Manage updates with the Download AppMarch 8, 2005 4:00 AM PST
FAQ: Blogging on the job
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company could file a "John Doe" lawsuit in an effort to unmask you by sending a subpoena to the blog hosting company. Annoying the federal government could also be trouble. In a September 2004 opinion, one federal judge wrote: "The FBI theoretically could also issue a (secret request) to discern the identity of someone whose anonymous online Web log, or 'blog,' is critical of the government."
To shield yourself from lawsuits and other legal worries, posting to your blog through a service like Anonymizer.com might be a safer choice.
Do all companies consider blogging an activity unrelated to work?
No. Some companies view blogs as a good marketing mechanism and encourage employees to create them. If that's the case, it's reasonable to update your blog on the company clock. Check with your manager if you're unsure of your company's policies. If blogging at the office is OK, you should still be clear about how much time your boss expects you to spend on it. If your blog is strictly extracurricular, do it in your spare time.
Does that mean blogging could boost my career?
The chances that someone will find your blog are low. Only 3 percent of companies read job candidates' blogs before deciding whether to hire them. That said, as blogs become more noticeable, they could help or hurt your career, depending on what you write. Highly personal information could turn a prospective employer off, while nonpersonal commentary that shows off your job-related expertise might impress someone.
Has blogging helped anyone land a job?
Yes. Robert Scoble said blogging helped him land a gig at Microsoft a couple of years ago. A Microsoft executive became a fan of Scoble's tech-focused blog and eventually hired him from NEC. Scoble said the blog's honest observations, including some criticisms of Microsoft, helped win over his future boss.
Marketing consultant Elisa Camahort used her blogging habit to launch a writing career. The Santa Clara County Democratic Party pays her to write its blog, and a weekly Silicon Valley paper has hired her as a food columnist. She advises job-seeking bloggers to forgo the dear-diary approach and write instead in an informed way about topics they are passionate about--politics and culture, in her case.
Are there some examples of high-profile workplace bloggers?
Yes, some companies have embraced blogs as a powerful communication tool, and some top executives now publish blogs. Examples include: Jonathan Schwartz, president of Sun Microsystems; Mark Cuban, Dallas Mavericks owner; Bob Lutz of General Motors; and Microsoft's Scoble.
Are there any blogs about workplace blogging?
Yes, there are several concerning blogs as a marketing tool. Here are a few:
http://workerbeesblog.blogspot.com
http://blogwrite.blogs.com
http://www.micropersuasion.com
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I feel that C/Net is one of many media sources that is hyping this up to be a first admendment and freedom of speech issue with the recent firings of the Delta and Google employee. To be fair, C/Net has gradually change the tone of recent articles noting the other side of the argument (whereas in the first 4-5 stories were more of a "freedom of speech" 'tude). Obviously, so such right exists when one violates a NDA or company ethics. I really could not give a care to people who blog, just DON'T EXPECT ME TO BE SORRY for them losing their jobs over being stupid (i.e. Simonetti and Jen). At least Jen admitted responsibility for his actions and have found new employment.
10 years ago, this would all have been about email, or emerging websites. And you know, someone would still be saying "all these websites just link to each other, there's nothing interesting, I'm sick of hearing about the web."
Blogs may be a subset of the web, but the pattern is very similar to the emergence of the web, from the initial explosion to the sudden arrival of media and commercial attention.
You know, I'm sick of hearing about this Internet thing. CNET, please stop writing about the Internet. It's all people whining about how much spam they get and copyright lawsuits. Sure, there are a few interesting sites on the web, but most of them are boring and the signal-to-noise ratio is way too high.
I feel that C/Net is one of many media sources that is hyping this up to be a first admendment and freedom of speech issue with the recent firings of the Delta and Google employee. To be fair, C/Net has gradually change the tone of recent articles noting the other side of the argument (whereas in the first 4-5 stories were more of a "freedom of speech" 'tude). Obviously, so such right exists when one violates a NDA or company ethics. I really could not give a care to people who blog, just DON'T EXPECT ME TO BE SORRY for them losing their jobs over being stupid (i.e. Simonetti and Jen). At least Jen admitted responsibility for his actions and have found new employment.
10 years ago, this would all have been about email, or emerging websites. And you know, someone would still be saying "all these websites just link to each other, there's nothing interesting, I'm sick of hearing about the web."
Blogs may be a subset of the web, but the pattern is very similar to the emergence of the web, from the initial explosion to the sudden arrival of media and commercial attention.
You know, I'm sick of hearing about this Internet thing. CNET, please stop writing about the Internet. It's all people whining about how much spam they get and copyright lawsuits. Sure, there are a few interesting sites on the web, but most of them are boring and the signal-to-noise ratio is way too high.
Your employer also generally has the right to end its relationship with you (it's called getting fired).
It's pretty unreasonable to expect someone to pay you to work for them if you're, say, complaining about the company publicly.
Your employer also generally has the right to end its relationship with you (it's called getting fired).
It's pretty unreasonable to expect someone to pay you to work for them if you're, say, complaining about the company publicly.
and see if you still believe all blogs are garbage. thank you for your interest in advance
and see if you still believe all blogs are garbage. thank you for your interest in advance
Politician salaries to be reduced for each job lost
Labor-hire and HR to be outlawed as a result of United Nations ruling on human rights abuse
Hiring managers obliged to hire at least 10% unemployed
Fines and jail terms to be imposed for discrimination and privacy infringement with respect to age, employment-status and history
Company owners, executives and families to serve 8 weeks per year in homes of lowest paid employees