As one of the leading employment agencies in Miami, Future Force can tell you that in today’s day and age, if you’re looking for a new job, then prepare to be Googled in your job search. In fact, according to the Society for Human Resource Management, almost all human resource professionals report conducting some type of background check on candidates – and that often means Googling individuals.
So when a hiring manager types your name in and hits the “Search” button, what will they find? If you’re not sure, then you need to do the following:
Google Yourself
You don’t know what’s popping up on search engines without actually Googling yourself. The most important page to focus on is the first page results; many hiring managers won’t look beyond those. However, you should still check the subsequent 5 to 10 pages, as well. So go ahead and enter your name to check to make sure nothing negative or that could reflect poorly on you comes up.
Besides negative information, you’re also going to want to look for any inaccuracies or contrary information. For example, if your resume says you were employed at a company starting in 2008, but your LinkedIn profile lists you started there in 2010, then that’s a major discrepancy – and one many hiring managers will be sure to notice. Check and correct any information that doesn’t align.
Deal With Negative Information
If you see something bad, then so will hiring managers. Try and get the negative information removed before you begin your job search. Instructions for removal vary depending on the particular site you’re trying to get information deleted from, so you’ll need to start there when determining how to deal with negative information. In the future, be sure to keep your social media profiles set to “private.”
Make Sure Your Name is Out There
The good news? The hiring manager didn’t find out anything bad about you by Googling your name. The bad news? They didn’t find anything at all! To separate yourself from the competition and put your best foot forward, there should be some positive content about you online, even if it’s simply a solid LinkedIn or Google+ profile.
In today’s world, it’s vital that you manage your online reputation. If you don’t, there could be information out there that’s harming your job search – and you won’t even know about it until you look.
If you need additional help getting noticed by hiring managers, give Future Force a call. As one of the leading employment agencies in Miami, Future Force can help you find job opportunities that are the right fit for you so you can take the next step in your career.