But this post isn't about me and my career - it's about you and how blogging can enhance your CV. One of the reasons I have my job is thanks to my blog and I always find it surprising when bloggers don't shout about their blog on their CV. You put so much time and passion into it, so why not let your employers know? I've put together a whopping 15 reasons why your blog can enhance your CV, whether you want to work in marketing like me, or another industry:
1. Dedication
Blogging is hard work. It takes time and although many people start a blog, far less keep it going. Having worked on a blog for a good length of time shows you can start something and stick at it - a great thing for employers to see!
2. Creativity
Blogging, by its very nature, is creative. From designing your blog to taking photographs, or coming up with ideas for posts or creative ways to fit a brief from a PR, creativity is something which comes naturally to bloggers.
3. Networking
When I started blogging, I would never have thought that I would ever be brave enough to be able to go into an event, knowing nobody there, and network - but thanks to blog events, this has become second nature. This confidence is vital for the workplace, and also helps with interviews.
4. Time-management
Blogging is definitely a time-consuming hobby but this is a huge positive on your CV. I often say that blogging is like a full-time job by itself, so balancing a blog with other commitments is a difficult and impressive thing!
5. An eye for design
Whether you have designed your own blog or not, all bloggers need some kind of eye for design, from framing photographs to choosing and developing a blog theme. An eye for design is great for a variety of jobs and a useful skill to add to your CV.
6. Coding
I can't pretend that I am the world's best coder, but as a blogger, you can easily forget that a blogger's 'basic knowledge' of coding is better than the average applicant who has never seen HTML in their life. Coding is becoming a must for many industries, so a basic knowledge of HTML is a huge plus to talk about to any potential employers.
7. Social media
Chatting on Twitter and updating your Instagram might be second nature to you, but it's often easy to forget that even Facebook is only 9 years old! Social media is still a rapidly evolving platform which, let's face it, still seems to scare some companies and proving that you understand social media is great on your CV.
8. Copy-writing
The ability to write well is one of the obvious benefits of writing a blog for your CV and demonstrating your ability to write is vital for a huge variety of jobs. It also shows your ability to write in different ways; a long blog post is very different to a tweet and shows that you can adapt your writing to different platforms and audiences.
9. Email Etiquette
This sounds like a weird one but bear with me - sending a good email is an art form! The ability to send a well-worded email is a skill and blogging means that you are used to sending emails to a variety of people, including PRs and clients.
10. Knowledge of the competition
As I work in the fitness industry, writing about fitness on my blog has huge benefits as I have worked with some of the competition on my blog. This knowledge of the competition is invaluable for identifying strengths and weaknesses in the company and industry you want to work for.
11. Deadlines
The ability to hit deadlines is definitely an underrated one! Blogging allows you to show that you can hit targets and deadlines - something which is particularly important to prove if you are applying for your first full-time job.
12. Pitching
Something I intentionally started doing when I began applying for jobs was to pitch to brands. I hadn't been brave enough to do this before last year but I found it was a brilliant thing to talk about in interviews - I could prove that I had successfully pitched myself to a brand and successfully created a partnership.
13. Show You Are In Demand
As well as pitching to brands, blogging also shows that collaborations work both ways. As much as employers were impressed by my ability to pitch to brands, the fact that brands approached me seemed to really impress them - it shows you are in demand and if brands rate your blog, then employers rate you!
14. Knowledge of Trends
A mild addiction to Twitter and an obsession with current trends means that having a blog ensures you are always ahead of the curve. We bloggers are often the first to know when the latest Instagram update is due and how to make the most of it - something which is invaluable for employers.
15. Something Different
Finally, blogging is something different. In the blogging world, it might not feel like blogging is unusual or special but to employers, it really stands out. Blogging has been discussed in every interview I've ever had as it stands out on your CV as something different. I always say my blog is an extension of my CV, and if you see it as this, it adds a whole new dimension to your application for any job.
Phew! I hope I've shown just how useful running a blog can be to your career, as well as a hobby. There are definitely many more ways your blog can enhance your CV - I'd love to see some more suggestions in the comments. Do you include your blog in your CV?
Jess
