What Does Your Online Reputation Say About You

What does your online reputation say about you?

Have you “Googled®” yourself lately?

Perhaps there was a time you did a search for someone that you were or have been close to.  Were you shocked at some of the information you turned up?

The internet is an amazing source of information, but the internet also doesn’t forget much.  It’s like that saying, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas,” unless it was put on Facebook®, Twitter®, YouTube®, etc.  Nothing at all seems to be private anymore.

So, what does the internet have to say about you and why should you care?

If you are reading this it means, perhaps, that you are considering a career change.  Most hiring managers, recruiters, or human-resource managers will do a search for you on the internet to see what comes up, good or bad.

Most people have no idea what is out there about one’s self on the internet, but running a quick search and then managing that information to make sure you are perceived as professionally as possible is crucial if you are going to land that next job.  It is becoming a near certainty that if you are working with a company that employs an HR manager, background checks will be done.

1.       The first step is to know what is currently out there.  If you have a pretty common name it may be hard to sort through all the “David Smith’s” out there, but get specific, add your city and state, and also search your email address.

·         Key point - Our name, city, and state will turn up a lot of information but the email address is something people overlook.  Every online application seems to want your email address, so do a quick search of those as well to see what turns up.

2.       The next step is to determine if what is out there could help or hinder your job hunting efforts. 

·         What do your results say? Are the results that come up professional?  Or, do the results scream, “My life is a big party”?  If you are not sure, find someone that you would consider a “peer” to evaluate your results with you.

3.       Now that you have found what your “online reputation” looks like, even if there’s nothing bad out there about you, no incriminating pictures, etc, what can you do to improve it?  Just like your resume, you can utilize the internet to improve your online presence and make a good impression.

·         Utilize LinkedIn®.  LinkedIn® is a professional networking tool.  It’s free and it’s a great place to lay out all of your experience and credentials.  By keeping your LinkedIn profile up to date and active, it helps build credibility for you and your field.

·         The same with Twitter®, utilize it.  This may not be a tool you’ve explored often, but you can make use of Twitter® to network with others in your industry and provide professional and useful information.  Twitter® is fast becoming a valuable way to network.

·         Facebook® – If you have to, change your image.  More than 50% of the population is on Facebook®.  Do you really think that the HR manager you are planning on interviewing with is NOT on Facebook®?  Take down pictures that don’t show you in a professional light.  If you have a habit of doing so, stop posting defamatory statements about others.  Everyone needs to vent sometimes, but if you are seeking a job, this is not the place to do that.  Also, whomever you “Like” will show up on your profile and that may say volumes about what you believe in.

·         Trade Associations – Some of this will depend on where you are in your career, but if you are a member of Trade Associations or have participated in many trade meetings or shows these will show up online.  Again, it can improve your credibility and present you as more of an expert in your field.  The same is true with articles you may have been quoted in at one time or another.

First impressions are still very important today when submitting your resume or meeting a hiring manager face to face, but you have to be aware and manage your online reputation as well.  It can help to boost your credibility for a job, or it can make your opportunity go from having a great interview and overall outstanding first impression, to falling out of favor for the job after a brief search online that shows you bashing your former employer on Facebook® or Twitter®.

The bottom line:  Know what’s out there about you, manage it, and work towards improving your online reputation to that of an expert and “go-to” person in your field.

Article Written By:  Ag 1 Source Consultant – Rhonda Caughlin-Werner