We promised an interactive, Web 2.0-esque way to participate in SEOmoz's hiring process, and here it is. Below are six blog entries, each written by our hiring finalists. Read each blog entry, then vote for the one that you think is the best. Remember, the topic we assigned to our interviewees was
user-generated content. Think of the following when reading each entry:
- Is it well-written?
- Is it on-topic?
- Is it well-structured?
- Is it entertaining and/or engaging?
Readers, we hereby present our hiring finalists' blog posts:
- Generating Our Stuff on Their Space
- Put on Your Asbestos Pants - Trailfire Bookmark Service Reviewed
- Privacy on the Web: A Graceful Waltz or the Double-talkin' Two-Step?
- Are the 'Digg 100' the New Rupert Murdoch?
- Navigating the Minefield of User Generated Content, or, Think Twice Before You Comment on This
- User-Generated Content, aka Free Speech
Feel free to comment on any of the posts, and don't forget to vote for your favorite:
About rebecca —
Rebecca Kelley is the content marketing manager for Intego, a Mac software company. She also guest-blogs/freelances at various places and runs a couple hobby blogs for shits and giggles.
All great posts. I would come to SEOmoz to read any of those.
Gotta post a "me too" about being too wordy. BUT there was some interesting stuff in there.
The privacy post was a little off topic. Not poorly written, just a little off topic (and the new topic was more boring lol)
The Murdoch post has a great title. Probably the most "bloggy" of the blog posts. Interesting read even if it was written a week or two ago.
The "Free Speech" post had the most passion. It was long as heck, but I actually read it all *gasp*. Interesting angle. Since that post was obviously strongly inspired by his/her own cultural experience, I wonder if the writer can write about daily SEO topics with the same passion
The first post was good. The writer seems young, potentially hip. I like reading "hip" stuff. Makes me feel "groovy".
The minefield said "ubiquity". I don't know what that word means, so I fear it. Seemed like the writer was trying too hard, which may (if writer is to be work horse) or may not (if writer is to be main site blogger) work well in this case.
All good posts. I can't vote because there are about 3 I think are equally as good and I can't pick one. (1, 4, and 6)
I agree that alot of them was a bit essayish, I have left comments on each one. It was only one of the entries that used humour in the first paragraph!
Humour definetly gets the British vote! (hmm..feels a bit like Eurovision Song Contest...Norway zero points)
Don't worry if you are American Eurovision probably won't mean anything to you.
Stop writing now Lisa..go home.
Thanks so much Lisa - it's fantastic for these folks to get your input and for us. And shockingly, I somehow know what Eurovision is... :)
I voted for no 5, simply because it was so easy to read and understand - no 4 was a close second. I don't always want to use my brain all the time, sometimes I want spoonfeeding, in an entertaining way -and the point is, actually, very valid. How much time is wasted ploughing through dross?
I totally agree. The SEO, Online Marketing, Web 2.0 niches are way oversaturated and there is information overload that must be dealt with. "Spoonfeeding" is my preferred choice too. :)
I normally wouldn't go through the pains of reading 6 lengthy essay-like blog posts from wannabes, but I've met most of the SEOmoz staff and like them. Just as friends are expected to support friends in defining moments, like a wedding, the birth of a baby, or moving into a first home, I feel obligated to help SEOMoz with this defining moment.
I've made comments on each essay, voted and wish SEOmoz the best in finding the right candidate (plus wish the candidates the best of luck in finding the right place to work).
Also a note to the candidates: having your friends vote in the poll or create new SEOmoz profiles might not get you as far as you think. SEOmoz will pay closer attention to real responses from people or readers they know.
You hit the nail on the head, webconnoisseur! I'm paying much more attention to the comments and feedback than I am to the the poll numbers.
Good to hear as the poll numbers are EASILY manipulated. It let me vote twice and tallied each vote. (Yes, it was an accident)
hmmm... I thought that they were all way too long, not very punchy and not too useful.
I think that in hiring someone you hire more on the characteristics of the person rather than on their performance here. The question is where did they write these posts and how long did they spend on them.
More important would be how they would respond if you took one of their posts, marked it up severely with a red pen and then see if they accept direction. Not that I use that as a style of management but if you point left and they go right - or go left while still looking right - then you hired the wrong person.
Egol,
Agree with you on the need to know a) How long the writtings will take; and that b) seeing how one handles disappointment is a good thing to check out.
- Daniel
...which is why we encouraged you all to post feedback on each of their blog posts, constructive or otherwise. I'd like to see how thick their skin is and how willing they are to improve and adapt to the feedback of the blogosphere.
My posts were sort of crap when I first started working here (and sometimes still are), so I would have killed to get some feedback like these newbies have the propensity to receive.
I encourage you all to comment on each blogger's post--I'm sure they'd appreciate the feedback.
While all of them were great, a few of them seemed to formalized like an essay and not a blog post. There were only a couple that really seemed to capture the SEOmoz tone and character. While informative articles are always helpful, it's important to keep constant with the brand. (Hope that's ubiquitous enough of a response) I did leave a comment on the one I liked best.
Overall, nice job everyone. I can see why you were all finalists and hand selected by Rand and Rebecca. May the best man/woman/chimera win!
Roadies, care to share which felt too "essayish" and which felt more like "true blog posts"? I'd love to hear your input.
First off, its a brave thing to go off and post something for all to see as part of an interview process. So kudos to all of you candidates!
Following with Roadies, I agree and have the seem feelings about some of the postings (granted, capturing the look and feel is a hard thing to do on the first try). The posting were somewhere between essays and newspaper editorials, esp the following:
Entry #1: Generating Our Stuff on Their Space Entry #4: Are the 'Digg 100' the New Rupert Murdoch? Entry #6: User-Generated Content, aka Free Speech
If there's a second-round, you may want to consider a character limit. Sound constricting, but I think it really makes one creative to say something impactful while being very succint. My prof. was notrious for demanding a comprehensive essay in 500 characters or less - to mimic the StateDept/CIA Memo styles.
In any case, good job to all y'alls! And as Roadies said: May the best man/woman/chimera win!
Cheers,
Daniel
Rebecca, to answer your question I agree with Daniel. I was wondering if I should add #3 to the list too, but it does have a nice balance and is broken down easier than the others. #2 was an excellent product review as an example of a post, and #5 had the information I didn't know I was looking for, was fun to read, and very personalized.
Right on with the "essay" observation.
How do you keep the candidates from getting their friends to stuff your ballot box?
Even if they did, it's not like the most popular blogger will hands-down get hired. We have a second interview tomorrow, and a multitude of factors (the second interview, the first interview, the resume, and the blog post) will be considered before we make our decision.
We thought of that. One of the requirements of the position was having no friends.
;)
Oooh.... why didn't you say so earlier?! I would have been a clear candidate and should have applied. But, about the whole Seattle locals thing, you're wanting to open a second office in Vegas right?
...which makes it much easier to get them to drink the SEOmoz kool-aid >:D
What's that? Is it the "after work drinks" I hear so much about?
I think they are all smart enough but I particularly enjoyed the last 2.
Normally, I'd like to post my take on this, but it wouldn't be fair. I would ask that if you have the time (and I know that's a lot to ask since some of these are long), you read them and vote.
Thanks a ton for your participation - now it's time to watch some MNF (two games in one night - it's like X-mas!) and review sites on the laptop all night :)