Blogging for your CV:DV
Doctor Vee is considering whether or not one should add "blogging" to one's curriculum vitae.
I do mention blogging on my CV, although I do not include the URL unless asked to do so: The Kitchen could be a bone of contention. Last year, I went for a job, just prior to moving to London, and one of the interviewers was a certain Julia Hobsbawn of Editorial Intelligence (and once of Hobsbawn Macaulay—yes, that Macaulay). I was slightly disconcerted when the first question asked was what the URL of my blog was.
I gave it and she replied, "Ah, so you are The Devil's Kitchen. We've been monitoring your blog at EI." It then transpired that the interviewers were sitting with printouts of several posts from The Kitchen. A slightly uncomfortable moment, given that one of the most recent posts had been less than complimentary about the MD's profession.
However, to be fair, the organisation was happy—should I have got the job—for me to carry on blogging, only signing a confidentiality agreement in which I would promise not to write about that organisation.
So, aggressive though this blog is, I don't think that it actually did me any damage in that particular interview. And, indeed, Rich Minx points out that there are, in fact, a good number of skills that blogging gives you which may not spring to mind initially.
As she says, can you think of any others? Creative use of swearing might be one of mine...
The crux of the matter is this. You and I know that blogging can be a pretty worthwhile activity. But what does the person reading my CV think?
It could go either way I guess. I am in a hairy situation because my CV is rather bare. And as excellent as my current workplace is, I am guessing that it will take a bit more than filling shelves to impress potential employers.
The truth is that blogging probably is one of my better achievements. It has certainly been my main extracurricular activity over the past few years. So I think I will throw caution to the wind and stick it on my CV. After all, chances are that they will find it via Google anyway. I am also convinced that my years of blogging has given me lots of skills. That is actual skills, not M4D 5K1LL5.
I do mention blogging on my CV, although I do not include the URL unless asked to do so: The Kitchen could be a bone of contention. Last year, I went for a job, just prior to moving to London, and one of the interviewers was a certain Julia Hobsbawn of Editorial Intelligence (and once of Hobsbawn Macaulay—yes, that Macaulay). I was slightly disconcerted when the first question asked was what the URL of my blog was.
I gave it and she replied, "Ah, so you are The Devil's Kitchen. We've been monitoring your blog at EI." It then transpired that the interviewers were sitting with printouts of several posts from The Kitchen. A slightly uncomfortable moment, given that one of the most recent posts had been less than complimentary about the MD's profession.
However, to be fair, the organisation was happy—should I have got the job—for me to carry on blogging, only signing a confidentiality agreement in which I would promise not to write about that organisation.
So, aggressive though this blog is, I don't think that it actually did me any damage in that particular interview. And, indeed, Rich Minx points out that there are, in fact, a good number of skills that blogging gives you which may not spring to mind initially.
Examples:
- Writing and editing. Yup, you do this. File under ‘Content Management’.
- Time management. Getting into the habit of posting regularly requires being a bit organized and rather dedicated.
- Patience. Building a blog is not an overnight project. Yet here you are, still at it.
- Online advertising. Running affiliate ads on your site? Sponsored posts?
- Analysis. Checking your stats every five minutes to see your traffic and who’s linked to you today?
- Marketing. You promote your site via comments, link trains, directories and more.
- Social networking. You make new contacts and build relationships.
- Coding. You tweak add-ons and colors on your site.
- "Web 2.0". Whatever that means. Put it on your resume, because if you’re blogging you’re a part of it.
- SEO. You try and make your site search engine friendly by considering keywords and titles.
Truth is, if you’re a blogger you’ve probably picked up a truckload of web skills that you might not even be aware of. They all take initiative and creative thinking.
As she says, can you think of any others? Creative use of swearing might be one of mine...
Labels: blogging, DK on the loose, t'interweb
| 4 blogger comments
| links to this post
4 Blogger Comments:
So Devil, it'll remain on your CV when you apply for that job as an EU press officer?
-snigger-
I think if you have a highly successful blog; its rather daft not to include it. After all it shows self motivation, dedication, attention to details and in many cases at least a basic understanding of HTML.
I've got an eponymous blog that is pretty much top for my name on Google (yes yes, of course I Google my own name, as does everyone else with an internet connection), so I think I would have to mention it.
We bloggers whine on about how non-bloggers are unfairly prejudiced against the medium. I think interview time would be the perfect opportunity to do a little bit of evangelising.
I like this post A lot
I had no idea I had picked up these skills
And I had more page views in the last few days than I did in July at the same because I posted up a rather salubrious piece of info that isn't in the public domain about 7/7. Never mind that it was about personal grief and that it was one of the 26 who died in the Piccadilly Tube not far from Rachel but it was time to come clean.
With the full gory truth.
Blogging is all about shameless self promotion and SEO.
And yes I check my site stats regularly because I know that I get read on every continent bar Antarctica.
Maybe not in the same volume as everyone else but you gotta start somewhere after all.
Aint that the truth?
Henry ( not my real name)
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home