Tracking Your Reputation Online

The New York Post did a very interesting article last spring entitled “How to Protect Your Online Rep.”  Chris Erickson, the author, pointed out that just checking your name in Google and cleaning up your Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking accounts aren’t enough anymore.  Employers are looking deeper and farther.  Through the wonders of social networking (Web 2.0 to us), employers are able to check out the friends you keep, the forums and groups you like or take part in, virtually anything you list or choices you make while networking online.  It’s a scary world folks.

So what can you do about it?  According to Erikson, use (but don’t trust) privacy settings.  They are, at best, a stop gap,  not a fail safe.  Make sure you check out you name, email address, blog names, etc. in Google, Bing, Yahoo, and places like Zoominfo. You may be surprised at some of the places you find your information.  And for pity sake, don’t assume that once you’ve had a job interview, you’re home free.  If you tweet what a dumb idiot one of your interviewers was, that person will find out about it, trust me.  Even on the off chance he or she is not into social networking, their friends will be.  Be discreet.  You might not like that word, but when you are hunting for or trying to keep a new (or old) job, discretion is your friend.

It’s worth taking a look at the original New York Post article. Just click “How to Protect Your Online Rep” by Chris Erickson.

I also tracked down several books on the subject that the Newton Free Library now owns. These are:

Radically Transparent: Monitoring and Managing Reputations Online by Andy Beal and Judy Strauss (mentioned in Erickson’s original article).

Wild West: How to Protect and Restore Your Online Reputation on the Untamed Social Frontier by Michael Fertik and David Thompson.

Do It Yourself Online Reputation Management: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building or Repairing Your Online Reputation by Herbert Tabin and Craig Agranoff.  If you haven’t got a clue how to do any of this, start with this book.  Some of the reviews in Amazon complained that this work was too basic.  Sounds good to me.

Manage Your Online Reputation by Tony Wilson.

Good luck.

“Let’s be careful out there.”  Stay safe online and don’t do anything foolish.  You don’t need to have the added stress of identity theft piled on top of looking for a job.  And you will be tempted.  Don’t forget, there is always someone ready to pounce when you make an exception  – just this one time.

vea/20 September 2011
Newton Free Library
Newton, Mass.
http://www.newtonfreelibrary.net
http://jobsearchchatter.wordpress.com
Applying for Job LibGuide

September Offerings for Job Seekers at the Newton Free Library

Newton Free Library Parking Lot Entrance

SERIES PROGRAM:  The first of eight programs, Reinventing Yourself in Today’s Economy,  is being presented on Wednesday, September 14th, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm in Newton Free Library’s Drucker Auditorium.  It is part of the Library’s Job Seekers, Career and Professional Development Series being offered from September though May.  There will be two speakers, Danila Szekely and Tammy Gooler Loeb, both career coaches.  For a complete list of topics and dates, see my blog posting dated July 27th, 2011.  To find the Drucker Auditorium, take your first left after you come into the building from the parking lot. Then it’s the first door on your left.

This first program is being given by career coach Danila Szekely.  The presentation will include tools, suggestions, and exercises to help you progress to the next step in your career.  Whether you are working within your chosen career, looking for another position,  or seeking an entirely new job in a different field, the information provided here may prove useful to you.

CLASS:  The second September offering will be my Applying for a Job Online class being held on Thursday, September 15th, starting at 2:30 pm. The class can run over it’s 3:30 deadline depending on various factors in each class.  It must be over no later than 4:00.

How to Get to the Computer Training Room: The class is held in the computer training room on the second floor near the front staircase.  When you come off the staircase go straight.   There will be a reference desk on your right.  On your left you will pass a statue who’s back is to the study rooms.  Straight ahead will be the computer training room. If you come from the front elevator (on your right just before you get to the first floor Children’s Room) take a left as you step out of the elevator on the second floor then go straight and follow the directions as though you have come off the staircase.  This room is open for use when classes are not in session.  Hence the 4:00 deadline.  Patrons will be signed up to use the computers from 4:00 pm onward.

Class Content: The class covers the use of several online databases, gives tips on dealing with applying for a job online, and demonstrates in detail how to change a formatted resume into plain text.  Having a plain text copy of a resume is critical when it needs to be sent in the body of an email or to be cut and pasted into an online job application. There is a large amount of material to go over.  This is one reason a class can sometimes run overtime. You will be given handouts of everything covered in class. You should be able to  follow the handouts and  do at home most of what we do in class.

CLUB:  Now in its eighth year, “Women in Career Transition” will meet on Tuesday, September 20th, at 7:30 p.m. in Room A.  The meeting room is in the group of rooms directly across from Druker Auditorium.  The purpose of the club is to provide information, share concerns, and give support. It’s a great networking opportunity.  It is led by Joyce Picard, a Career Counselor.  If you are interested or have questions, you may call her at 1-617-969-5673.

vea/8 September 2011
Newton Free Library
Newton, Mass.
http://www.newtonfreelibrary.net
http://jobsearchchatter.wordpress.com
Applying for Job LibGuide