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That Beast - Google Search

Guest post by: Tonya Jarad

Article Overview: Potential employers are no longer settling for the pristine resume, stellar references and sharp business suits (although these do play an integral role in the hiring process). In a recent report conducted by Microsoft, in 2010, they found that 79% of hiring managers vigilantly screened the online reputations of potential employees looking for a job; and of those 79%, 70% rejected job applicants based on the results populated mainly through Google search.

That Beast - Google Search



In today’s competitive employment market our online reputation is just as important as our offline one. Potential employers are no longer settling for the pristine resume, stellar references and sharp business suits (although these do play an integral role in the hiring process). In a recent report conducted by Microsoft, in 2010, they found that 79% of hiring managers vigilantly screened the online reputations of potential employees looking for a job; and of those 79%, 70% rejected job applicants based on the results populated mainly through Google search. What is even more illuminating about this new type of “reference check” is the fact that employer’s final hiring decisions were determined through (personal photos posted, video clips, and inappropriate comments left on social media profiles, such as personal blogs, Twitter, and YouTube).

Moreover, in 2011, the Consumers Council of Canada researched and surveyed the negative effects of a job seekers online reputation in contributing to the final stages of the hiring process. They concluded that an individual’s online reputation does matter, and plays a significant role influencing whether you are successfully hired for the position, due to hiring manager’s prejudgment of you before you even have a chance to clarify or explain the content or material in question.

Yes, this is a reality of job hunting in the 21st century and how we present ourselves offline is just as important online. Maintaining a successful corporate image starts with a polished, powerful look that is representative of your personality, and area of expertise. However, it is equally important that this part of your personal branding matches your online representation of who you are as a future employee. It is a known fact that you only have a few seconds to make a solid first impression, and how well you succeed in the face-to-face interview is also heavily weighed against your online reputation (i.e. does your 5 minute sales pitch as to why you are an exceptional candidate for this position represent the same individual that was photographed guzzling five beers at the same time, while half naked?

Now this is not to say you cannot separate your private life from your professional one, but be smart about where you post your latest vacation photos. Always think about how others will perceive your twitter updates a few weeks from now, and is your Facebook account private or public? Most importantly, be proactive in searching your full name (first and last) on the Internet as a way to keep up to date with Google’s current findings based on your social activity online. Google is a great resource for countering a negative online reputation if you are consistent in following up with new alerts that include your name, as well as becoming your own personal online brand, which cast you in a positive light rather than a negative one. These are just a few simple tips to consider practicing in order to ensure that beast, known to many as Google, does not mangle your online reputation thus costing you your future dream job.

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Article Tags: Branding, Google, Hiring, Image, Managers, Online, Reputation



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Re: Search Engine Engineer Needed! - Hi dtmpower, I guess you can start with free option - Using Google Search. You can find it in your Google Adsense account. If you have the budget you can post on different forums and ask people for help.
Re: What I Enjoyed Reading This Week - June 11 - Hi Evan, Thank you for the reading material. I look forward to the general release later this month as outlined in the 'Google Analytics To Add Search Query Data From Webmaster Tools' article. Anything that helps us to understand maximise extra data from Google Analytics can only be of benefit. regards, Mal.
Re: Google Custom Search: Let Visitors Search YOUR Site Only - Thanks for the tip on Google Custom Search GT. You always have useful tips and ideas. MichelleJ
Re: Do You Monitor Your Brand On Twitter? - Yes, certainly i check my brand name on Twitter search even i also tried on Google Search. RSS feed is the better option to subscribe for the updates.


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