Kevin Geary is the author of Employee Revolution: A guide to being indispensable, irreplaceable, and higher paid (without lying, cheating, or joining a union).
If you have a personal blog, I’m talking directly to you. If you don’t have a personal blog, get one now. Sorry, but this surefire strategy doesn’t work unless you have a personal blog (you can keep your other blogs, you just need a personal one too).
What is a resume`?
Try not to fall asleep. This is short and to the point, I promise.
A resume is a list of your qualifications on one page. It’s supposed to make it easy for a company to quickly determine whether or not you are qualified for a job.
But companies actually use your resume` as an excuse to exclude you.
Secret: They don’t look at what’s there, they look at what’s missing. The key is to not play by the rules.
This is where your personal blog comes in. The resume` is dead. It’s time to be unique. It’s time to be relevant. It’s time to be revolutionary. It’s time to be a real problogger.
I want you to use your personal blog as a launch pad for your dream career. The personal blog is the new resume` of the revolutionary.
What’s it look like?
In the new global economy, skills and titles are commodities. The times are changing so quickly that it’s nearly impossible to keep up, much less completely stand apart from others skill-wise or title-wise.
How much better of a programmer are you really? How many more titles can you achieve over the next person in line? How much faster can you complete the design process? It’s all a race in the wrong direction because there’s always someone (or a computer) who can do it better and faster than you (or good enough to get paid a little less and keep the job).
What’s important for the revolutionary is not physical skill and titles (things that look good on resume`s) as much as it is: personality, uniqueness, imagination, relevance, artistry, passion, personal connection, fearlessness, and problem solving. These are things that can’t be replicated; things that make you an individual and not a commodity.
It’s also a list of things that are impossible to communicate on a resume`.
Your personal blog is going to tell your real story. It’s not the story of physical skills and titles. It’s the story of getting things done. It’s the story of being invaluable. It’s the story of doing what nobody else has done, solving problems nobody else could solve, and not just having ideas, but consistently acting-on and shipping them (getting your idea to the public).
The revolutionary doesn’t have a resume`. The revolutionary has a story that is digitally recorded, spread across the globe, talked about, shared, commented on, revered, admired, hated, and loved. It’s uniqueness translates into scarcity, which translates into value in the marketplace.
Your personal blog is a chance to tell who you are and show what you do (beyond skills and titles) in a way that makes you irresistible. It’s the way you’re going to land the job you really want. It’s the way you’re going to make an absolute fortune.
This is where you expect the list.
There is no list. There can’t be. If there was a step by step process to creating a blog that accomplishes what we just talked about, everyone would have one.
There’s only step one: get started. Use what you’ve learned here from Darren to get everything set up. Then think about answering the following questions:
- Who are you, really?
- Why are you different?
- How are you relevant?
- What have you accomplished (not ideas, but actual accomplishments in your industry)?
- What do you think?
- Who will recommend you?
- What have they said about you?
- What are your ideas?
- What problems have you solved?
There are many more, but I think you get the point. These are all things a company should ask, but doesn’t. This is how you change the rules. This is how you win.
The revolution is new, but the revolution is real. I invite you to leave the confines of the box everyone lives in and be a revolutionary. You’re important. We need you.
Hey Darren,
This post from Kevin is powerful. I have to say with so much competition going after the same job. You definitely have to do something different to show your true skills and talent. By having a blog you can really show your talent to employers. It is hard to show what you are capable of doing on a piece of paper. Great job!
Chat with you later…
Josh
Hey Kevin,
Really Great Post.
Currently i not have any personal blog, but i think i should get one. Thanks for the advice.
I really like the idea of using your personal blog (launch pad) as a resume.
Thanks for sharing this great Post kevin. Keep up the good work.
~Dev
Great headline! I love it. One of the most important takeaway points for me is the “who will recommend you?”
That is how you have to build a business. Today is the one-year anniversary of my blog and there is no way that I would have the fan base that I have now if it weren’t for other like-minded people that helped spread the word, because they liked the message.
It’s all about selling you, your own brand. People buy from other people.
-Joshua Black
The Underdog Millionaire
I agree: resumes are dead. If you really want to stand out, a blog is a great way to do it. And — if you still feel the need for a resume — just link to your LinkedIn profile from your blog. That way you’ve got all your bases covered. ;-)
Ryan
Do you really have to be different though guys? It seems to me that’s what everyone is saying, meaning the advice is just regurgitated.
I agree with a lot of the advice here, but I have a feeling that eventually having a personal blog won’t be unique because everyone and their mom will try it.
Just my thoughts though.
I really enjoyed this post by Kevin! It made me think about what I have done and what it is I would like to help others with.
His list of questions under the heading (strangely enough) there is no list, made me do some heavy thinking of my own!
