This presentation explains the importance of your online reputation, how to build it and how to protect it. Use the tips in this presentation to take your job hunting to the next level. And please, do pass it on to others that could use the advice.

1. Presented by: Jim Stroud | Director, Sourcing & Social Strategy at Bernard Hodes Group

2. Jim Stroud*
*A face only a
mother could
Hi! Quick
Hi! Quick love.
question…
question…

3. Check one:
YES NO
* This is a trick question.

4. If you said “no,” then you are correct.
• Companies track your data.
• Hackers invade computer systems.
• Private content can be duplicated
and posted elsewhere.
Hey, it’s a fact of life!
Whaddaya gonna do?

5. If you said “yes,” then you are correct.
• Some things can be restricted to
certain groups
• You can safeguard your online
activity with certain processes and
tools.
See, its not all gloom
and doom out there.

6. What will they see when they
look you up? Most importantly,
what will a RECRUITER see?

7. Recruiters look you up online to: a) find you, b) research your
background and c) to decide if they want you or the other guy.
They also won’t mention this to you because of potential lawsuits.

8. Still, people
can say some
wacky things
online.
Why did I tweet
that? What was
I thinking?

9. Would people seeking employment
or, desiring to stay employed, say
the following things online for the
world to see?

10. Will you people sit
down already?!
We’re trying to
take off and fly a
plane here!!!

11. TRUE OR
FALSE?

12. TRUE: http://buff.ly/138YfoB
TRUE: http://buff.ly/138YfoB

13. Don’t think of him as a
terrorist. He’s simply
misunderstood. I respected
him. I’ll miss him.

14. TRUE OR
Okay, nobody
would say that
on national
FALSE?
news, right?

15. TRUE: http://buff.ly/1393OU4

17. People call in sick all
the time. No big
deal, surely.
TRUE
OR
FALSE?

18. TRUE: http://buff.ly/ZHURei

19. In this report:
In this report:
Our study found 70% of surveyed
HR professionals in U.S. have
rejected a candidate based on
online reputation information.
Reputation can also have a
positive effect as in the United
States, 86% of HR professionals
stated that a positive online
reputation influences the
candidate’s application to some
extent; almost half stated that it
does so to a great extent.
Source: http://buff.ly/139RwdT
On one hand, its kinda’ funny. On
the other, its quite serious.

20. Don’t be afraid of the internet, just be responsible.

21. Umm… I think I
know how to be
responsible on
the internet.

22. (This is how you build and manage yours.)

23. Yes, it is true
what they say
about me.
1 EVALUATE WHERE YOU ARE
1

24. • Searching your name.
• Removing content from
Google.
• Creating a Google Profile.
source: http://buff.ly/13d2i3a

25. Notice how the very first
result is from LinkedIn?
Also check out Facebook.
If a recruiter is logged into Facebook, they will see comments from
their Facebook friends on whatever they are searching on.
Its important to have a
REMINDER: It’s a small world. LinkedIn account!

26. Notice how the very first
result is from LinkedIn?
Other top links are from
popular social networks.

27. TIP
TIP Hmm… So, even if I am not
active on a lot of websites, its
good to sign up and add my
professional info. In this way,
it increases the chances of
the “right” info about me
being found by recruiters.

28. This may take some
time but, its so worth
it!
• Delete bad information where you have volunteered it.
• Ask (nicely) the webmaster to remove content citing your name.
• Consider changing your name on sites. (Maybe adding a middle initial.)
• Reach out to Bing & Yahoo for help.
To remove content from Yahoo and Bing, go to: Bing: support.discoverbing.com | Yahoo: help.yahoo.com

32. 2 FIGURE OUT WHO YOU WANT TO BE
2

33. I wonder who can
tell me what this is?

35. If they are essentially the same
If they are essentially the same
thing (in my opinion), why is
thing (in my opinion), why is
one more expensive than the
one more expensive than the
other?
other?

37. What makes
you more
valuable than
the next guy?

38. Forgive my ignorance, but isn’t an Admin Assistant
essentially the same as an Exec Assistant? If so, couldn’t
branding oneself an “Exec Assistant” get an “Admin
Assistant” a higher salary?
Something to think about!

39. HOMEWORK
HOMEWORK

40. What is your personal brand?
What is your personal brand?
FILL IN THE BLANKS
When recruiters look up (your job title) they
will find me. When they find me, they will
regard me as an expert in (skill 1), (skill2),
(skill3) and identify me by my quick and easy
to remember mantra, “your elevator sales
pitch belongs here.”

41. Do The Research!
Do The Research!
Research the most popular words and phrases that are
related to what you do. Why? I want you to add them to your
resume and your LinkedIn profile to increase your chance of
being found.
I want you to find and get involved with popular groups
discussing your industry. This will make it easier for you to be
found as well.
Find out where the jobs, you are most qualified for, tend to
be (in case relocation is an option for you.)
Umm… Sound tough? Its not. Just go to the next page.
Sound tough? Its not. Just go to the next page.
What?

42. Popular Groups Do some research
Popular Searches while prepping
your brand.
Job Titles
Related Skills
Popular Job Locations source: www.linkedin.com/skills

43. Use this for consistent
imaging across blogs and
forums on the web.
www.gravatar.org

44. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to create a new email
to go with your professional band. Cuts down
on the chance of the wrong things being found. I
HIGHLY recommend this.
You can have more than one email address on
Gmail and they all point to one email. Just fyi…

45. @play
@play
@work
@work
3 CREATE A CONSISTENT SOCIAL IDENTITY
3

46. MAKE THIS YOUR PERSONAL OATH
MAKE THIS YOUR PERSONAL OATH
I will use my real name when discussing
my work history and industry online.
(Thus, leaving a trail for recruiters to find.)
I will use my alias when playing online.
(Thus, decreasing the chance of embarrassing
and career limiting moments.)

47. Hmm… How does
one go about
leaving a trail for
recruiters to find?
(And while I am at
it, appear as an
expert.)
Also, did I leave
the iron on at
home? (Hope
not.)

48. FYI: Direct Sourcing means
searching the internet and
finding somebody to hire.
Hmm… Notice how finding people
from their own career site is not
listed in top 3?

50. Notice LinkedIn is #1, but
Facebook and Twitter are
growing rapidly.

51. LinkedIn envy?
LinkedIn envy?
Check out the
new Facebook
coming to your
profile soon.

52. Your “About” page is practically
Your “About” page is practically
aa resume. Companies search
resume. Companies search
this data to find workers like
this data to find workers like
you. Give them something to
you. Give them something to
find!
find!

53. A Guide to Facebook's Privacy Options --http://buff.ly/YnkfU8
A Guide to Facebook's Privacy Options http://buff.ly/YnkfU8

54. Take advantage of
the photo option
on LinkedIn to give
a good impression.

55. I Ireally like how this guy
really like how this guy
explains himself and
explains himself and
what he tweets about.
what he tweets about.

56. I I HIGHLY suggest that you
HIGHLY suggest that you
get involved with Google
get involved with Google
Plus.
Plus.

57. Look for questions to
Look for questions to
answer and prove
answer and prove
you are an expert.
you are an expert.

58. Hidden for
Hidden for
privacy
privacy
You and your Facebook friends can
You and your Facebook friends can
tag Bing search results the same
tag Bing search results the same
way photosHiddenfor
Hidden for
way photos are tagged in
are tagged in
Facebook. You can remove
Facebook. You can remove
privacy
privacy
unwanted tags too. Neat!
unwanted tags too. