Today I received an email from one of the advertisers on the ProBlogger Job Boards. They reflected back to me that they’d had a lot of ‘low quality’ job applications and made some suggestions for those looking to apply for a blogger job.
I’ll include their suggestions below.
Let me say that I get a variety of feedback from advertisers on the job boards. Most tell me that they get great applications and generally quickly fill jobs (some end up hiring more than one blogger because they get so many good applicants) – but mixed in with them are always blogger job applications that they immediately disqualify due to poor quality.
Essential reading for all those applying for blogger jobs should be – how to apply for a blog job where I give 11 tips on applying for job board positions. However let me share with you the three points that the advertiser that I mentioned above made in their feedback about problems that they saw applications having (I’ve put their points in quotations and added a couple of comments of my own:
“Grammar and spelling – should go without saying, but we saw way too many applicants with poor grammar and spelling. Get someone to double check before sending.”
It staggers me that bloggers would not work hard to communicate clearly when applying for a job that is all about communicating clearly! While I understand not everyone has an amazing command on the English language – those looking to hire bloggers for commercial positions will take your abilities in your application as a hint as to how well you’ll perform on their blog.
“Follow directions – Increase your chances of the job seeker liking you by actually following the directions stated at the bottom of the email. Don’t, in a rush, send off an email with your resume attached when they ask for no attachments. Attention to detail is key to making a good first impression over email.”
Once again – this is common sense but something I saw many applicants fail to follow when I’ve previously advertised for bloggers personally. Failing to follow instructions again signals to your potential employee that you might not be the right person for the job.
“Email address – drop the cutesy “xxxxx 432@yahoo.com” email address and opt for something more professional. For extra bonus points, register a domain name that is professional and clever, and create a simple “firstname@cleverdomain.com” email alias.”
I personally wouldn’t rate this one quite as highly as the others – however it does add to the professionalism of your application and shows that you’ve gone to a little effort in branding yourself as an online worker.
Take it Seriously
Ultimately my main advice to bloggers wanting to get a blogging job is to take the application process seriously. Treat it as though you are applying for any job.
Advertisers are not advertising on the Job Boards simply for fun or looking for sub par bloggers. They are businesses looking to hire professionals. Present yourself this way and you’ll stand out from the crowd and give yourself every chance of landing yourself a blogging job.
