Using the Web to Enhance Your Career
Imagine that you've
just applied for a new job, and that you're feeling confident about it. You
have all of the skills and education needed for the role, and your first
interview went well.
So you're disappointed
when you hear that the hiring manager won't be calling you in for a second
interview.
When you ask why, she tells
you that she was put off by flippant comments that you'd made about your
colleagues on a social networking site. That's not the kind of behavior that
she wants to encourage in her organization.
Despite having the
right experience and qualifications, your online reputation has taken you out
of the running for the role.
Reputation management
is an essential part of career management, and your reputation now includes
what people can find out about you online. Photos, tweets, and comments - even
those posted years ago - can easily be found online, and they can come back to haunt
you.
In this article we'll
look at why it's so important to maintain a positive online reputation. We'll
then outline how you can use the Web to present yourself in the best light.
The Importance of a
Positive Online Reputation
Your online reputation
is now just as important as your offline one. In fact, it can be more
important, because content on the Web is, for the most part, there
indefinitely.
Recruiters, clients
and employers routinely search the Web to uncover the "real life" of
applicants, business partners, and employees. If people don't like what they
find, your reputation could be seriously damaged.
Employees at all
levels are affected. For example, the CEO of a global company posted online
images of his elephant-hunting trip in Africa. The images were graphic, and
upset thousands of the company's clients when they were circulated online. The
company lost clients as a result, and the CEO's reputation was tarnished.
On the flip side, a
positive online reputation can enhance your career, and can open doors that you
might never have opened on your own. For example, intelligent comments or
thoughtful blog posts can lead to promotions, new clients, and new
opportunities in your current role.
For instance, one woman was
promoted after her employer discovered that she had sent out encouraging tweets
to potential recruits. Her manager appreciated the positive message that she
was presenting about the company, and remembered this when a more senior role
opened up.
Note:
Keep in mind that your company may have policies covering the use of social
media.
For example, some organizations specify how employees should use social media
when at work. Others have rules in place for personal social media use, as
well.
In some circumstances, your job can even be terminated if you make
inappropriate comments online. Check your organization's policies carefully
Enhancing Your Online
Reputation
The thought of
checking every online entry about yourself can seem overwhelming, especially
because you can't control what others say about you.
The good news is that
there are plenty of tools - most of them free - that can help you manage your
reputation online. Let's look at how to get started.
Survey Your Current Reputation
Start by simply
searching for your name online, looking at both the image and website results
generated. Put your name in quotation marks, and include other keywords, such
as your employer's name or the city where you live.
Self-searching is also
an easy way to uncover any comments, blog posts, videos, or pictures that you
may have forgotten about. Do internal site searches if you use social media
sites such as Facebook®,
Instagram®, Flickr®, Twitter®, LinkedIn®, or Google+®, as parts
of these sites can be inaccessible to a general online search.
Next, set up a Google Alert for your name. Once you have signed
up for this free service, Google will email you when new content is posted that
includes your name. This will help you to monitor what's being published about
you as soon as it's live.
Limit Damage
It's important to go
through these results and think carefully about whether they present you in the
best light. If you wouldn't say something out loud at work, then it's not
something that you should say online. And if you would be embarrassed to have
your boss or potential employer see content about you, it's best to take it
down.
So, what do you do if
you uncover an embarrassing picture, comment, or testimonial that you want to
take off the Web?
If you don't control
the site in question - for example, if it appears on someone else's Facebook page
- you'll need to contact the owner or webmaster and ask them to remove it.
In some cases, Google
will remove content or images at your request. However, this only happens when
certain laws are being broken. If you suspect that inaccurate or confidential
information about you is being displayed on the Web, you can report the violation and
ask for the content to be removed.
Other search engines
offer similar services.
You can also manage
negative personal content online by uploading more positive content. Google
ranks content according to relevancy, so newer content, or content that many
other sites have linked to, shows up higher in search rankings.
So, how can you
generate positive content about yourself?
Future-Proof Your Reputation
Think about how you'd
like clients, managers, and future recruiters to view you online. You can build
that positive online reputation in several ways.
First, consider
starting a blog. There are numerous free blogging sites, and many allow you to
personalize the appearance of your blog, so that it reflects the content that
you plan to post.
You could focus on
your industry or area of expertise, or you could write informative articles
that teach others a useful skill. A blog will not only show off your
communication and branding skills, but it will also strengthen your reputation
as an expert. And, of
course, you're publishing content that you want others - current or future
employers - to see.
If you don't have the
time to maintain your own blog, consider becoming a guest contributor for
established blogs and websites, or think about commenting on content on social
media sites such as LinkedIn.
Tip:
It can be tempting to slip into an informal or humorous communication style
when using social media.
However, bear in mind that humor or a light-hearted response may not be
appropriate in a professional setting, especially if people could
misunderstand you.
When posting online, treat others as you wish to be treated, and take the
time to think about your responses fully. This is especially important if
you're discussing sensitive or controversial issues - here, you might want to
use a pseudonym.
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Maintain Privacy
You're probably
connected to family, friends, and work colleagues through social media sites
such as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. This can make it difficult to keep
your personal and professional lives separate. However, most sites have options
that allow you to limit who sees what.
· Facebook - To limit who can see a wall post, go
to your privacy settings page and select the "Public,"
"Friends," or "Custom" button. The Custom button allows you
to select the individuals who can see a particular post or image.
· Twitter - On Twitter, you have the option to
make your tweets public or private. Public tweets are visible to everyone and
can show up in search engines. Private (or "protected") tweets are
visible only to users whom you have approved. These tweets cannot be retweeted.
To protect your tweets, select the "Settings" option from the dropdown
menu at the top right of the page. Scroll down to the "Tweet Privacy"
button, and check the box next to "Protect My Tweets." Then click the
"Save" button at the bottom of the page.
· Pinterest - If you link your Pinterest account to
other social media such as Facebook and Twitter, others will be able to find
your account faster. To avoid this, go to the "Settings" page, and
switch the "Search Privacy" option to "Yes." Next, click
"Save Settings." This will tell search engines to ignore your
profile, although the changed settings can take several weeks to be processed.
· LinkedIn - LinkedIn is generally considered to be
"safe" social media because it's a professional social network.
However, its privacy settings can still affect your reputation. For instance,
your Twitter feed can show up on your LinkedIn profile page, and your professional
history can show up in a Web search.
LinkedIn has many options that let you control how much others can see in your
profile. Visit the "Managing account settings" page for a full list
of options for controlling the privacy of your profile.
Key Points
It's just as important
to manage your online reputation as it is to manage your offline one.
Negative online
content can turn up years after it was posted, affecting how clients,
colleagues, and hiring managers view you. Such content could even cost you your
job. On the other hand, a positive online reputation can open doors and lead to
new opportunities.
To manage your online
reputation, set up a Google Alert that notifies you whenever someone mentions
your name online. Carefully screen content that you've posted in the past on
Facebook, Twitter, online forums, or other websites. If you'd be embarrassed to
have your boss or colleagues see this content, try to take it down.
Last, manage what people
see by posting positive content about yourself. Create a blog, and write tweets
or status updates that demonstrate your expertise and willingness to help
others.
A Final Note
When you present
yourself in the best possible light, you open doors that you may not even have
realized existed. These could include finding new clients, opening up new
opportunities, and building better working relationships.
Next week, we'll look
at the power of good habits, and how they can guide you towards your goals and
dreams.
See you then!
James Manktelow