Just in case you think that search engine optimization is for businesses only. More and more companies seem to be using search engines to get the goods on job applicants. In the past you could, within reason, give your prospective employer information on a need-to-know basis and not worry much about them finding out otherwise. But, today, what if your political views, details of your lifestyle, legal issues, pictures of you doing keg stands in college, etc. are all available online when the employer searches for your name? If you’re ever planning to search for a new job, you better start paying attention to what the web says about you, or somebody with the same name as you…

I’m not sure that it’s a great idea on the employer’s part. But even if it’s not sanctioned by the company or the HR department, who’s to say that the hiring manager won’t Google the finalists before making a final decision.

Of course the opposite can be true too… If an employer searches for your name and sees it associated with organizations, companies, articles, news items, etc. in your area of expertise or industry, you may gain a leg up on your competition. And maybe they’ll overlook the keg stand pics. It really makes “personal branding” something relevant to most of us.

In fact, I think I’m going to become an “Online Image Consultant” (I just made that up, is it taken already?). Send me $500 and we’ll get going on your personal search engine optimization and online identity control. Comment for a mailing address. (-;

Search Engines as an HR Tool - The Search Engine Marketing Weblog


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