Your digital footprint is everything that shows up when someone searches for you online. From images to comments to blog posts, it can make or break your reputation. In today’s market, cyberspace is among the first 
places prospective employers will look before they make hiring decisions.
7 tips to ensure that everything that could possibly be found about you online is respectable and professional.
Search Yourself
Make a self-search part of your regular reputation management routine. Then it will be easy to stay on top of where and how you’re mentioned online.
- Use multiple search engines. Look for both your first and last name and search both text and images. Try slightly different spellings, too. If you find something posted by a friend that you don’t like, ask them to take it down. Or, contact the site administrator and request that they remove the unwanted content.
Check Privacy Settings
The privacy settings on your favorite Web sites or social networks may have changed since you last checked them.
- Take time to understand current settings. Then you’ll know exactly what you’re sharing. Update them if there are things you don’t want made public.
- Facebook privacy settings change often. As a default, posts are set to Public. Be sure you privacy proof your future by editing the “Who Can See My Stuff” section. Your choices are Public, Friends, Only Me or Custom.
Use Strong Passwords
Change the passwords across your accounts to a combination of words, numbers and symbols that are easy for you to remember but hard for others to guess.
- Whether it’s your email, online banking or shopping, it’s a good idea to have different passwords for different sites.
Update Software
By keeping your software current, you can prevent viruses and spyware, which can wreak havoc on your computer.
- Check for updates you may have previously ignored. You can download free, safe programs to ensure your system has the most up-to-date security. You also can schedule automatic updates and let your computer do the work for you.
Think Before You Post
Your digital presence is more than just the information available about you online. It also encompasses all of your personal cyber-interactions.
- Before posting anything, ask yourself if you want others to see it. That means anyone who searches you out or just happens to come across the content or image.
- LinkedIn tends to come up first in personal search engine queries. So be especially vigilant in keeping your LI profile strictly professional.
Maintain Your Mobile Device
Set a password and familiarize yourself with your mobile device settings. Review apps you’ve downloaded and their information-sharing policies. Delete any that you don’t use.
Revise Your Blog
Personal blogs show up on employer search engines, too. If you use yours to vent frustrations or make personal observations, go through your posts and edit them for language. Delete anything that might hinder your professional image.
Looking for employment in 2014?
For additional job-search tips and best practices, read our related blog articles. Want to speak with one of the experienced recruiters at PrideStaff Modesto? Contact our team of experts today for additional career tips and resources.t