While the content of this post is good and useful, I’d say that the title is misleading. Most would assume that this post is talking about direct blogging income, or a comprehensive step by step guide to something substantial.
Making the titles powerful is important to attract visitors. But they shouldn’t be detached from the content. I think the term “personal blog” or “getting a job” should have been the part of the title here, in some way or the other.
If the title raises expectations, the content should deliver. If the movie isn’t as good as its promo, it’ll eventually go down.
Absolutely. If I were hiring I’d be looking to blogs/sites first. A body of work over time is an indication of having the smarts to get a certain kind of job done–a lot more than what is gleaned through interviews. The scarcity/value equation is one of the keys. Kind of like making yourself indispensable.
Thank you for the post and reminder!
Kevin,
Quick question. Say we aren’t looking for work but we are running a (moderately) successful website/online brand. Would you still suggest a personal blog? I am very curious.
I never thought about it before but I like the list you gave about what information can be on the personal blog and I’m just wondering if you would run it the same way, or if you are in the website business, confine it to your About page.
Thanks Kevin!
Great insight to the world of resumes/jobs.
A personal blog seems just the right solution. One of my friends mentioned how his classmate maintains a website/blog for his projects (he is an engineering student). He makes all kinds of projects and depicts them on his website/blog.
My friend said he has had top job offers from top companies. His blog/website (projects) speak a lot more than his resume.
Kindest,
Nabeel
really?
:)
I completely agree with you – if I understand you correctly – that your personal blog is your resume – well, your launch pad.
It has that aspect of relationship that, in a social networked world, is perfect for building a community (lets call it a tribe while we are here) that is a marketing workforce .
I find this post a bit misleading/confusing… IMHO, if you try to present yourself in a way that answers the list of questions at the end of the post, this would make it a professional blog and not a personal blog. This is almost the same list of questions you get asked in job interviews…
This post clearly tries to grab the headlines with a ridiculous title and it feels like the content was written in 5 minutes. This is a shame as the idea that CVs are dead is otherwise an interesting idea to explore…
I am a coach and a tech geek. I have started a number of internet companies and helped entrepreneurs setting them up. In time I realized that the questions raised by Kevin in this post are the actual key… not the strategy, not the tactics, not even your business model matters much… What matters is how you answer these questions.
That’s why, in time, I created a online coaching game to help people answer these questions. In turn, I decided to put together my coaching game and blog building as an existential exercise to help clarify career direction and ways to make the transition into a lucrative labor of love.
I would like to study the opportunity to join forces to make a more comprehensive program to answer those questions.
Thank you for this post!
Javier
@Natalie
I agree – CV’s are not dead if you want to apply to Mcdonalds or Pizza Hut – although Pizza Hut in England asks for your submission online…
But I wonder how this would work if your applying for a senior position – such as a senior managing director or more?
I like this post – it gives fresh thoughts and stimulates thinking – I would consider this, but I don’t have any goals that I want to be working for another firm as of yet, but I feel its an interesting thing to explore.
Thanks
So if the Resume is dead, how would one go about applying for a traditional job? Saying, “just look at my website” ?
Dave
I would personally invest in a good profile on the social networking recruitment sites eg LinkedIn.
Interesting take Kevin. I don’t think it’s for me but I certainly appreciate the angle. Nice work.
I’m sorry, who says resumes are dead? Resumes are very much alive. In fact, it’s the one thing that employers love and job seekers hate. Do you know why companies are always asking for your CV? Of course you do. Here’s something that you’ll be interested to hear. They ask for it so that they can turn you down. You create a personal blog to augment that shortcoming because companies would always tell you to come back some other time. Well, that’s just my personal opinion. The real reason is that, the job is not really for you.
There are other things more important than resumes like blogging perhaps? Or drinking coffee and looking down on your analytics to see how much traffic you got for the day? These are just some of the things more vital than resumes.
yes! so true!
Because the fortune you will make is the happiness and satisfaction when you are living your passion on top of the money. And success is guaranteed.
Best way to “apply for a job” and say who you are in a changing world with new paradigms.
Natalie,
I’m sorry you feel that way. But I think you’re misunderstanding my definition of “personal” blog. By personal I mean relating directly to YOU, your personal brand. Not a “hobby” blog.
Thanks for the comment.
Kevin
As someone previously employed as a professional cynic, allow me to retort:
“Being different” is only valid when being different is valued. That seems like a no-brainer, but when was the last time a company needing a security guard, waiter or tech writer *really* needed someone “different”? Now, if the job requires a waiter/waitress/waitperson/whatever the PC term is nowdays to be funny/rude/super-professional/etc., then highlighting that would be beneficial.
Next…this whole article just seems pointless: Go create something that cannot be defined. Great advice.
