Being Anonymous on Google Won't Help Your Job Search

Have you heard about that person who was fired and had their career ruined because of something that they posted on the internet? I'm guessing that you probably have, because it happens so often. It seems that no matter how many times it happens, other people keep making the exact same mistakes. With the rise of social media, it's easy to forget that when you share things online, everyone can see them. Even though you're just sitting in front of your computer or sending a quick tweet from your cell, you are actually broadcasting to the world.



To make things worse, most companies do a Google search on applicants they are considering in order to gather more information about them. It's quick, easy and doesn't require any special consent or requests for a background check. When an employer searches the internet for your name, they will use any and all information they find about you to decide if you are a good fit for the job.



Knowing all of that, it's tempting to try to be as anonymous as possible. I guess the rationale is that if they can't find anything on you, then you don't have to worry about things being used against you. It makes sense. It's wrong, but it makes sense. To see how wrong it is, let's look at how the internet search process works.



So, what happens when a Google search for you comes back with nothing? The truth is that if there are no results for your name, the employer will probably not hire you. If you think about it, it makes sense. If most employers are doing a web search before hiring someone, they have probably gotten pretty good at it. After all, it's not rocket science. If not even a single page online is about you, then all they can assume is that you haven't actually stood out in any way, which isn't a good thing.  Even if you don't have any social networking accounts, they should at least be able to find comments you have left on websites that deal with your industry. If you have never read an industry related website, posted anything online or have never been mentioned by anyone else, you will appear to be someone who isn't actually aware of what is going on.



The best way to protect yourself against this is to have an Internet presence that shows what an amazing person and employee you are. If you haven't done this, there are a few easy was to create a web presence you can be proud of.

 

• Create a blog - Or just start reading them regularly. However, blogs have become almost an extension of your resume. If you do it right, it can even do more for you than your resume or a well written cover letter. When your blog comes up in a search result, the employer will have the chance to read about who you are, find out your ideas and opinions and see what type of person you are. What's even better is that you can create a free blog at Wordpress.com, Blogger.com or even LiveJournal.

• Build a website - Many companies that offer domain sales and web hosting have tools that make creating your website extremely easy. If you aren't sure what your website should be about, why not make it a virtual portfolio of your work? Because websites don't have to be updated as frequently as a blog, you can use your site to showcase who you are, your experience and your career summary.

• Use professional networking sites - Social networking sites like Facebook and professional networking sites like Linkedin can give you the space to show who you are to a prospective employer. They allow you to build an online profile, connect with people you know, past co-workers and even make new contacts. They also make it easy for an employer to research you and find out why you would be a good fit for their company.

Whichever way you decide to go, having a strong web presence is important. This way, an employer won't be scared thinking that you don't exist.



What do you do to improve your web presence? Please share your thoughts in the comments.