Managing Your Online Identity While Looking for Work (Avoiding the Big Oops!)

A story that recently made itself into the media clearly illustrates the importance of managing your online presence and of maintaining constant awareness that your online activities are a part of the public domain. As the story is told, a few months back, a young woman using the popular micro-blogging and social-networking service Twitter, tweeted the following:

"Cisco just offered me a job! Now I have to weigh the utility of a fatty paycheck against the daily commute to San Jose and hating the work." To which she received the response:

"Who is the hiring manager? I'm sure they would love to know that you will hate the work. We here at Cisco are versed in the web." Oops. No, make that a big oops.

The unfortunate young lady was quick to take her account private, but the comment was already out there and easily found using Twitter search. Her comment not only made a bad impression with Cisco, but with the many other executives and professionals who saw it or heard about it. Today, that young lady is held up as a prime example of what not to do online when looking for a job. Her mistake was in believing that she could separate her personal online presence from her professional one; and you can't. Nor should you want to. A good online presence is a mesh of the professional and personal-creating a rounded and positive image of who you are and what you can do.

*** Believe Me, You're Out There

You may be reading this and thinking, "That's not a problem I face; I don't have an online presence." But more than likely, you're wrong. There is a strong chance that, if you've ever used the Internet, then you've established an online presence. Using social networking sites, commenting on blogs or articles, posting your resume or CV-all of these things create an online presence. So the question isn't, "Do you have an online presence?", but "How does that online presence make you look?" And if you're job hunting, then the answer to that question is paramount.

*** Yes, Your Personal Profile is Our Business

Okay, the next question in your mind may be this; "Why is what I do personally any business of yours?" The answer is simple: Most employers are looking for more than just skill-set and experience. They are also looking for people whose personality will fit in with their company. So they are going to take an interest in your personal profile as well as your professional one. Everything you do-from your Facebook page to uploaded photos of your latest trip to Spain-is susceptible to scrutiny by a potential employer seeking to learn more about you. So make sure what they find is something you want them to see. Consider the young woman on Twitter. Never did she dream that her personal comment would be seen by someone from the very company she'd been offered a job with. But it happened; and the cost was dear. She forgot how many eyes are looking; don't you make that same mistake. The last thing you want is for some senior executive to Google your name and end up with a photo of you drunk and happy, dancing half-naked on that beach in Spain.

*** Go Ahead, Google Yourself

Since it's out there and someone just might see it, you need to see it too. So go ahead, Google yourself. If you don't like what you see-even if what you are seeing is nothing-do something about it. There is a plethora of ways to establish a good online presence: networking sites, blogs, and personal web pages are just a few methods of getting your name out there in a positive way. I always that professionals involved in a job search create a LinkedIn profile. An online career portfolio that includes downloadable versions of your resume are another good idea.

The bottom line is, when it comes to the Internet and managing your online presence, there simply is no separation of personal and professional. So make sure that every action you take online works towards creating an image you want the world to see. Because whether you like it or not, we will eventually see it.