TimW
Phoenix
I totally agree with Kevin’s view. In this times, what you can find on the Internet about someone, gives you a close insight on the person, experiences, achievements, etc. I know not everybody have Personal Blog, but if you are a professional out there looking for a job oportunity or looking for clients, I think a Personal Blog is an excellent Business Card.
This is the revolution of evolution.
Individual creativity reigns supreme and sweeps all else before it
I don’t entirely agree that resumes are dead. I believe that a well written personal blog is a great addition to a resume, but certainly not a replacement. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy entertaining the notion of using a personal blog as a career building tool, but unfortunately companies still do (and probably always will) rely mostly on the resume.
Using a personal blog to augment my resume is a great idea, but not completely new. Also, you should be careful about expressing who you are in your private life to a potential employer. There’s been a lot of controversy about whether or not employers should be allowed to use information they find in an interviewee’s Facebook profile in their decision making process. A personal blog is not much different. If you choose to write posts about sensitive matters (addictions, stress, etc.) then it might not be the best idea to show such a personal side to a potential employer. What we do in our private lives is different than what we do in our professional lives and the two should never, in my opinion, intertwine.
Interesting post. Especially i agree with an idea of that the hardest step is to start. Then things go faster
Very nice insight into the way that marketing for jobs is changing. I do believe you are correct and that resumes are dead, or at least beginning to die a painful death. Getting a jump ahead with a personal blog can be a way to go about getting a job as well as a launchpad for some sort of digital marketing.
Just make sure your personal blog is not all about ways to avoid work. That, perhaps, would not go over well…
hi kevin
and also based on my experience
do write your own opinion is better than write based on the fact
because blogging is different from news-casting
Great article, blogs are definitely resume 2.0 or 3.0!
I would say that having a linkedin profile and blog and having them connected is the best thing to do in order to build your personal brand and to share your unique value.
Blogs show who you are AND what you do. People want to do business with people they know like and trust and having a blog allows them to get to know your personal and business side (this is important!)
I’m building my blogs value in traffic and content and my linkedin profile in connections and recommendations all the time.
It’s very valuable on the social currency web!
Thanks for the great post :)
David King
I try to write my own opinion on all of my blog posts, mainly because I want my readers to know that what they are reading really is what I’m thinking. Some content may be slightly altered, but usually for SEO purposes, not to self-edit my thoughts or opinions.
Wow!
The revolution is the story trumps the resume. Now that’s something to think about.
I agree with Kevin that you are the unique ingredient.
With the speed of technology and easy access of the internet, everybody’s got skills. It really comes down to do they want to interact to YOU!
The post is really interesting and for sure the title is attractive however I kind of disagree with the author in the sense that if you have personal blog, as proposed here, you will be focusing on you as your main topic and how good you are for A or B.
Everybody involved in the subject knows that people don’t care about you or what you do or what you have accomplished but how you can benefit them with information or any other matter they want. This will be only applicable to jobs.
And, unless I misunderstood, you are guiding people to create a blog in order to get a job which at the end of the day is the less profitable journey to fortune.
I read the problogger book and I think Darrem struggled a lot to create the powerhouse that he has now as an independent professional blogger with a strong group of people behind him…
The fortune is now smiling
Hi there Darren!
thank you for sharing your thoughts about making absolute fortune with a blog :)
Truly, one can make money out of blogging with our own thoughts, ideas and also an inspiration of our mistakes and experts!
Check my recent blog post:
Your Guide On How To Make Massive Fortune With Your Own Blog
Keep it up,
Howard
I like it, especially the part about being different – too many people present themselves & their qualifications in the same old boring way which doesn’t portray them as being exciting or innovative.
As an employer I like to see prospective employees striving to do things differently & providing their CV in the form of a blog would allow them to present their normal selves with much more relevant information.
Good entrepreneurial qualities include things like doing things differently, being innovative and so on…
Awesome post!!! I totally agree with this sentence “In the new global economy, skills and titles are commodities”. That’s exactly the point, what is your real value apart from your titles? Do you have something else to share? I’ve recently wrote a post (in Spanish) about almost the same topic called (The CV is dead. Build your Own 2.0 CV) pointing that righ now companies are going to search your profile and if you do not have one… well, that says a lot about you
Great post…kind of different than what I was expecting but got me thinking a little.
I have yet to start a personal blog about my own brand. It is definitely a remarkable idea, as it allows you to show you’re the best in a certain light. In addition, it allows you to stand out. If you’re worried about the competition, how even “your mom” could have one, then you haven’t thought much about the implementation of this superb idea.
Great post, Kevin!
Cheers,
Patrick
I agree with you Kevin. But everyone now a days have their personal blog. You have to be unique and different from other blogs. But just having a personal blog doesn’t make you different.
