Got digital dirt? Oh my!
Last week you had a very productive conversation with a potential employer. You felt you established a good rapport; you explained how your background will meet his needs; and you asked relevant and intelligent questions that demonstrated your knowledge of the company. The job was all but closed. Today you called him and he was cold and aloof; he indicated that he might not need your services after all.What went wrong?
It could have been your digital dirt. Huh? Yes, digital dirt, the information about you that lurks on the Internet through personal sites, profiles on networking sites or comments on blogs.
Have you Googled yourself lately? Perhaps, you lost this lucrative job because he found a picture of you on My Space in an obviously tipsy state with a lampshade on your head. Maybe he saw your post on a blog where you criticized his favorite political candidate.
This situation is not unusual today. Employers are checking on your Internet presence. If you have negative information out there, clean it up. Now! How crushing it could be to have your career derailed because of damaging personal information on the Internet.
But in the opposite respect the Internet can boost your image as well. Demonstrate your business or industry savvy by posting well-thought-out blog contributions (don’t forget grammar and punctuation!). Highlight personal and professional accomplishments on your Web site or on networking sites; showcase your creativity and resourcefulness to differentiate yourself from your competitors.
And the more positive items you submit, the deeper you can bury any negative information you are not able to purge. The Internet is a wonderful tool. Make sure you leverage it to your advantage.
Donna Tucker
CareerPRO Resume Center
Phoenix, Arizona
This entry was posted
on Sunday, June 8th, 2008 at 4:28 pm and is filed under Uncategorized.
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