Job Tuition

Your Blog or Website on Your Resume

December 14th, 2006 by Andrew

Websites and blogs can be powerful tools. Just like they can make or break a company, they can help or damage your potential for obtaining a job. Thus, do you include your website or blog on your resume?

It depends - There’s the short answer. Unfortunately, there isn’t a clear answer for this question that applies in every case. Fortunately for you, there are some guidelines, and this article will help shed light on them.

Type of career - First, think about the type of career field in which you are seeking a job. Are websites and blogs in common usage by companies and freelancers? More importantly, does the job require knowledge of websites and blogs?

One easy example where you would list your blog on your resume is if you are applying for an internet-based job. Perhaps you are applying to be a blogger, maybe an internet programmer. Clearly, your personal website could be a great example of your work. On the other hand, if you are applying for an associate position at a law firm, they will likely see your website as irrelevant.

Content - Second, consider the type of content you present on your website. Do you blog about your cat? Does your website focus on the latest gossip around your school? Alternatively, do you write tips or ideas for people to be more productive? Does your website showcase your art projects? If your content focuses on professional (or at least neutral items), lean towards listing your URL on your resume; otherwise, you might want to leave it off.

A great website to list on your resume would be your online artwork portfolio. This is definitely professional content (even if you’re not apply for a strictly art position), and it can highlight your creative side. Quite to the contrary, your blog where you rant about local politics and bash your current employer does not provide important employment content. In fact, you should strongly consider deleting this type of content altogether (see below).

Be professional - Regardless of the content of your site or nature of the career, be sure to maintain a professional website. This should apply even if you don’t list your URL. Especially if you direct employers to your website, make sure there is nothing degrading, inappropriate, etc. Also, make your content as free from typos and errors as possible.

In the end, the decision to list your blog or website on your resume will be up to your professional judgment. Think about these factors, talk to people in your career field, and run the thought by trusted friends and colleagues. Do what you think is best. For a list of great tips on this subject, check out Virginia Tech Career Services.