Photo: Twitter CEO Dick Costolo. Image via Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
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