To Blog Or Not To Blog?

Here's one of those topics I've been following for a while... the effect blogging can have on your employed life. Blogs can get you hired, get you fired and can be your sole source of employment.

Now that I'm blogging regularly, and some folks actually read it once in a while, I'm very cognizant of the things I post. As I mentioned a few posts back, employers are increasingly doing background checks on prospective employees by seeing what's out there on Google and the other search engines. Googling "Gary Radke" returns four different articles that point to my website & blog at www.hiregary.net. I try to stear away from politics and issues that can be very polarizing.

This article from philly.com does talks about the pros and cons of blogging while gainfully employed. It's a strange time in this very new medium. On the one hand you really need to watch what you say, and at the same time, some companies are actively encouraging their employees to blog about their company in an effort to personalize the company.

Two of the "tips" from the article that really summed up how best to cover your behind:

• Don't write anything you wouldn't want your boss or your mother to read. Your words could last for years, so keep future jobs and relationships in mind.

• There is no First Amendment protection - right to free speech - in private employment. Think about that if you're tempted to express controversial opinions, use offensive language, or tell the world about your private life and fantasies.

The article advocates strongly that companies should consider some sort of Blog policy so they are not caught off-guard when the situation does arise.

Here are a couple specific examples of folks fired for questionable blogging:

A Delta flight attendant:
Article
Her Blog

A Google employee (how ironic):
Article & Blog entries

A Friendster employee:
Article
Her Blog

Bottom Line? Folks reading this contemplating hiring me... Fear not! I will either get your approval to blog or put the kibosh on this and any other blogging should you consider me worthy of working for your establishment.