Mark Swartz, Career Coach

Employee & Job-Seeker Tip

CLEANUP

YOURDIGITAL

DIRT

FIND OUT WHAT’S ALREADY ONLINEABOUT YOU

FIND OUT WHAT’S ALREADY ONLINEABOUT YOU11..

• Type in the name that you use on your resume and business card

•Start with Google.ca, then Google.com

•Also check Bing.ca, Bing.com, Yahoo.ca, Yahoo.com

1.1 USE SEVERAL SEARCH ENGINES TO GOOGLE YOURSELF

1.1 USE SEVERAL SEARCH ENGINES TO GOOGLE YOURSELF

• Visit Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and search for your name

•Are you “tagged” in any photos?

•Has anyone else mentioned you in their posts or updates?

1.2 CHECK SOCIAL MEDIA SITES TOO1.2 CHECK SOCIAL MEDIA SITES TOO

•This site automatically collects Search Engine results about people and may create a

profile for you without telling you

•Claim your name and adjust your profile so that it shows links that reflect well on you

1.3 CHECK IF ZOOMINFO.COM TRACKS YOU1.3 CHECK IF ZOOMINFO.COM TRACKS YOU

CLEANUP YOURACT

CLEANUP YOURACT22..

2.1 REMOVE NEGATIVE INFO/IMAGES FROM YOUR OWN SITES

2.1 REMOVE NEGATIVE INFO/IMAGES FROM YOUR OWN SITES

•Review any links, comments or photos you’ve posted to your

own website (or blog, social media account, etc.)

•Delete any that might be seen as unprofessional or offensive if

they are publicly viewable

•Have digital dirt about you that’s stored on someone else’s

site? You’ll have to ask each person to take down the offending material for you

2.2 ASK OTHERS TO EXPUNGE GRIME ABOUT YOU ON THEIR SITES

2.2 ASK OTHERS TO EXPUNGE GRIME ABOUT YOU ON THEIR SITES

•Your social media accounts let you set your preferred privacy settings

•Adjust them so the general public only sees good things about you

2.3 ADJUST YOUR PRIVACY SETTINGS2.3 ADJUST YOUR PRIVACY SETTINGS

BURY ANY DIRTWITH CLEANER,SHINIER INFO

BURY ANY DIRTWITH CLEANER,SHINIER INFO33..

•If you don’t already have one, create a free presence for yourself on Facebook,

LinkedIn and ZoomInfo.com

•Make sure you present yourself as professional and

employable

3.1 CREATE A POSITIVE WEB PRESENCE FOR YOURSELF

3.1 CREATE A POSITIVE WEB PRESENCE FOR YOURSELF

• Post comments on blogs and sites in your occupation or industry

• Mention other people in your field, current news, insights

3.2 SHOW THAT YOU’RE ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTING

3.2 SHOW THAT YOU’RE ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTING

• Write short articles in your field of expertise and post them online

• Announce these in your blog or social media accounts

3.3 TURN YOURSELF INTO A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT (SME)

3.3 TURN YOURSELF INTO A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT (SME)

more on this topic:

Don’t Let Online Persona Hurt Your Resume

more career advice:

http://career-advice.monster.ca

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