If an employer receives your resume and they have some level of interest in you, chances are, they will google your name. The question you want to know the answer to is “what will they see?”. “Nothing” is not a good answer. You don’t have to be an avid blogger. You don’t even need to have your own website (though it might help).
Measure and Control You Online ID
I read a blog post by Career Goddess about online identity management which led me to Online ID calculator to check out my online identity level. I scored well using Career Sherpa. I’m not so sure how well I would have scored using my name- it is pretty common. BrandYourself and Vizibility are similar tools to help you improve your search rankings.
The online identity assessment started by asking me to google my name so I did : “Career Sherpa”. (Use quotation marks). How many results did you get? How many are actually YOU? How many are on the first page?
There are several ways to increase being found on page 1.
- Make sure you have a LinkedIn profile
- Blog or comment on blog posts relating to your industry (industry related is key)
- Create a Twitter account and use it professionally
- Use Facebook (don’t forget about BranchOut and BeKnown apps)
If you want to blog, rather than start your own, which isn’t hard, however, can be time consuming, try and find a users group or Ning site dedicated to your profession or industry. You can sometimes have a mini blog which is hosted by the larger group.
The other way you can become recognized as a thought leader in your field is to submit articles to industry publications.
This can all take time. It is an investment in your future. You can either jump on the bus now or…
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
