Blogs, Resumes, and Information Overload
In December I wrote a post about blogs as the new resume in response to something I had read on a blog called "Servant of Chaos." I stated then, as I still believe now, that a blog can function as an annotated resume or portfolio, and it might even be easier and cheaper to construct or maintain than a portfolio website. I even recently reiterated my views here.
Turns out that I'm not the only person who holds these views by a longshot. First, though I cannot now recall how, I was alerted to a post, "5 steps to let your dream job find you," on the Marketing Nirvana blog maintained by LinkedIn's Community Evangelist, Mario Sundar. That post pointed me to a post by Adam Darowski called "The Blog is the New Resume." That piece unleashed a lengthy discussion (the preceding link will actually take you to a roundup of that discussion), demonstrating that a lot of folks have an opinion on this matter.
Reading through these various posts and round-ups I was struck not so much by the sound advice or the reasonable differences of opinions on display ("blogs are resumes," "blogs are NOT resumes," "your vanity Google search is your new business card," etc.) but by something that Immanuel Kant referred to as the "mathematical sublime." For Kant, the mathematical sublime, in contrast to the "dynamic sublime," which we encounter in natural wonders such as Niagara Falls, consisted in reason being overwhelmed by unfathomable quantity.
"Overwhelmed by unfathomable quantity" pretty much describes my daily experience as a blogger. How do others cope with this frightening and alluring experience of sublimity?
Is it wise that I encourage others to cast their career ambitions into this roaring and incomprehensible torrent?
Comments
Hey Matthew ... it seems to me that the mathematical sublime can only be countered by authority or influence. As bloggers we are, indeed, faced with an overwhelming mountain of data -- but a blogging community or network can filter content for you.
You don't need to know everything, but you do need to know what others in your area of expertise are thinking on/considering. That is where blogging communities come into their own.
Posted by: Gavin Heaton @ Apr 30, 2007