Do You Want That on Your Permanent Record?

If you don’t believe me, Google your name and see what is on your permanent record.  Better for you to be aware of what prospective employers or recruiters are seeing when they investigate you.  It is not just what you post, but what others post about you.  You may be mentioned on other sites. It is all a part of your digital footprint. Depending on the context, it could be damaging to your personal brand.

 Here are quick tips to keep your permanent record clean. 

• Research yourself. Type in your name in quotation marks. Evaluate what your record says about you. 

• Clean up your social networking and personal websites. There might places where information appears - places that you don’t control. Ask the publisher to remove the information, if you feel the data is damaging.  

• If you post reviews on Yelp, Amazon, or other sites, consider using an alias so you can review freely.  Or, use your real name and boost your credibility by answering questions on sites, commenting on blogs, or reviewing books as an expert in your field.  

• Change the settings on your social media sites so that those viewing the pages are limited to confirmed friends.  You can also opt not to be tagged in photos, on some sites.  

• Build a positive image online. Add data that promotes your desired brand.  Create a webpage or blog. Increase the backlinks to your webpage and this will raise the ranking of those pages with the search engines.

Be aware that you have a permanent record! Get to know your record so you can take control of your record.  Utilize the Internet to enhance your personal brand. With these tips you'll have a record that even your persnickety eighth-grade teacher, Mrs. Peterman, would be proud!