Blogging will help you get your next job, but only if you do it right. Let’s talk about wrong first. We all know that a blog featuring adult content or pictures of you drinking with your buddies can get you in trouble, but even innocuous topics like your random political musings can cause you serious problems.
Mark Horstman, co-founder of Manager Tools, says that potential employers will go out of their way to find your blog. When they do, simple things like bad spelling and grammar can count against you.
Some bad writing in your blog about cooking won’t be a show stopper, but if the decision is between you and one other person than your poor grammar might be all the company needs to go with that other person. Companies want to hire people who will represent them well.
What can you do?
- Assume potential employers will read your blog
- Always write well and professionally
- Keep it safe for work
- Keep your non-work blog separate from your professional blog
- Proofread everything