I’ve decided that whenever I do start looking for work again, I am going to push the fact that I’m now a blogger and freelance writer. This is assuming, of course, that by this Spring I’m not making enough money to simply quit. Right now that might not be a safe assumption…

But, for the purposes of this post, let’s say I’m not making enough money and do need a fulltime job. As a direct result of a fantastic post by Mick Stanic, I believe it’s time to step up and admit my passion.

In it, Mick asks and answers several key questions from his point of view (having recently hired someone largely because they were a blogger):

Q: “Have you employeed a blogger?”
Q: “Does it have an impact on your hiring decision if one of the people you are interviewing maintains a blog and everyone else you interviewed doesn’t?”
Q: “Why does it make a difference?”
Q: “How does passion help someone do there job better?”
Q: “So do many of your staff have blogs?”
Q: “So do you think that educating people about this new world is hard or is it just the perception of this stuff that is the biggest problem?”
Q: “So what value have you gotten out of blogging?”

The reality is that more and more employers are at least aware of bloggers. Some in a negative way, some neutral and some in a positive way. Blogging, though, is a large part of who I am. Specifically in relation to work. I don’t want to work in a company that isn’t aware of blogging. I want them, for example, to have a policy on the matter so I can follow it. Ultimately I’d also like them to be excited about my blogging and to support me in it.

The way I figure it is this: I’m a blogger. If I work for a company that’s against blogging I’m only going to get frustrated. But, by being open about my blogging and writing, I won’t even be considered by companies that are against blogging. Companies that are neutral about it… Well, it’ll likely make for a lively interview where I get to show my passion for blogging, technology, conversations, communication, etc.

And companies that are for blogging and excited about it? Well, those are the kind of companies that make me excited in a big way.

So, when I do edit my resume in the coming months, it will definitely be more “here’s what I’m doing right now”. Sure, it’s nice to sell what you can do, but it’s also good to be able to sell who you are.