• Tweet

• Tweet

Finding a job in an unstable economy is difficult whether you just graduated college or recently ended your long-term employment. Despite the obstacle that this task poses, job-seekers can improve their chances of success by utilizing as many resources as possible. Blogging is one particular strategy that allows you to show off your writing skills and creativity, while connecting with professionals and interested individuals throughout your prospective industry.

WordPress is a great platform for starting your professional blog because it features a user-friendly interface and share-friendly tools to make getting started easy for newbies and seasoned bloggers alike.

Starting Off on the Right Foot with a Professional Layout

They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but let’s face it: your readers are going to make first impression judgments (either consciously or subconsciously) about your blog from the moment they first view the page. Since your goal for the blog is to exude a professional and respectable image, you’ll want to keep this in mind when choosing a layout.

According to Dainis Graveris of 1st Web Designer, less is always more when it comes to choosing a professional blog layout. Although certain blogs may call for a more eccentric look,– such as those for web designers and artists– this general rule will most likely apply to the process of choosing the right layout for your blog. The following list includes some of the most professional-looking layouts available on WordPress: Androida, Magazeen, TypeBased, Rusty Grunge, Elegan Grunge, CryBook, Max, WP-Premium, BlogTheme, SohoMag, and Hybrid News.

Network More Effectively by Connecting Visitors to Your Social Media Profiles

Your readers will certainly learn a lot about you through your blog posts alone, but taking full advantage of the many networking opportunities available can extend your outreach and encourage potential employers and colleagues to subsequently reach out to you. Although you can simply include a link to your profiles in your About the Author section, you can make the process of reaching out even easier for your readers by using social media plugins. These plugins allow your readers to view your many different social media profiles, while also making it easier to share your blogs on their own accounts.

According to Traffikd, some of the best WordPress social media plugins include Share This, Sociable, Antisocial, Gregarious, Notable, Digg This, Sphinnlt Button, and WP Super Cache. Each plugin option includes unique features and abilities that will range in value depending on your personal preference.

Remember Your Resume When Blogging

Most experts would agree that your resume and your online image should always be in harmony with one another. However, there are some things that you might include in your blog that may not be appropriate to place in your resume. Naturally, if you have an additional personal blog that is unrelated to your industry, it’s probably best to leave that out of your resume. Before you post anything to your professional blog, you will want to refer back to your resume. In fact, one of the best ways to gain inspiration about what to write for your blog is to consult your resume.

For example, say your resume references your experiences in China during a semester abroad while in college. You could probably find at least five blog posts to describe your time there and explain how it helped develop your character as both a professional and a person.

Perhaps you took a year off from college and you’re afraid this might hurt your appeal to employer. Your blog can be used as a way to explain yourself and reveal how you developed your professional skills during this period.

Blogging on WordPress is a fundamental component of an effective job searching strategy. By keeping the above tips in mind, you can maximize the potential of this platform and sharpen your image to let potential employers get to know you in a more intimate and appealing light.