In today’s dynamic era, many individuals maintain blogs to chronicle their lives, delve into interests, and discuss diverse topics. Nurturing a blog demands dedication and commitment—traits highly valued by potential employers. However, blogging typically isn’t someone’s primary job responsibility. Thus, the prevalent question arises: should I include my blog on my resume?
On one hand, managing a blog with a substantial readership is undeniably an accomplishment. On the other hand, its inclusion might suggest a lack of emphasis on prior job experiences. As always (I know, I know), there isn’t a definitive answer; it often varies.
Surprisingly, blogging on a resume can bolster your candidacy, despite conflicting opinions. Here are my guidelines for determining when to include your personal blog:
Include your blog on your resume if…
- The overall presentation, formatting, and theme (just the way it looks in general) come off as professional and polished, even if someone were to not read a single word. If you commenced your blog last year and haven’t gotten around to branding, you should reconsider. The initial outward appearance is a critical first impression (I know it’s shallow!).
- The content you create is mostly informational and based on a topic or theme that you are knowledgeable about.
- People already follow you and consider you an expert on your blog’s topic, that’s a good sign that the interviewer or resume reviewer will also think of you as reliable. The actual audience size isn’t as important.
- You’ve been working on the blog for a significant amount of time. Your blog is a representation of you, so only showcase it on your website when it has enough content to make a good impression, and when you are confident that you will stick with blogging for the long term.
- It makes you a stronger candidate for the job you are applying for. A blog tailored to the job you want will likely increase your chances of being offered that position.
Leave your blog off your resume if…
- Your blog contains mostly personal information. It’s essential to maintain a professional persona both in your resume and during interviews. This means that you should think carefully about what you share; Information such as weekend activities or breakfast choices might not be relevant (or worse, could unintentionally give a negative impression). Additionally, if you have any blogs with photos of yourself, be wary of how they are presented. Too many personal pictures or ones that are posed can come across as unprofessional.
- You feel like your blog is good, but not great. Put your best foot forward by ensuring that anything listed on your resume is something you’re proud of. If a resume reader sees a blog listed, they will most likely read it; therefore, only include your blog if it’s up to par with the rest of your resume.
- It’s about a topic that is not appropriate for work (enough said).
- Plus more reasons—You should not include your blog on your resume most of the time. I can’t list all of the reasons here, but sharing more information gives recruiters and interviewer’s more chances to find something they don’t like about you.
I understand if that sounds harsh, but you want to save the majority of your “first impression” for when you meet in person. Giving too much away online takes away from the impact you can make face-to-face.
If you’re undecided about starting a blog for any of the aforementioned reasons, I would advise against it. Many recruiters have a hard time understanding the value unless you’ve gained notoriety or growing your platform. Additionally, it may make you come across as less dedicated to your current occupation.
When you’re deciding whether or not to include your blog on your resume, keep in mind that it should be professional and aligned with the job you want. If you do choose to include it, put it in the “additional experience” section instead of with your primary roles. And don’t forget to mention any big accomplishments, like how many readerships you have or awards you’ve won.
Many people are now debating whether or not to include their blog site on their resume. What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below!
