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What’s Google Telling Employers About You?

Editor’s note: Sandra Tedford (@Sandra Tedford) is a regular contributor, and as the founder of WeTalkToday.com, she addresses and teaches how to effectively use social media. She wrote today’s article about your online brand throughout the web.

Managing Your Online Reputation

Do you remember the last time you Googled your name?

Can’t remember?

Well, Google remembers the last thing you did and employers want to know.

Every individual must manage their online reputation. Why? Because what you do and say online is recorded permanently. Unfortunately, you can’t go back and change what you posted online.

Yep, that’s right.

That includes the comment you made about the politician who forgot to think before they spoke and the last time you gave your two cents about Hollywood’s latest celebrity breakup.

We all have a strong urge to voice our opinion on matters we care about. However, managing your emotions will help you to discern what not to say online for employers to misinterpret.

Employers want to know what potential hires are doing and saying online.

Why?

Employers are increasingly aware that people tend to let their guards down online. They want to know the real person behind the profile; To determine whether you’d be a good fit for their organization; And some use social monitoring just to simply spy on others.

How to Change What Google Tells Employers About You

Did you know that 1 in 4 people don’t have any positive content on the first page of Google?

Most people look only at the first page of search results in Google. That means if you don’t have any positive content on the first page you don’t have much at all.

If you want to look good online make sure you have positive content that shows up on the first page.

How do you do this? By doing the following:

1. Create profiles on reputable high ranking websites i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Linked In. Profiles on these websites generally show on the first page of Google. LinkedIn is a must have profile if you are currently seeking employment and most certainly if you’re employed. I’m amazed at the number of people currently employed that are not using LinkedIn.

How do I know?

If you Google a person’s name and their LinkedIn profile doesn’t show up, chances are they’re not using LinkedIn.

2. Provide positive comments and feedback on reputable websites and blogs. Choose blogs that have a significant following and traffic. Google tends to rank these websites very high. Google search results still show a comment I left on Quora almost two years ago.

3. Start A Blog If you’re looking for a new position or currently have one, start blogging about your area of expertise. This will not only help you look good online but will boost your reputation with your employers.

Managing what Google tells employers about you is up to you. If you want to stand out in today’s job market and be recognized by employers, you must go beyond the basics and do what others are not willing to do.

by ElkanoData. Browse more data visualization.

by Mark Anthony Dyson

2 More Online Resources To Help Proofread Resumes

I have reviewed a number of resources to help proofread resumes or any job search document such as cover letters or email. Since typos, grammar, and spelling can decide your chances of nabbing an interview and positively branding yourself, these tools will bring you closer to perfection.

I have found 2 other resources both online that offers more choices to help you proofread any document, including your resume. Although I recommend finding someone who proofreads well, both of these could be used in conjunction with two keen and knowledgeable eyes:

PaperRater.com

Paper Rater is a FREE resource for proofreading various types of writing such as research, article drafts, and casual. It is unique because of how you can set up the proofreading guidelines according to grade level from 1st to post doctoral. It allows you to set a plagiarism setting to determine originality. There is a box for citations but overall does not say what standard such as APA or MLA styles are used.

I gave it a go with a couple of blog posts that I completed for future additions. I have checked the box for 10th grade just to see if there was a suggestion or a difference maker. The post was about 500 words long, no citations or links at the time, with and without checking the originality checker. Although the originality took longer, it was hardly noticeable.

Fortunately, I had very few errors, and in fact, picked up and highlighted the word “bodacious (shout out to Snuffy Smith).” Another interesting thing that may help some is how the grade level works for vocabulary. The checker states that my “vocabulary sophistication” was below my grade level (again this was the 10th grade measure), and that I should use more sophisticated words for clarity.

PaperRater is entirely free now and is entertaining adding a Premium service. This service could be improved by adding a résumé formatted checker that would embrace the unique Word formatting.

Previous Posts about editing and proofreading:

Five Resources to Help Correct Resume Grammar Errors

Three More Resources to Help Correct Resume Grammar Errors Part 2

3 More Resources to Help Proofread Your Resume

Intelligent Editing

Perfect It 2

PerfectIt 2 is allows you to test drive it for 30 days without giving your payment information. Like Grammarly (although not as expensive) charges for regular use ($49). Unlike Grammarly and many others, you can download the trial. I tested it on a client’s resume and was more detailed than I thought. As stated below, it will check the complete document first removing comments and Word corrections:

Then it will note changes in 23 different places. Then it will list the suggestions and asks you permission for the suggested changes.

Once the changes take place a report is produced of corrections PerfectIt made as seen below:

Overall, PerfectIt corrects in much detail. The cost of a year membership, I think its one of the great bargains you can find.

Are there suggestions that I didn’t think of. What are yours? Please comment below.

image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

by Mark Anthony Dyson

Book Review: A Student’s Guide to Surviving Facebook After College

Most job seekers that I have worked with do not consider reading books as part of his or her strategy to succeed to obtain a job. In fact, it is my opinion that most people are satisfied with muddling through rather than to strategically and methodically market themselves.

This is a book you should grab:

A Student’s Guide to Surviving Facebook After College by Joshua Waldman

You can skip this review if you do not own a Facebook page. But I encourage you to read it anyway because it applies to anyone with a social profile. Then again, if you do not have a Facebook page, upon finishing this book, you will obtain one.

The Joshua Waldman book offers tips on filling out a Facebook profile and encourages readers to participate in groups and pages that offer job tips, guidance, and networks. He makes a compelling case for using Facebook apps and making us aware of some I didn’t know that existed. Most people have heard of Branchout, but have you heard of “Hire My Friend” or “Career Friend?” No? Neither did I.

After reading this book you will reconsider your Facebook profile as a professional profile and hub and not a social playground. Many recent graduates and young professionals continue to lack judgment in posting messages and pictures (Waldman suggests Reppler, a Facebook app that acts as a “robot mommy for your social networks but I digress).

It is critical that the job search mission is easily derailed by careless postings whether by updates, postings, and pictures. I think even the pages that you “like” can have a negative impact on your profile. Waldman covers all things privacy and appropriateness expressing the importance of protecting image and perception from potential employers.

I encourage my readers to spend the $7.99 through Amazon, and subscribe to Careerenlightenment.com for the content Waldman (@joshusawaldman) provide readers.