The world of job employment evolved to create a harder wall for hopeful applicants to penetrate. Your online identity proves to be a part of that wall. Ultimately, when you present yourself to your employers, you’ll also be presenting your virtual profile. Your online identity defines you.

1. THE
IMPORTANCE
of
MANAGIN
G
Your OnlineIDENTITY

2. Some time ago, while at a political event, I had several opportunities to be
interviewed by newspaper reporters. While I contributed to their stories, I did so
anonymously. Why? Simple. I conduct business on the web and am acutely aware
of the importance of managing and controlling my online identity.

3. While I absolutely believe in keeping my
business and my politics separate, that
isn’t the most important reason for my
decision. Rather, when a customer,
potential customer, or business associate
searches on my name, I don’t necessarily
want political articles coming to the
forefront of the search results.
At the top of my search results I want
my business websites, the websites
promoting my books and products,
business-related articles I have written,
my blog and LinkedIn profile, and other
professional sites. I want to maintain
some level of control over the
professional image and personal brand
that I display to the world.

4. Managing your online presence
and identity in this way is
important for every
professional and is especially
crucial when you are looking
for a job. When a recruiter
targets you as a potential
candidate for a job opening,
more often than not the FIRST
THING THEY DO IS TO GO TO
THE WEB AND SEARCH ON
YOUR NAME TO SEE WHAT
POPS UP.
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can separate your personal online presence
from your professional one; you can’t. Nor should you want to. ”

5. 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. On the other hand, it is wise to
be prudent about what you release to the public domain. Topics such as religion and
politics are often controversial and have the potential to cause bias in others’
perceptions of you.

6. You may be reading this and thinking,
“That’s not a problem I face; I don’t have an
online identity.” But, if I were a betting
person, I would bet that you’re wrong. If
you’ve ever used the Internet, then there is a
strong chance that you’ve established an
online presence. Using social networking
sites, commenting on blogs or articles,
reviewing a book, posting your resume–all of
these things create an online presence. So
the question isn’t,
but “How does that online presence make
you look?” And if you’re job hunting, the
answer to that question is paramount.
“Do you have an
online presence?”

7. 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.

8. So make sure what
they find is something
you want them to see.
The last thing you want
is for some recruiter to
Google your name and
find a photo of you
drunk and happy,
dancing bikini-clad on a
beach in Cancun. Will
this eliminate you for
consideration? Maybe.
Maybe not. But, is this
the impression that
you want to make on
your future boss and
co-workers?

9. 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
identity: networking sites, blogs, and personal web pages are
just a few methods of getting your name out there in a positive
way.
I always recommend 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.

10. 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.

11. LONG DISTANCE JOB SEARCH TIP #7:
Michelle Dumas runs of one of the longest-standing and most
respected professional résumé writing firms on the internet,
Distinctive Career Services, LLC (dba Distinctive Documents).
Since 1996, Michelle has empowered thousands of professionals
with résumés that get results and win jobs fast. Get insider
résumé writing tips that you won't find anywhere else at her
website. Go now to www.distinctiveweb.com
The Internet’s Résumé & Career Marketing
Specialists…Since 1996
www.distinctiveweb.com
resumes@distinctiveweb.com
(800) 644-9694
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