In an interview, the potential employer is analyzing each applicant to see if they meet the criteria needed to be fit for the job. According to tripod.com, the five areas an interviewer looks for in applicants are “intelligence, qualification, impact on others, motivation and achievements” (Meng). The first method of judging these five areas, according to the website, is question and answer. The potential employer gets a small glimpse of the applicant's experience and personality by asking questions and evaluating the information he or she is told. He or she then uses this information to compare each applicant and his or her job qualifications and requirements. For example, if it is a customer service job, the interviewer may analyze if the person was sociable, responsive, and easy to talk to; or if they've had successful learning experiences in the past.
With so much to evaluate in so little time, a personal blog can be a valuable and beneficial tool that may be the difference between that applicant and the others. If the applicant tells the interviewer about the blog, the interviewer has a second chance to look at that employee. The blog will show his or her personality traits, written communication skills, problem solving, and information. It can also be a great way to display the applicant's abilities and qualifications. Microbiologybytes.com states that a blog “is a place where I play with technology and ideas” (Why Blog). A person can display his or achievements, knowledge and intelligence, and qualifications on a personal blog, just like a resume. Then, as they are discussed by blog readers, it in turn shows impact on others and motivation. A personal blog can cover all five areas that matter to an interviewer, according to tripod.com, and can therefore be the influence that places that applicant above the others in the selection process. A personal blog is essentially an online resume and an extension of the applicant's interview.
Works Cited:
Meng, Ngeow Yoke. What The Interviewer Is Looking For. <http://mcleon.tripod.com/intervw.htm>
Why Blog? March 24, 2010. AJC <http://www.microbiologybytes.com/AJC/whyblog.html>