Applying for a new job? Chances are that if your resume makes the grade, your new employer is going to plug your name into Google long before ever picking up the phone to call you back in. Just think about how often you do a quick Internet search before or after meeting a prospective client, supplier, hire, date, etc. In a recent survey of 100 executive recruiters by execunet.com, 77 percent of respondents said they use the Internet to uncover additional information about candidates. A third of those managers had eliminated applicants based on what they found. So while your work history might be spotless, a scandalous photo on Flickr.com, a tasteless comment on YouTube.com, or even an ill-advised political rant can get you blackballed. The first 3 pages of search engine results reveal a lot about a person. But the idea is: If there's enough content about you that's positive, it will camouflage the negative. Take the following steps to ensure that the next time your name gets typed into a search engine, those results uncover a spotless reputation.
Start a Blog
The benefits to starting a blog are many. One of the best is credibility. If you start a blog about your area of business expertise and write insightful stories on a regular basis—with proper grammar and all of your i's dotted and t's crossed—that can position you as an expert in your field and can help overturn any negative press or comments that may have been posted about you online. And because blogs are endorsed by their authors, they usually appear first in search results, which are ranked in order of recent updates, originality, and authoritativeness. To get started with your own blog, take a look at the top three most popular blogging services: Blogger (www.blogger.com); TypePad (www.typepad.com); WordPress (www.wordpress.com)
Create a Web folio
Short for website portfolio, a Web folio is a simple website that showcases your resume and other accolades. In other words, it's a website about you where others can go to learn more about you. The domain name should be your first and last name and the more of your accomplishments that you exhibit here, the better. Potential employers, and anyone else visits your Web folio, will want to not only view your work experience, but also get a feel for who you are and your personality. If you communicate all of this in a friendly, yet professional tone, convincing a recruiter or potential business partner that you're not the wild party animal that Flickr makes you out to be might take only a few minutes, as opposed to days or never. Here are a few good examples of what a Web folio should look like: Logan Kugler (www.logankugler.com); Chris Saribay (www.chrissaribay.com); Linda Formichelli (www.lindaformichelli.com)
Flesh Out Your LinkedIn Profile
Nearly 20 million business professionals are on LinkedIn. If you're not one of them, you're missing out. Not only is it the best networking tool in the world, but your LinkedIn profile can double as your online resume, even if you don't actively use the website to network. However, getting your LinkedIn profile page to appear first in search engine results will require you use the site to its full capability. While LinkedIn is incredibly useful in so many ways, one of the best ways to counter any e-skeletons you may have hiding in your closet is by getting people you've worked with in the past to write short recommendations about you which appear on your profile. Here's a great article by Guy Kawasaki about how to make sure your LinkedIn profile is operating on all cylinders: http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2007/01/linkedin_profil.html
Promote Your Web Pages
The best way to increase the ranking of your favorable web pages is by doing some guerrilla marketing. When you write a great story on your blog that you think others would be interested in, submit it to websites like Digg (www.digg.com) and Slashdot (www.slashdot.org). Another great way to increase traffic is by sending a link to the top blogs covering your industry. For example, if your blog is in the realm of technology, you can send a link to your story to top blogs like Gizmodo (www.gizmodo.com) and Engadget (www.engadget.com) as a news tip. Just make sure the story is new or original—blogs don't like using anything but the latest content, especially the bigger ones. And if you haven't already, add a link to your Web folio and mention your LinkedIn profile in your e-mail signature. Finally, don't forget to utilize your LinkedIn connections. Once you've got a few posts up on your blog, send a note to all of your connections asking if they'd like to subscribe to your blog.
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I am terribly afraid of social media. I was mentioned in a book about a serial killer one time and thought it was cool. I learned right away not to tell many people about the book, because even though I wasn't the person about whom the book was written, I suffered many negative consequences for it. People are so cruel, even when just writing in the comment sections after articles. I don't trust people and figure I'm safer with them knowing as little about me as possible.
