TECHNOLOGY CAREERS

Managing Your Digital Imprint

The line between personal and professional life has become increasingly blurred: We frequently work from home, send off our dry cleaning from the office, and, if we want to find out about a colleague’s favorite restaurant or music genre, we simply log onto Facebook or MySpace. The rise of social networking sites such as these, along with the fuzzy lines between public and private, make it easy to assume that the more information you have out there about yourself, the better.

However, anyone who has witnessed the very public meltdowns of certain celebrities can see that less information could be better when it comes to your reputation. Of course, most IT professionals aren’t contending with 200 paparazzi waiting for them wherever they go, but they do have to pay attention to their digital imprint. Much the way you might Google a blind date to get a better sense of the person before meeting him or her, hiring managers could conduct a search to find out more about you.

While you can’t control all the information pertaining to you on the Internet, there are steps you can take to boost the likelihood a potential employer won’t see aspects of your life that you’d rather keep private – like pictures of you participating in a hot-dog eating contest. Following are some tips to help you manage your online reputation:

Conduct a search. It may seem obvious, especially to IT professionals, but your first step should be to conduct a broad search using your name in quotes. You may find very little is linked to your name – or that there is much more information about you than you anticipated.

Optimize positive links. Whether or not negative information about you exists on the Web, it’s a good idea to ensure there are plenty of positive associations. If you don’t already have one, establish a professional web page. It should contain your contact information, your specialty, some explanation of work and your resume. It should not include photographs of you in a hot tub at spring break in Cancun.

You also should create a page on the site that links to some of your favorite websites; just make sure you wouldn’t be embarrassed to have a potential employer see any of them.

Make the most of social networking sites. LinkedIn and similar sites are good venues for learning about job openings and making new contacts, but be selective in whom you allow into your network. Potential employers who have access to your contact list may ask these professionals for referrals.

You also might consider joining a professional association. Some, such as the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP), allow you to post your professional contact information. Becoming a member of an association board, presenting at gatherings and maintaining an active presence in the organization are other ways to ensure your name is referenced in a favorable light online.

Speak out selectively. If you regularly contribute to blogs, be aware that what you say can reach a variety of audiences. Consider using a pseudonym if you wouldn’t want a potential employer to see your posts. These sites tend to be casual places where people write emotional responses relating to current issues. You can use BlogPulse or Technorati to track your postings.

On the positive side, participating in these forums can boost your online presence. For example, contributing guidance on an enterprise resource planning forum could help distinguish you as an industry expert.

Be prepared to explain. If there is unflattering information about you online that you cannot remove, be prepared to offer an explanation to hiring managers or current employers who come across it. Perhaps you made inflammatory remarks at a political rally 10 years ago and were quoted in the school paper. If a potential employer brings up the quote, you can give the situation context by pointing out that you were young and learned a valuable lesson in the need for diplomacy in communication.

Managing your digital footprint is an essential step for all IT professionals today.  Even if you aren’t currently seeking employment, you may enter the job market in the near future. By conducting searches of your name a few times a year, you’ll always know what information is being attributed to you – and have the opportunity to make adjustments as needed.

Robert Half Technology is a leading provider of IT professionals for initiatives ranging from web development and multiplatform systems integration to network security and technical support. The company has more than 100 locations worldwide. Search for jobs now or learn more at www.rht.com.