Advice

[bg23]

you wisdom-monkeys have so much, i want some

Give me your opinion: Am interviewing for a job which has considerable emphasis on blogging and social media. Was requested to provide examples of both my writing and any blogs kept.

My writing folio is fairly sparse (at least in terms of professionally relevant content) so the only thing of substance that I have is my blog.

However, the blog is of a fairly personal nature, which is to say, it's basically a collection of stories of my dating misadventures. Nothing is explicit, it's just a bunch of funny stories about dates I've been on. But it's still personal stuff.

As such, I don't feel like it's...well, appropriate. The company I'm hoping to work for is kid oriented. Would showing examples of this blog be a good idea or a career killer? Should I just go without any? I knew I should have started a more generic work-friendly blog, damn it.

I do have an old blog from years and years ago but while the content there isn't romantic it's no less personal (stuff about my family, etc.) Given it's not up to date either I'm not sure it'd do any good.

 

[Wok]

I would show it.

 

[bg23]

I would show it.

You would? Why?

 

[islandman]

I wouldn't show it as it would simply provide the prospective employer with insights of a personal nature that may give them reason - rational or otherwise - to not hire you.

Rest on your laurels and submit your writing samples. Have a reason ready as to why they are sparse in number. Start a twitter feed that highlight your social media chops and submit that. You can use this as a starting point to to discuss your view of social media and its impact on whatever, the world, kids, etc.

Good luck.

 

[Wok]

You would? Why?

Something is better than nothing. They want to see what you have done, and while I am not saying they may take your content into account (and that is risky), that is not the only thing they will look for. Stuff like how it is promoted, if it is talked about, how it is presented, all that stuff. In the end, they want something delivered, and want proof you can deliver.

The sparse portfolio may be a tough sell, but if you can convince them you can do the work, they may give you a chance.

 

[RoryN]

I'd whip up some new material and submit that.

 

[bg23]

I wouldn't show it as it would simply provide the prospective employer with insights of a personal nature that may give them reason - rational or otherwise - to not hire you.

Rest on your laurels and submit your writing samples. Have a reason ready as to why they are sparse in number. Start a twitter feed that highlight your social media chops and submit that. You can use this as a starting point to to discuss your view of social media and its impact on whatever, the world, kids, etc.

Good luck.

This makes sense. Sigh, the cost of blogging for entertainment.

Something is better than nothing. They want to see what you have done, and while I am not saying they may take your content into account (and that is risky), that is not the only thing they will look for. Stuff like how it is promoted, if it is talked about, how it is presented, all that stuff. In the end, they want something delivered, and want proof you can deliver.

The sparse portfolio may be a tough sell, but if you can convince them you can do the work, they may give you a chance.

Yeah, I didn't do a ton to promote the blog since it was never really meant to be read by anyone except a couple of my friends and used almost like a pseudo journal.

It's my first interview in this industry - I'm finding myself woefully unprepared.

I'd whip up some new material and submit that.

Yeah it looks like this may be the best course to take.

 

[islandman]

This makes sense. Sigh, the cost of blogging for entertainment.



Yeah, I didn't do a ton to promote the blog since it was never really meant to be read by anyone except a couple of my friends and used almost like a pseudo journal.

It's my first interview in this industry - I'm finding myself woefully unprepared.



Yeah it looks like this may be the best course to take.

Wok's got a good point in that you should talk in specifics about plans to promote your blog/tweeter. Wow them with your plans and the writing takes a back seat cause a lot of people can write, but few can develop and execute on strategy.

 

[CHNOPS]

Another thought is to take "samples" literally and put together a collection of various TYPES of writing you've done--one or two less-revealing blog posts, news stories or the like, PR pieces. Whatever you've written that is 1) good, but also 2) varied in scope. This lets you show your chops without having to open the door too wide on your personal life (which, by the way, they'll likely search for and find on their own anyway).

In my day-job career, we used to call it a "book"--all the work you've done that reflects you in the best light, selected and curated by you.

An additional benefit of this is that it lets you pace the interview. As they turn pages, you can discuss issues of relevance to each item, plus any thoughts about them. By the end, this adds up to a comfortable, impressive, knowledgeable interaction that suggests not only the kind of work you do but how you'd be to work with.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Whacha got to lose? Fuck em if they cant take a joke.

Keep in mind that if they knew any decent bloggers OR if any decent bloggers wanted to work for them they wouldnt be running ads for help. Maybe their paydays are few and far between, if ever.