Great advice. I'm going to be more diligent of maintaining and monitoring my web portfolio! Thanks for the insightful and true push in the right direction.
Nobody can go back, rewind the time and start all over again but anyone can start today and make a new ending. by Maria Robinson. I hope anyone who had mistakes in life can learn from these after all life is a continuous learning process.Pray hard that someone will give another break and promise yourself to do better.
The Internet is taking over your life. There is nothing personal. No one on one, You have no private life left. Maybe I'm from the old school, but I'm having a terrible time getting any job. 3 out of 4 of my past jobs don't exist anymore. What do you do about THAT.One frustrated internet user, that has been using a computer since 1985... I can say this.
Maria s
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well if you put the truth on the resume and all the education. all the history of jobs the you have in the pass years. if they don't call you what happen in that situation? i apply every where
Rebecca S
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Keeping your Face Book/Twitter/Google/Yahoo, etc accounts clean is very good advice--don't leave anything on it that could jeopardize your chances of finding/landing a job!
Debbie M
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I have a felony for a check charge in Feb 2007, when will I be able to not have to notify employers of this ?I know it is hurting me, but all I did was pay the fine and it was over with.Any advice is appreciated.
Randy s
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I HAVE AN ARREST IN N.C. OVER 25 YRS. AGO.N.C. AND VIRGINIA DO NOT EXPUNGE ARREST RECORD.HOW DO I HANDLE THAT ON AN INTERVIEW. THANKS
I find it very unfair that everyone has to jump through hoops to get a job these days. Background checks and credit checks and soon it will even be medical checks.I cannot believe that I have put in numerous resumes and I cannot seem to find a job,I even went as far as to do my own credit check and background check to see if there was anything on them for my own personal satisfaction and there was nothing and still I cannot seem to find employment.I do believe AGE has alot to do with employment in the area too. It is unbelieveable.
Melanie Harless
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With the economy like it is and unemployment high folks are having a hard enough time getting a job and just because you have a "felony" employers become skeptical,so maybe the future will be that an employer will not be able to ask you if you have felonies. Something must be done. Congress are you ready for some opinions?I believe that there are 2 or more states now where that fits the bill,so to speak...
Mary Rose
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During a separation between my past husband I had a car turned in due to being separated. It was in my name, but I could not make the payments as he use to make the payments. I was turned down for a clearance in 2007 or 2008 because of this. What do you suggest I do? I am on LINKEDIN and FACEBOOK. Thank You, Kathy Rose
I have a recent criminal record, within 5yrs, what can I do in order to make sure I am getting a fair shake at a job?
Jorge R
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I am exploring to register in Linkedln, along with other social networks like Facebook and Twitter. However, in your article you mentioned that these social networks could be a focus of wrong information for prospective employers. How do I avoid being involved in wrongful stories?
Jeffrey Lorber
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I have hired hundreds of people in my career and the single easiest way to exclude people is to cut those with spelling or grammar mistakes. Triple check your resume! If you are writing directly on a web application (like this one) and where there is no spell check, write it first in Word then copy and paste.
Leonard Wilson
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A lot of positive comments without any affirmative action to be taken to cure the problem.
I took a college course on resume building etc. The instructor told the class don't give your SS# because of Idenity Theft with Applications laying around, nor Driver's License # at least for WA. state as you can take the first 2 numbers substract 100 and you have the year you were born. The last one is don't give out your birthdate. She said all three do not need to be given at the time, only give it out when they give you a job offer, otherwise they don't need it. I know it's against the law to ask you age including when you graduated high school. The only thing is they get around asking your age by saying it is for a background check, it may be fine if you are under 30, but I am 67, have managed 5 retail stores and owned four businesses. I don't look my age, but been unemployed one year and I for one don't want to give my info until the job is offered, but seems like you HAVE to fill it out either online or on job app. I wish I could get around it.
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