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6 Ways to Manage Your Online Reputation

A growing number of employers are searching online social networking sites to research background information for job candidates. Keep in mind that information that is posted online is public and searchable and can potentially be found by your future employers. This information can be used to sway employers' hiring decisions, either positively or negatively, and can have a lasting impact on your reputation.

1. Post positive information in your searchable profile.There are many items that you can add to your online profile that might be looked upon favorably by employers and can help your online reputation. Try posting items about yourself that support your professional qualifications, details that illustrate your creativity, items that show you have solid communication skills and positive references from others.
2. Avoid posting negative information in your searchable profile. There are many items that could appear on your online profile that can be looked upon unfavorably by employers and can hurt your online reputation. Avoid posting inappropriate photographs or personal information, bad-mouthing previous employers on the profile, items that show poor communication skills or false information about your qualifications.
3. Utilize security settings. Most social networking sites offer security settings that you can apply to your online profile. In most applications, you can control who is able to find your profile through a search and what people can see what information. In Facebook, you can also create friend lists. Friend lists are lists for categorizing your friends into various groups. You can then designate what groups of friends can see what information in your profile.
4. Don't friend or follow everybody. Make sure you know the person who has requested to be your friend or who has requested to follow you before you accept. The more people who are connected to your profile, the more chances that your information can be seen by anybody.
5. Monitor what can be found about you online. Search for yourself on the popular search engines. You may have been “tagged” in a picture that is searchable that you were unaware of.
6. Don't mix business and leisure online. Set up different profiles for your professional network and your personal network. Or, set up a LinkedIn profile for your professional network, and give only your friends access to Facebook.

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