That’s right, I just used “blog” as a verb, like “google” or “text.” It’s been long enough now that blogging has become an acceptable part of our online experiences. We read blogs, learn something from them, and leave comments almost every day.

But there are still so many mistakes people make when they attempt it if they attempt it. Inconsistent frequency of posts, using inside jokes that only a few people understand, and failing to break up the post into smaller manageable chunks are just a few mistakes.

When done right, your blog may be the difference between you and another job candidate. I have seen this over and over again in my practice. And despite the evidence, very few job seekers take advantage of this affordable way of making a splash. Are you going to separate yourself from the competition and start a blog?

Here are 5 reasons that blogging is going to help you find a job:

  1. You show you are intelligent: Even if you have a killer résumé, hiring managers still doubt you, as they should. More than 20 percent of résumés contain flat-out lies. So you might look smart on paper … but a blog is going to demonstrate you really ARE smart. This reduces perceived risk and makes it easier for hiring managers to respect you.
  2. You show that you know how to write: When I graduated from Brown University in 2000, our keynote speaker told all of us that despite the open curriculum, we are expected to know how to do just two things when we leave school: To Think and To Write. I can’t name a job that doesn’t require writing skills, whether internally or externally. You will write emails, memos, presentations, or sales copy. A blog will show your new company that you are up to the task.
  1. You demonstrate that you are motivated: Everyone goes into a job interview promising high performance and passion. But when that flame burns out after three months on the job, that new hire becomes a liability — a very costly hiring mistake. Alleviate your hiring manager’s anxiety by showing that you are who you say you are — that you care about this work enough to research and write about it at least twice a week.
  2. You have something to say: Very few hiring managers want to hire “yes” men. They are looking for co-pilots, for creative tension, for dynamics in the office. Even if a hiring manager doesn’t agree with your opinion, at least you had one and had the courage to voice it. Not only does this demonstrate self-confidence, but you also differentiate yourself from other candidates in a non-competitive way.
  3. You are a leader in a community: When you blog consistently, obtain some Google page rank, and spark discussions in your comments, you begin to look like an expert. In marketing, there is no force more powerful than social proof. Comments on your blog make you look like that charismatic kid in high school who always had people buzzing around him. Invariably, the thought will cross the hiring manager’s mind, “Well, if other people listen to this guy, then he must be legit.”

If you blog and would like to get more comments and credibility, consider joining the Comment Co-op where bloggers support each other by giving out comments and links: https://careerenlightenment.com/blogger-co-op