4 Ways Podcasting Improves Your Chances of Getting Hired

During Covid, many people have looked for new forms of entertainment and hobbies. And one form that’s both entertainment and hobby is podcasting. According to Infinite Dial, 55 percent of people in the U.S. listened to a podcast in 2020, up from 51 percent in 2019. And today, there are nearly one million active podcasts on Apple Podcasts.

As the world of podcasting continues to grow, hiring managers and job candidates have noticed something: developing a podcasting hobby can add value to your resume and significantly improve your employability. Here’s how.

1. It increases and highlights your communication skills.

Podcasting allows creators to practice communication skills, which is critical in the professional world. Whether it’s interviewing guests on your show or simply connecting with the listener through your own thought process, communication is vital in podcasting. Through the effort you take organizing talking points and structuring interviews, employers get an inside look on how you communicate. This provides them with a general understanding of what your communication style will be like once you land the position. Since employers get to see what they are in for before they hire you, they have a better understanding how you’ll fit into the team and be an asset to them.

2. It helps build your personal brand.

The topics you podcast about, how you interact with your audience and guests, and even your personality all become part of what’s unique to your personal brand identity. Not only does your personal brand identity help establish a connection with your audience, but it can also help employers understand what you’re like beyond your resume. It provides depth to your past work and provides a framework to help employers predict if you’ll be a successful new hire. Your personal brand is what makes you stand out among other candidates. Establishing your brand will attract employers that will be a good fit for you, ensuring a better-quality job search and outcome.

3. It showcases your expertise.

Podcasting also allows you to become an expert within your own industry. You become known for the information you share and interviews that you conduct. Becoming known as an expert in your industry exposes you to industry peers and allows for networking opportunities. Hosting guests on your podcast—whether they share the same ideas or you debate new perspectives—allows potential employers to see who you’re connected with. In addition, it allows you to become connected with those who may be hiring. This network puts you on a personal level with hiring managers, recruiters, and influencers. Employers are much more likely to be interested in a candidate if they already know them on a personal level and understand their work ethic. In addition, your network and contact book can be beneficial to your new employer when finding new clients and establishing business partnerships. This is a very valuable asset when employees consider new hires.

4. It expands your technical skills.

Now more than ever, employers want to see that prospective employees possess a broad range of skills outside of the typical ones required by their industry. Having the skills to set up equipment, edit, sound mix, and use professional software can prove to be extremely valuable to numerous sectors. Being tech-savvy is a skill that can get you into jobs at various levels and even take you across the world. While the things you say in your podcast are important, the skills required to bring the whole production together are just as vital.

Ginni Saraswati is the owner and founder of Ginni Media, a one-stop shop podcasting production house providing multiple podcast services in one company. Ginni Media has worked with clients such as Allure, Architectural Digest, and Siemens.