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Assessing your online profile
Networking for Work: http://networkingforwork.org.uk
How do youlook online?
- The importance of checking your current online profile: even if you don't look, a potential employer very well may!
- How to search online for publicly available information about you.
- How to deal with your findings: tightening the privacy settings on your own profiles and coping with content others have posted online about you.
“One of the checks that I do is I use social media.”
“Number one search: Google – type your name in there and see what came up.”
“Next Facebook, depending on your privacy settings I should be able to access your profile at least.”
“I also check Twitter…if you’re moaning all the time on Twitter you’re not going to get very far...”
(Teaching Agency recruiter interviewed by Networking for Work)
[Photo by: Robert S. Donovan]
[Photo by: Elvert Barnes]
Google yourself – what comes up?- Check the 'Images', 'YouTube' and 'News' tabs as well as the main Google search page.- If you have a common name, try including your area name as well (e.g. 'Sarah Smith Cardiff') to find yourself online.
Do you have a public Twitter account?- If so, be mindful of what you say and how you say it (spelling and grammar as well as subject matter).- Consider making your account 'protected' if you do not want a potential employer to read your tweets.
Do you have a Facebook profile?- If so, go to your profile page and select 'View As...' from the 'Activity Log' menu.- This will show you what 'non-friends' can see on your Facebook profile, including wall posts and photos.
How can we deal with this?
- What details about you are publicly available online?
- Is it things that you've posted on your own profiles/accounts, or something that others have posted about you?
- If it's your own profiles that are presenting a problem, then you can take control by logging into these and deleting the content and/or changing your privacy settings so only your online 'friends' can view them.
You can make a public Twitter profile private- Simply log into Twitter, go to 'Settings', select 'Protect my tweets' and save changes.- Bear in mind that your Twitter profile picture and bio will still be publicly viewable.
Changing your Facebook privacy settings- Watch this how-to video from Digital Skills Network at: http://youtu.be/cERsasYHRJA - You can also access this video and other Facebook guides on the 'Resources' page of our website networkingforwork.org.uk
If it's content others have posted about you...- On Facebook you can 'untag' yourself in photos or posts you're not happy with.- You can also remove the content from your timeline.
If the content is posted by a friend or contact...- Try asking them politely to amend or delete the content.- Explain that you're trying to improve your online profile to support your search for work.
If the content is anonline news article
- Is what's posted true?
- Could things be rectified with a few words or new juxtaposition (such as the above article)? Think about exactly what it is about the content you'd like to change if possible, rather than just saying you don't like it being there.
- If you're approaching a news organisation, find a named editor and lay out your issue carefully in writing, being specific about what is causing offence. An angry phone call won't help your cause.
Counteract negativecontent with positive - The best way to balance out negative content about you online is to build a more positive, professional profile for yourself.
- Something simple like a LinkedIn profile will rank highly on Google in a search for your name, as will a blog/Twitter account/Facebook profile in your name.
- Take control of your profile and create your own online spaces containing the content you want people to see.
[Photo by: winifredxoxo]
More tips for controlling your online profile
- Google yourself and check your public-facing online profiles regularly.
- Change the privacy settings on your more personal online profiles so only our friends can view them.
- Do not be afraid to 'untag' yourself from unsuitable content others post about you, or politely request friends to delete content about you they've posted.
- Check and play with the privacy of new online profiles you create.
