Have You Googled Yourself Lately?

If you are pursuing a job search, or simply concerned about your public professional image, (and everyone should be!) Google yourself to see what comes up. This is not a vanity move but a pro-active self defense strategy to make sure your web presence is polished and ready for public consumption.

It’s a given that employers will Google you if you are in the pipeline for a job with their organization. They are doing their due diligence to learn as much about you as possible before they extend an interview. Even if your resume and experience is stellar, their opinion of you may change if they find inappropriate references about you online.

Your mission is to beat them to the punch and clean up your web act. Facebook is the proverbial culprit since most people use this site for social connections. The reality is that Facebook is fair game so the party photos you showcase will make an impression on all who view your profile. You have control over what you post and you should check regularly to weed out content that others may post that could adversely affect you. Blocking content for non-friends is also a way to control what is visible to the general public.

Your professional image is your brand and you want to make sure that what comes up online is consistent with what you are presenting in your application materials. I have been on many search committees and the web research is part of the regular screening process for all candidates.

Web content can also work in your favor so use this resource wisely and update your profiles on LinkedIn and various other networking sites to showcase yourself at your best. Keeping all of this information current is your responsibility and also makes you recruit-able by employers trolling for talent. Take the time to make Googling yourself work to your advantage.