Great post, Mark. I have been trying to convince my son-in-law to become more involved in social media as he hunts for a better position that will use his skills in bio-mechanical engineering and software design. I will encourage him to read this and take these points to heart. 

In a very competitive market, this might make the difference, especially if the competition isn’t on board! 

This is good stuff. As someone who teaches at the college level, I try to stress to my students the importance of blogging. When I was growing up, we were told that those of us who took Spanish would have an edge in the job market. Now I believe that SM and blogging are the edge for job seekers. It’s becoming that HUGE intangible that sets us apart.

Love it! One of my communication classes required that we start a blog and our assigned writing assignment were to be posted onto our it. Some of my best writing was done on that blog.
Mark I remember another blog post you did about how blogging was good for critical thinking, now this post gives you another reason to blog.

Great article Mark and I am living proof that this is spot on.  When I was laid off from Microsoft in May of ’09, I re-dedicated myself to blogging regularly.  Not only did my blog play a significant role in me  getting re-hired back at Microsoft (per feedback from my interviewers), it also laid the foundation for me working towards my current role and contributing to me getting that role as well. Blogging is an incredibly valuable use of time for anyone regardless of their background.  It can provide a a much deeper view into what you bring to the table then a resume can ever bring. 

Great Sherrilll!  Thanks for taking the time to comment today! 

Good luck Cedar.  Hope it works out for you soon. 

Great point! Thanks for the idea!

Good job Jack. So happy you are getting results from your efforts!

Great advice!  Although I am not seeking employment (I’m a stay at home mom), I blog as my creative outlet.  However, I’ve always had it in the back of my mind that if I do go back to the (paid) workforce, my blog fills up the void on my resume…I now have “something to show for” (other than my cute kids!).  My elementary school kid also blogs now…he’ll be ahead of the game when he graduates!

That is a superb point Carol.  Reason number 8!!! Thank you.

I know plenty of refuge workers who found it imperative having a blog about faeces. You look like another one of these old hats trying to be ‘cool and hip’ by embracing twitter. Looks to me like your a marketeer that basis your work on misleading article titles and, well, faeces.

Great advice! As an employer running an eCommerce site we are often looking for applicants who have blogging skills. Regardless of weather what position they are applying for, we love it when an applicant can also write a guest blog or two!

Hi Mark, 
I am a journalism student at the University of Oregon. I am also starting to think about potential jobs after I graduate and all the necessary steps to be successful. In one of my current classes we are starting a public relations blog. Blogging is a very new concept to me, there is so much to learn! I like your tip that a blog gives you the ability to show others what your made of. I hope to continue blogging, I plan to take all your advice and to put them into action. After all, tip number four says blogging may be an expectation now. This post really inspires me to be a better writer and journalism student. Thank you for your tips, maybe they can help me find a job after June. 

Thank you for providing this piece of knowledge. Really impressed after reading this. 

Another reason why you’d want to start blogging is to improve your writing skills.  If you’re new to the scene your first blogs probably won’t be your best, but it’s a learning process.
As you’ve mentioned, write about stuff you know and you’re good at.  If you don’t know all the details yet, first do some research, next think about what you want to tell the world and how, then start writing.
Also, read other blogs on your favorite topic.  You’ll quickly distinguish the really good ones from the others (yes, like in all things in life, quality and writing style is different from blog to blog).  By reading blogs that you like, you learn as well!
And don’t give up, keep writing and your posts will become better and better. Practise means skill improvement

Who do you think an employer will choose: someone with heaps of writing experience (and online evidence to prove it) or someone who never wrote anything except a resume?

Well said. if I was recruiting somebody you can bet I would be reading their blog!

I agree, Grat post! Blogging is a great way to geberate discussion within a topic that interests you. Also, activites like blogging and tweeting are great tools to make yourself visible on the internet and to employers

Great post – thank you for all the wonderful tips! I’ve wanted to start blogging but I just don’t know where to start. I have no idea what to write about because I feel like it’s all already been covered/addressed..