Are you looking for a job? Then you should be setting up a blog, if you don’t have one already. Having a blog can and will set you apart from other candidates during the hiring process, in a pure millennial style. While many of the elements of a job interview and application don’t depend on you, the candidate, the content of your blog is something you have complete control over.
This article was inspired by my friend’s experience. In 2015, she set up a blog on health and fitness, while she was working in a bank. Her work was not what she was looking, so her job was simply a necessity. After half a month, she created a presence online, using a pen name.
Six months after this, she was noticed by a fitness vlogger and he invited her to participate in a radio debate. Two days after the debate, a large health and fitness item manufacturer contacted her via her blog, offering her a job as a marketer. Needless to say, she took the opportunity and she’s been working there since.
1. How can having a blog help you
I am not saying having a blog is going to help you skip the job searching process and wait for companies to contact you. But I am saying that having a blog and an online presence can add credibility to your name and it shows the interviewer that you are serious about the field you are entering. They also get to see how you think, which helps them decide if you’re a good fit for the company.
But I am saying that having a blog and an online presence can add credibility to your name and it shows the interviewer that you are serious about the field you are entering. They also get to see how you think, which helps them decide if you’re a good fit for the company.
2. A blog shows your knowledge on the industry
Having a blog in the niche you want to work shows the interviewer how much experience you have in the niche. Your resume is how you should be proving your experience, but if you have never worked in the field, the only way to prove that you know what you are talking about is your blog.
As you network, you will meet people in the niche, which is another valuable asset when you are applying for a job. Knowing the right people can alone land you your dream job.
3. Your blog can individualize you
HR managers read dozens of resumes during the hiring process. They won’t remember most of them, but they will remember the stories on your blog.
This is because your own voice and personal stories are easier to remember than a couple of previous jobs in a resume. Your blog helps the interviewer get to know you before actually meeting you. If you don’t know how to start a blog, here is a simple guide, which is going to help you set up your blog and set yourself apart from your peers.
Choose the topic of the blog
Choosing the topic of the blog is not as easy as it seems. For example, if you are interested in fashion, it’s not enough to write on general fashion-related stuff. You need to define yourself by choosing a niche.
This step is the most important, so consider it carefully. Before setting your own blog, you should know what you want to say to readers and you should have been reading other fashion blogs.
Start writing
Before you actually set your blog, you need to write several articles. This will help you find your voice and it will give you the time you need to actually set up the site and learn to use it. If you don’t write the blogs in advance, you will find yourself trying to learn how to use the site platform while having to write the articles.
Deal with the logistics
When you set up a blog you have to find a name for it, register the domain, buy a hosting plan and actually build the site. Finding a name is another hard task because it needs to reflect who you are and what you are blogging about. When you find the right name, register the domain. The next step is investing in an inexpensive hosting plan. Like the domain, the hosting needs to be renewed yearly.
Build your blog
Depending on the platform you chose, you now need to set up your account and start building the site. The latter can be done in two ways: by hiring a programmer or by using a free website builder. Because we are talking about a beginner’s blog, I would choose the latter, investing in a programmer’s services later on.
With this last step, your site should be now up and working. Start posting articles and make sure you are promoting each of them on the social media channels. Network with other bloggers in your niche and keep writing in advance, so you are never short of new articles.
Featured photo credit: Unsplash via hd.unsplash.com