Definitely a unique take on things…
Although I think saying resumes are dead is a bit radical – I agree with the sentiments. I’ve never been a big fan of them myself…so a blog sounds like more fun! :)
Rachel
Your post includes some good advice, Kevin, but you undermined your credibility because you couldn’t figure out how to spell either “résumé” or “resumé,” or “resume,” and rather than Googling to quickly discover the correct form(s) of this prominently featured word in your article, you just plowed ahead and concocted your own bizarre rendition: resume` (!).
When evaluating applicants’ sample articles, personal blogs, and résumés (or resumés, or resumes), I immediately eliminate submissions containing similarly obvious typing, spelling, or syntax errors because they reveal the candidates’ laziness, cockiness, and/or ignorance — not to mention their lack of respect for the reader. But I must admit that writers who, like you, go out of their way to invent an error I’ve not previously encountered at least offer me a chuckle in exchange for my (wasted) time. :-)
Excellent article! So many people in “dead end” jobs ask me how I became a highly paid copywriter/blogger, working from home and earning as much as I want, and this article is pretty much exactly how I built up a profile and history online that potential employers could relate to. Don’t wait for the right opportunities to change your life- make your own!
Your post has got me pumped. The only caution I would add is that change takes time: people are very entrenched in habits they don’t even realize they have. And the bias against those who blog is very real in some quarters.
Still. I don’t doubt there are people who are struggling for 100 unique visits a day now that are going to be atop their field in a few years’ time. They’re reaching out to new people, explaining both the basics and more complicated aspects of their work, and those entrenched are actually falling behind as “ambassadors” of a sort to what they do.
Personal blogs are the cream of the crop, if you can put together an blog that’s touchy and sometimes rub people the wrong or just for an argument sake. Then you have and recipe for an explosive achievement blogging. Just get personal…
“TrafficColeman “Signing Off”
Sometimes I think I don’t have a personal blog because I gently cater my attitude and defining passions depending on where I am or who I’m talking to. The prospect of having one venue that requires remaining true to one set of opinions scares me. I don’t think I realized until right now that this issue I have is a major flaw. Need to stop overthinking and playing the “how would Mr. X read and interpret this” game with myself and just do it.
Great article, Kevin. I definitely agree that what diversifies people now is their passion and enthusiasm.
I don’t know if this makes sense if you are in manufacturing, necessarily, but I’ve been saying this about the publishing industry for a while now. A querie letter, which is a resume in the publishing world, is very cold and tells you nothing about how a person writes. A blog is very personal and definitely shows you if a person is a good writer.
I think the publishing industry has walled itself in by being so unapproachable and now scouts blogs for the next big writer.
Think, ‘Julie and Julia’ and coming soon, The Pioneer Woman’s new book will be out.
There was a time when the fad was about creating video resume instead of the normal one on paper. I think it is still used especially for international interviews.
But this one is a new idea. I have been a regular reader of Problogger so I know there are many entrepreneurs out there who have used their blogs as their extended resumes and inked quite a few lucrative deals because of the blog. Darren himself is a great example.
Extending the same logic for applying to jobs is good. However I don’t think the resume on paper would die a death so soon. At the most, you could mention the url of your blog on the resume and the recruiter could come and check you out. If your work can be shown on the web, he could also see samples, much like the freelancers who provide samples of their work.
I agree with Abhijeet about the misleading title. The title does not pertain to making your resume in any sense. One would think it pertains to making money from the blog itself.
@ Wilson:
You could possibly be right. But by that time hopefully we’ll be headed around the next curve.
@ Nanci,
I’d probably need more details. But since you said “we”, I’d say you need a personal blog as well. You don’t want to be tied to anyone as far as your personal brand goes.
@ Dave,
If you want a traditional, low-paying job, turn in a resume` :)
@ Alexa,
If you’re not true to yourself 100%, you’ll never reach your goals 100%. They have to accept you, the person, not you the actress. You have to put it all out there. And some people won’t like it (that’s ok!).
@ All
Thanks for the great compliments and comments!
Terrific post! In addition to showcasing writing skills and individuality, a personal blog also demonstrates computer and presentation skills, so important in today’s world!
Darren, Do you have an example of a personal blog we can see?
Guess there’s more than i thought in the blogging world.This should garantee to pay of i believe!
Darren,
Thank you! This post is very challenging because it is current with the times not with business tradtions i.e.resumes
To begin the journey of implementing the points in your article here will draw only a minority of skillfull people. It.really takes the “know how” of skillful thinking, and the intution of a visionary–such as yourself, to personally to get true results. Last but not least it takes COURAGE to step out of the boat and believe you can walk on the water.
This post is not for the faint of heart and the fearful. :)