Archive November 2008
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I know all about blogging on the job. The Plus group, like many companies, sees the value an impassioned tree-frog/employee can bring to the blogosphere. I can discuss matters of importance to me, as a staffing expert, with the rest of the folks at the Plus Group. It also let's the rest of the world know that The Plus Group is always striving to stay on top of the latest trends, hiring practices and staffing news. If you're compelled to blog on the job, or about your job, here are some things to keep in mind. Blogging can greatly influence your job search, your relationship with your current employer, and can even have legal implications. So before you login, read up! Who are you talking to anyway, and why? Basically there are two types of employee blogs: those intended for reading internally, by other employees, and those for the external public. Both are potential landmines, or goldmines, for bloggers and the employers who have them. If your purpose in blogging is to provide a forum for unfiltered communication between employees, then keep it positive, while remaining open and honest. Blogs can provide a great forum for brainstorming, idea sharing and keeping lines of communication open. They can become harmful if they are a repository of whining, sniping and gossip. If potential employers find your blog, they'll see how you've used it to generate new ideas, and encourage employee dialogue without exploiting it as a platform for griping. Be especially careful of blogs intended for reading by the general public. Many companies have developed Blog Writing Guidelines in the aftermath of several lawsuits by high-profile employers like Google and Delta Airlines. Find out if your company has an Employee Blog Guidelines? If not here are few good rules, paraphrased from Yahoo! Personal Blog Guidelines, to abide by: 1. Know your legal liability: If you defame or libel your company or any individual within the company, YOU are responsible. Also know that any confidential, proprietary or trade information is definitely off limits. 2. Be respectful and thoughtful: Rants and diatribes will only hurt your own reputation and tarnish you in the eyes of future employers. Providing context and support for your opinions legitimizes them, and opens the door for more meaningful discussions of your complaints or observations. To simply say "My boss stinks!" or "I love retreats!" doesn't really add anything to the conversation, unless you provide the reasons why. 3. Just the facts ma'am. Don't post based on rumor or hearsay. And if you want to write about something outside your area of expertise, look to a fellow employee who knows more about the topic than you do. By presenting actual facts, you help t clarify communication, not muddy it. And you also avoid the possibility of being libelous. Non-employee Blogs Many bloggers don't talk about work at all. People tend to blog about what they are passionate about. That may be sports, music, pets, politics… the sky's the limit. But if you're searching for a job, you may want to think twice about starting a blog about a controversial or potentially offensive subject. A good guideline is: if you wouldn't want your parent to read your blog, you wouldn't want a prospective employer to read it either. In many cases, employers are forbidden from discriminating on the basis of political views, and can only use information relevant to the position to make their hiring decision. On the other hand, whatever your political views, if you come across as overly negative, or even aggressive, that can be used to gauge whether you are a good fit for the position. Why blog at all then, if it is so risky? Handled in a smart and responsible way, blogging or maintaining a personal website can be a powerful marketing tool. It can demonstrate how well you communicate. It can serve as a chronicle of your achievements, and provide insight into your personality that a resume can't. In today's competitive job market, an applicant needs every tool at their disposal. So keep on blogging. Just be smart about it.
posted by TonyPogo at 11/18/2008 | 0 comments |
I googled you! How the Internet Changes the Job Search Game Part 2I know all about blogging on the job. The Plus group, like many companies, sees the value an impassioned tree-frog/employee can bring to the blogosphere. I can discuss matters of importance to me, as a staffing expert, with the rest of the folks at the Plus Group. It also let's the rest of the world know that The Plus Group is always striving to stay on top of the latest trends, hiring practices and staffing news. If you're compelled to blog on the job, or about your job, here are some things to keep in mind. Blogging can greatly influence your job search, your relationship with your current employer, and can even have legal implications. So before you login, read up! Who are you talking to anyway, and why? Basically there are two types of employee blogs: those intended for reading internally, by other employees, and those for the external public. Both are potential landmines, or goldmines, for bloggers and the employers who have them. If your purpose in blogging is to provide a forum for unfiltered communication between employees, then keep it positive, while remaining open and honest. Blogs can provide a great forum for brainstorming, idea sharing and keeping lines of communication open. They can become harmful if they are a repository of whining, sniping and gossip. If potential employers find your blog, they'll see how you've used it to generate new ideas, and encourage employee dialogue without exploiting it as a platform for griping. Be especially careful of blogs intended for reading by the general public. Many companies have developed Blog Writing Guidelines in the aftermath of several lawsuits by high-profile employers like Google and Delta Airlines. Find out if your company has an Employee Blog Guidelines? If not here are few good rules, paraphrased from Yahoo! Personal Blog Guidelines, to abide by: 1. Know your legal liability: If you defame or libel your company or any individual within the company, YOU are responsible. Also know that any confidential, proprietary or trade information is definitely off limits. 