Eight Reasons An Unemployed Should Blog
Posted: Tuesday, September 14, 2010
by Ndidi Ngwuluka
http://ndidingwuluka.blogspot.com
I listen to and empathize with my unemployed friends and usually because of our different fields of study; I am at loss at how to help them find jobs. I ask the basic questions such as what have you done, where have you applied and have you gotten responses. After a period of listening and encouraging them to have patience, I suggest blogging. At least I am glad that two of them have taken my advice and started blogging. In fact one of them has started a second blog. The reasons I suggest blogging are:
I remember when I wanted to start a new blog, I was excited and most part of each day, it was all I thought about. I found myself with a note book writing down post titles as I go about the day's chores; thinking of my target audience and what the blog should focus on; and reading up on how to promote the blog.
It can be quite depressing if you don't have a job and a source of income. It is even worse if you have worked before. As weeks get to months and months to years (perhaps), you get quite depressed and some ailments begin to knock at your door. With your state of mind, you are likely to open the door and not know the implications of such visitors in your house (mind and body). Before you know it, it is too late; you are psychologically, emotionally, mentally and physically challenged. And it is usually not that easy to quickly point out the root cause unemployment.
Blogging keeps you busy thereby ensuring that you are stable because it takes your mind away from yourself and your state of unemployment to your readers.
It helps you market yourself
My lawyer friend spent months applying to law firms with no positive response. Then I suggested she blog about the aspects of law she was passionate about. By so doing, she portrays herself as an expert in the area. When the hiring managers see her content, they can reconcile it with her claims on her rsum. Hiring managers do not just want to fill up positions. They seek out prospective employees who are well above average and can add real value to the companies. Your blog is an avenue for them to get to know what you can offer. Of course do not forget to add your blog address to your rsum.
It helps you discover yourself
This is mostly applicable to fresh graduates who are still trying to define themselves. Blogging reveals to you who you are, what your passions are, your likes and dislikes and what you are good at. As you blog you will observe a trend with time which will help you know yourself and define your goals.
You learn about customer service
All jobs or businesses are either delivering products or services and so are people oriented. How you treat your customers or clients determines if they will come back or send referrals. Blogging takes you away from yourself and allows you to focus on your audience. You think about what they want and how to satisfy them. You look forward to their input and you may employ some of these inputs to improve your blog. With time you realize you have become people oriented such that when you are employed, it becomes much easier to relate with your clients.
It teaches you work ethics
As you blog and learn, you begin to understand that blogging can be treated as a business and quite a number of the offline work ethics apply online as well. For instance, to have a successful blog, it requires commitment, consistency, concentration, willingness to learn, humility, good public relations, hard work and discipline.
Self-employed vs employed
Yes, blogging will help you know if you are really going to enjoy having a boss or working on your own.
It creates on online contact
Online presence makes you visible to more hiring managers as opposed to your attempts at job hunting offline. A number of hiring managers search for more information about prospective employees other than that given in curriculum vitae. Imagine you are googled' and you are not even on facebook. However, online presence such as social networking sites and your blog may affirm the information on your CV.
You can make money
And of course, it is a veritable truism that you can blog to make money through adsense, affiliate programs or even your own products (ebooks and softwares).
So instead of bemoaning the fact you are unemployed, have fun blogging. You never know the opportunities it may bring your way.
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)I like the way you presented this by giving so many options as to why blogging is a good way to spend some time. All great ideas by the way.GraceHi Grace,Thanks for commenting. I quite appreciate it and I do hope it motivates my unemployed friends to blog
Nididi, I went through this exact process myself! Well, I'm still going through it, but my blog has kept me sane (I hope!) and has led to avenues opening up to me. I really enjoyed reading your article, thanks!Hello Jennifer,Having visited your blog, I would say you are sane and in a little while, things shall fall in for you in pleasant places and your territory will be enlarged. Thanks for reading my article.
Old concepts and solutions will not work in a brave new world. America has changed irrevocably and will never be what it was economically. Time to look beyond money as a solution.Hi Anonymous,Thanks for your comment. It is true the world is changing, however, we cannot rule out the role of money in our lives and you know it. If you have ever been unemployed - no money to pay your rent or even eat for the day - then you may understand. Certainly, our lives should not revolve round money but at the same time we can't pretend it is not a necessity. Please feel free to share what you think the solution is. I am open to your views on the way forward.
Best regardsAn internal shift in consciousness by each individual. A simplified life where values and morality replace pleasure seeking. A replacement of economic goals with spiritual goals. Otherwise, as the Amrican economy continues to shrink, as it must if one simply pays attention to what has happened in the last thirty years, people will be at each other's throats and there will be anarchy at best, and tryranny at worst.A great one, anonymous. Thanks a lot
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