Beyond The Résumé

Representing yourself effectively on your résumé is a constant challenge. As a result, many sales and marketing professionals are using Weblogs in hopes of catching an employer's eye.

"My Web site and Weblogs are great vehicles for employers to get a sense of who I am," says Stephen Harris, director of e-marketing for Digital Grit Inc., an online marketing company based in Boonton, New Jersey. Harris has a Web site that showcases his work experience, testimonials, articles he's written, and his résumé, as well as four Weblogs where he discusses e-business ideas. Often he doesn't even have to make the first move; recently principals from a company in New York contacted him for an interview because they found his Weblog and liked his ideas.

This also proved true for Dana VanDen Heuvel, sales operations manager for Schneider National Inc., a truckload services provider based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He is not actively looking for a job, yet has opportunities pouring in thanks to his Weblog about sales and marketing strategy. "I get two to three e-mails every couple of weeks that are referencing positions in sales and marketing," VanDen Heuvel says. "[The Weblog gives] a pretty clear idea of where I stand, and that has attracted like-minded recruiters and companies."

And don't be afraid to add a few personal touches. VanDen Heuvel includes posts about cycling and other interests. "It rounds you out as a person in ways a résumé can't," he says.

Just remember to stay away from anything that could be deemed controversial or negative. "If you are using a Weblog for a job search, don't put anything on it you wouldn't want your potential employer to know," says Meg Montford, a career coach based in Kansas City, Missouri. For professional purposes, put your social views aside.

—Jessalynn Brinkmeyer