| Think you don't have to pay attention to your online | | | | New Year's party. |
| reputation? Think again. According to a recent CNN | | | | Sign up for Google Alerts. Google Alerts is a program |
| report, 43% of employers keep tabs on employees by | | | | that will send you email notifications whenever search |
| visiting social networking sites and using search | | | | results change for keywords you specify, such as |
| engines. There's a good chance your boss is doing a | | | | your name. This will help you keep track of who's |
| Google search on you right now-do you know what | | | | talking about you and what they're saying. |
| he'll find in the results? | | | | Send a letter. If you find something damaging on |
| Many of us build our profiles on Facebook, MySpace, | | | | someone else's site, it may be more difficult to remove. |
| and other social networking sites without considering | | | | But you won't know until you ask. Send a polite letter |
| that someone other than our close friends will see | | | | to the site's administrator explaining the situation. Take |
| information about us. But those embarrassing college | | | | a deep breath before you do this and whatever you |
| pictures of you could cost you a job opportunity. Here | | | | do, don't come off as angry or confrontational. This |
| are five ways you can ensure your online reputation | | | | isn't likely to get you the results you want. Legally, you |
| doesn't come back to haunt you. | | | | may not be able to force anyone to take down |
| Search for your name regularly. Once a week or so, | | | | pictures of you-although if they're publishing untrue |
| type your name into Google and see what comes up. | | | | information, you may have a case for libel. |
| Don't just look at the first page of results-dig into the | | | | Bury the bad under the good. You may not be able to |
| second, third, or even fourth pages. If you don't see | | | | get rid of some of the damaging material about you. If |
| anything damaging, that doesn't mean there's nothing | | | | you can't, start a campaign to saturate the market |
| out there-it just means there's nothing out there right | | | | with positive information. Build a professional-looking |
| now. Keep an eye on the search engines regularly, | | | | website showcasing your career skills, experience, and |
| and you'll be more likely to spot something damaging | | | | resume. Start a professional blog. Write articles in your |
| before your boss or recruiters do. | | | | industry and submit them to article directories. In your |
| Clean up your personal profile. Have a personal profile | | | | author's information box, include a link back to your |
| on MySpace, Facebook, or another social networking | | | | own website or blog, using your name as anchor text. |
| site? If so, look through it and remove pictures and | | | | This will help your own site rise through the ranks of |
| content that might compromise your professionalism. | | | | results for that keyword. |
| This doesn't mean you have to remove all vestiges of | | | | Your online reputation could be damaging your career |
| your personality; if your interests include rock climbing | | | | without your knowledge. It's vital that you keep on top |
| or gardening, there's no reason not to keep pictures of | | | | of online rumors about you-and if you find them, do the |
| your last climb or your prizewinning herb garden up for | | | | best you can to clean them up. Take these steps, and |
| all to see. But take down that picture of you dancing | | | | you can minimize or eliminate the damage. |
| around with a lampshade on your head at your last | | | | |