2. Be respectful and thoughtful: Rants and diatribes will only hurt your own reputation and tarnish you in the eyes of future employers. Providing context and support for your opinions legitimizes them, and opens the door for more meaningful discussions of your complaints or observations. To simply say "My boss stinks!" or "I love retreats!" doesn't really add anything to the conversation, unless you provide the reasons why. 3. Just the facts ma'am. Don't post based on rumor or hearsay. And if you want to write about something outside your area of expertise, look to a fellow employee who knows more about the topic than you do. By presenting actual facts, you help t clarify communication, not muddy it. And you also avoid the possibility of being libelous. Non-employee Blogs Many bloggers don't talk about work at all. People tend to blog about what they are passionate about. That may be sports, music, pets, politics… the sky's the limit. But if you're searching for a job, you may want to think twice about starting a blog about a controversial or potentially offensive subject. A good guideline is: if you wouldn't want your parent to read your blog, you wouldn't want a prospective employer to read it either. In many cases, employers are forbidden from discriminating on the basis of political views, and can only use information relevant to the position to make their hiring decision. On the other hand, whatever your political views, if you come across as overly negative, or even aggressive, that can be used to gauge whether you are a good fit for the position. Why blog at all then, if it is so risky? Handled in a smart and responsible way, blogging or maintaining a personal website can be a powerful marketing tool. It can demonstrate how well you communicate. It can serve as a chronicle of your achievements, and provide insight into your personality that a resume can't. In today's competitive job market, an applicant needs every tool at their disposal. So keep on blogging. Just be smart about it.
posted by TonyPogo at 11/7/2008 | 0 comments |
I googled you! How the Internet Changes the Job Search Game Part 1I know all about blogging on the job. The Plus group, like many companies, sees the value an impassioned tree-frog/employee can bring to the blogosphere. I can discuss matters of importance to me, as a staffing expert, with the rest of the folks at the Plus Group. It also let's the rest of the world know that The Plus Group is always striving to stay on top of the latest trends, hiring practices and staffing news. If you're compelled to blog on the job, or about your job, here are some things to keep in mind. Blogging can greatly influence your job search, your relationship with your current employer, and can even have legal implications. So before you login, read up! Who are you talking to anyway, and why? Basically there are two types of employee blogs: those intended for reading internally, by other employees, and those for the external public. Both are potential landmines, or goldmines, for bloggers and the employers who have them. If your purpose in blogging is to provide a forum for unfiltered communication between employees, then keep it positive, while remaining open and honest. Blogs can provide a great forum for brainstorming, idea sharing and keeping lines of communication open. They can become harmful if they are a repository of whining, sniping and gossip. If potential employers find your blog, they'll see how you've used it to generate new ideas, and encourage employee dialogue without exploiting it as a platform for griping. Be especially careful of blogs intended for reading by the general public. Many companies have developed Blog Writing Guidelines in the aftermath of several lawsuits by high-profile employers like Google and Delta Airlines. Find out if your company has an Employee Blog Guidelines? If not here are few good rules, paraphrased from Yahoo! Personal Blog Guidelines, to abide by: 1. Know your legal liability: If you defame or libel your company or any individual within the company, YOU are responsible. Also know that any confidential, proprietary or trade information is definitely off limits. 2. Be respectful and thoughtful: Rants and diatribes will only hurt your own reputation and tarnish you in the eyes of future employers. Providing context and support for your opinions legitimizes them, and opens the door for more meaningful discussions of your complaints or observations. To simply say "My boss stinks!" or "I love retreats!" doesn't really add anything to the conversation, unless you provide the reasons why. 3. Just the facts ma'am. Don't post based on rumor or hearsay. And if you want to write about something outside your area of expertise, look to a fellow employee who knows more about the topic than you do. By presenting actual facts, you help t clarify communication, not muddy it. And you also avoid the possibility of being libelous. Non-employee Blogs Many bloggers don't talk about work at all. People tend to blog about what they are passionate about. That may be sports, music, pets, politics… the sky's the limit. But if you're searching for a job, you may want to think twice about starting a blog about a controversial or potentially offensive subject. A good guideline is: if you wouldn't want your parent to read your blog, you wouldn't want a prospective employer to read it either. In many cases, employers are forbidden from discriminating on the basis of political views, and can only use information relevant to the position to make their hiring decision. On the other hand, whatever your political views, if you come across as overly negative, or even aggressive, that can be used to gauge whether you are a good fit for the position. Why blog at all then, if it is so risky? Handled in a smart and responsible way, blogging or maintaining a personal website can be a powerful marketing tool. It can demonstrate how well you communicate. It can serve as a chronicle of your achievements, and provide insight into your personality that a resume can't. In today's competitive job market, an applicant needs every tool at their disposal. So keep on blogging. Just be smart about it.
posted by TonyPogo at 11/7/2008 | 0 comments |
