PRINTYou’ve been Googled
How to make your public identity No. 1
Chris Canipe
June 17, 2009 | 12:00 p.m. CST
Googling “Chad LaFarge” yields more than 600 links, including his personal real estate Web site, social networking profiles and business-related sites. These are what LaFarge, a Columbia real estate agent, considers his signposts — countless sites and tools that help guide people to him.
LaFarge says his sites aren’t meant to grab someone’s attention. “But if someone’s trying to find me, I just want them to have a means,” he says.
The 10 hyperlinks that show up beneath a Googled name are the first clues strangers have to someone’s identity — one’s online presence.
In the past, you couldn’t control what Google displayed below your name, but about two months ago the company began offering users power over the last spot on their results page.
A Google profile can fill that spot and looks like a simplified version of Facebook or LinkedIn. But, a Google profile appears on the results page.
Just a cyber toddler, the Google profile feature hasn’t existed long enough for experts to assess its effect on name searching.
However, Amanda Nell, MU Career Center coordinator of student employment services, says if she were trying to dig up the truth about job applicants, a Google profile wouldn’t be the first link she would click.
She advises clients to manage their digital dirt so they aren’t ashamed if either business or personal online content seeps into the opposing sphere.
Do
Be shameless. Google yourself, or search your name on pipl.com.
Create a Google profile. “A lot of times when you have a new product that launches like that, they’re pretty successful, especially if it’s tied with a name like Google,” says Daniel Vo, director of sales and marketing at 365 Interactive Design in Columbia.
Join several social networking sites. Give employers instant access to you. Dan Stokes uses his Google profile “for sparse work details” as an application developer in Columbia but divides most of his time between Facebook and LinkedIn. “I honestly do not take full advantage of Google profile, as I have yet to find something that Facebook cannot do,” he says.
Post a resume and portfolio on a personal Web site. A human resources rep will hire person X instead of person Y if only X’s portfolio is online. In the meantime, Y’s snail-mail portfolio might arrive in time for Monday’s trash pickup.
Find out what cyber networks your colleagues are going to. Sign up for professional groups or discussion boards that can keep you updated on industry news.
Set your privacy settings sky-high, and clean your content anyway. Some employers know how to bypass privacy settings or use interns in order to access profiles, Nell says.
Know this: Whatever you post is fair game. Regardless of privacy settings, once you post something online there’s no guarantee who will or won’t see it. You can be yourself, but be a smarter version of yourself online.
Don’t
Fly political colors, unless you’re looking for political jobs.
Lie on applications. But if you must lie, don’t post the truth online.
Leave information slots blank on sites such as LinkedIn. Fill out your employment history, education, skills, etc. Leaving slots empty wastes an opportunity to sell yourself and can send a message of laziness or suspicion.
Be afraid to reject friend requests. Colleagues might be irked that you didn’t accept their friend invitation, but at least your profile is free from embarrassing or career-killing comments they might leave.
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