A partner that I hadn't talked to in a few years called me today. At the end of the conversation she asked for an updated resume. Being the snarky type, I sent an e-mail off with a link to this site (although I suppose that I will end up sending a resume).
Is a blog a replacement for a resume or is it something else?
Taking a more careful look at a select few of the sites that I link to, I noticed that having a resume attached to the blog is a hit-or-miss thing. Some people have a very condensed 'resume,' consisting primarily of certifications (the majority). Others have nothing (like me). And a very small subset point to their Wikipedia entry (yes, this is Scoble's entry for "About Me"). This was not a very scientific analysis, but I think that it may highlight that:
1) Putting a recent resume on your blog may make your employer feel as though you are always looking.
2) You have no control over the distribution or use of your resume.
3) Companies, while they may be aware of blogging, do not see it as a replacement for a traditional resume.
4) It takes thought and effort to go through a blog, especially one that is updated daily (or hourly), to figure out the person's skill sets.
5) You can't store a blog in a central Human Resources database for keyword searches, and such.
6) As prevalent as blogs may be, they aren't the primary point for hiring decisions, the resume is still king.
7) If you see post times during 'normal business hours,' will that reflect badly on the blogger?
However, if you have a few people from which to choose, and one has a blog, wouldn't you get a better understanding of the person if they have a blog? Maybe a better idea of how they may interact with your other team members? Isn't that worth something to the hiring manager? Is having a blog a double-edged sword? I don't think that the blog will replace the resume anytime in the near future, there are too many barriers (real and imagined).
Back to the question: "Is a blog a replacement for a resume or is it something else?" It is probably best seen as supplemental information but not as a replacement.
I guess that I have to update that resume. :-)
Comment posted by Martin01/08/2007 11:30:53 AM
Homepage: http://www.martinhumpolec.cz/blog
I should agree with 1. point as I have my CV on my web and time to time someone call me that I probably one to change my employer.
But at the sametime it's fine the ability to read about other people experiences.
Comment posted by Jack Dausman01/08/2007 08:26:52 PM
Homepage: http://www.leadershipbynumbers.com
A few months back, I went through a battery of interviews. I was absolutely amazed that (1) in the course of casual conversation, many of those doing the interviews had never heard of a blog and even more surprised that only one HR person (2) bothered to check my credentials on the internet and look over my blog.
Maybe I make too much of a blog accessibilities after all, I didn't really expect anyone to dig through my old magazine articles. But, the one company that troubled themselves to read my blog, was the one company that was the most interesting. I ended up in a position where I find that I am well suited, versus simply slotted into a gaping need.
Finally, while I think an active blog can be part of a resume, including it does curtail a lot of material which may be interesting (and humorous). I have friends who definitely avoid identifying with their blog.
Comment posted by Gregg Eldred01/08/2007 11:01:38 PM
Homepage: http://www.ns-tech.com/blog/geldred.nsf
@Jack - I can tell you that some people give out their blog address when they shouldn't. Some of the stuff that is posted makes you go "What?" I suppose that is a good way to seperate the wheat from the chaff. I also think that you have nailed it, that HR or the hiring manager wouldn't think to look at blogs for additional info about a person. I don't know if they would even Google the person. And that is too bad.
@Martin - the issue that I have is that you lose control over who has your resume. I suppose that if you are looking for recruiters or headhunters to call, that is a low barrier for them. I'd like to know who has been asking about my credentials. But this is just me.
Comment posted by Kevin Pettitt01/12/2007 01:11:31 AM
Homepage: http://www.lotusguru.com
Definitely a topic I've given a lot of thought to as well. Basically my view is that no, a blog is far from a replacement for a resume, but it is a way to differentiate yourself from others in the stack of resumes.
Personally, I would never put a full-blown resume out for all to see on my blog, precisely because that would send the wrong signals to your current employer/clients. And of course I would agree that you then lose control of who sees the details of your career.
I have been meaning to post an "about me" type page for a while and should probably do that before Lotusphere (make that a million and one things on the list ). I think that is where you can say enough about your work experience to interest potential recruiters without appearing to be looking. It helps if you write articles and/or speak at conferences, because these provide additional excuses/reasons for posting such details.
In the last year or so I have been in touch with numerous recruiters since I generally do consulting and not full-time employment arrangements. In my case, quite a few folks had Googled me and discovered the blog. I would have to say that the blog made a positive impression on recruiters and potential clients, for one simple reason: Anyone can get their resume cleaned up to make them look good, but a blog reveals the "true you".
Your blog can either tell them "this guy's the real deal" and make them trust your resume more, or it can torpedo your chances. Just like overly-revealing Facebook and MySpace pages have come back to haunt recent grads during their job searches, a blog that looks immature or unprofessional can make you look like a risky bet to potential employers.
That Jack has had a different experience could be due to in-house HR types simply being less current on these things than dedicated recruiters. I would say that hoping HR departments won't notice your blogging indiscretions is not a good policy, since you probably don't want to work for an organization that out of touch.
BlogSphere V1.3.1
Join The WebLog Revolution at BlogSphere.net