Beef Up Your Googlemé

After toiling for hours and subjecting your résumé to peer review, you’re ready to get it out to prospective employers. Great. Now it’s time to work on your Googlemé. Your Googlemé is what potential bosses learn when they type your name into Google.

I’m not fond of my Googlemé. The search engine’s algorithm is a mystery, and the links that pop up when I search for my name are random. A profile of a construction worker. A feature I wrote many moons ago about recess. A story about leaky pipes. They do not reflect my best work. Yet, I have no control over how Google operates. At least, because I write for a living, there are some links that do give a little insight into my professional capabilities.

You don’t have to be a professional writer to have a Googlemé that reflects who you are at work. Here are some tips for beefing up your Googlemé:

• Offer to write an article for a trade journal that makes its content available online. Propose a topic that will show off your expertise. It’s nice to get paid, but be willing to write the story for free. You’re building your Googlemé.
• Write a letter to the editor of a reputable magazine or newspaper demonstrating your expertise in your field. My IT pal writes to “Wired” so often, they know her on the editorial desk.
• Leave a comment on a blog that is respected in your field. Be sure to sign your name as it appears on your résumé.
• If you are involved in charity work, write an article for the charity’s newsletter or other publication about what you’ve learned. Note your profession in your bio.
• Join professional organizations and alumni associations that have online directories.
• Join LinkedIn and Facebook.
• Offer to make a presentation at a professional conference. Your bio will be included as part of the agenda, which will probably be available online.
• Post a relevant article on DivineCaroline, a site aimed at women. Fill out all the profile information, keeping in mind your professional image.
• If you have a common name, try to include information such as your town of residence that will enable a potential employer to find you. Also include key words in your bio that will increase your chances of popping up in a Google search. Be consistent with your name in all professional Web posting.
• Google yourself regularly. If something inaccurate, outdated or inappropriate comes up, talk to the Website’s manager about removing it. For example, my friend gave the band that played in her wedding a glowing review. After five years, that review still popped up on her Googlemé. She contacted the band and respectfully asked that they rotate in a more current bride. She didn’t think the gushy language reflected her as a professional.
• Accept that Google is largely out of your control. Do what you can to put yourself in the most professional light possible. Once you’ve done that, don’t expend any further energy worrying about it.
• Be careful what you write. My Googlemé contains an unfortunate incident from a few years ago. I referred to a school in a blog post as “Math and Science High.” Another blogger noted that he enjoyed my post and linked back to it. Another blogger then slammed me because the school is called “Science and Math High.” I corrected my error, but the slamming blog post still comes up on my Googlemé. GRRRRRR…
• Be honest. Do not create an overblown, fake Google persona. Put forth the best, most professional version of yourself. But still make sure you are accurately representing yourself.

Comments

[chrisvandenberg]

there are a lot of good points that you made in your article, especially the parts where one should go back and try to get "inappropriate" links removed

[a lot of good points that you made]

a lot of good points that you made