Online Reputation Management - top tips to help your job search

by philrosenberg | September 7, 2009 at 10:30 am

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Online Reputation Management can be used as a great tool for job seekers to gain an unfair advantage over their competition.

However, left unmanaged, your online reputation could be standing in the way of that next job.

The article discusses the advantages that Online Reputation Management can bring the savvy job seeker. But it also relates the danger of leaving your online reputation up to chance.

Whether you know it or not, you have an online reputation. If you aren’t managing it, someone else is (likely someone else who shares your name). It's your choice…Managed well, your online reputation can give you an unfair advantage over other job seekers. Left to run amok, your Online Reputation could kill your chances for a great job.

How will you manage your online reputation?

If a potential employer searched for you online what would they find? Would it help you get a job, or hurt your chances?

Online Reputation Management gives you the chance to gain an unfair advantage in your job search, by making it easier for you to be found. However, if not managed, your Online Reputation could deliver damage to your job search.

Online Reputation Management has two parts:

Managing Content: Much press has been made out of companies starting to check job seeker’s profiles on social networks. How could this be damaging? These tips aren’t meant to suggest you don’t use online services, just that you make sure to review what is publicly visible. Google searches can turn all of this up:

Inconsistency: Your profile could be inconsistent with your resume. Change your resume --> Change your profiles.

Unprofessional Content: Your profile could show unprofessional content – This is more relevant for FaceBook and MySpace accounts, where friends can tag you to pictures, and can post things to your landing page. Make sure you set your defaults so you approve everything that goes to your account. On Facebook, check all your walls and pictures daily.

Social Network Dating: Your dating history can show up on FaceBook or MySpace. If you use either of these networks to date, make sure to hide these from your landing page, so more conservative employers don’t have any reason to be concerned that you are a fan of popular adult entertainers on MySpace.

Online Dating: If you use online dating services, your profile can turn up, if you disclose your real name or even the same email address as you use for your job search or social networking. So use a pen name and a “pen email”, and keep your private life separate from your job search.

Online Photos: Your online photo album can show up in a search. Normally, this shouldn’t be a problem, unless you’ve joined groups that you might not want employers to see. Again, keep your private life private.

Rants: That blog or forum you blasted shows up on Google searches. Will your comments be favorable if reviewed by a potential employer?

Maximizing Effect: Online Reputation Management can amplify your exposure, and help your recognition as a Subject Matter Expert.

Google & Yahoo Ranking: ...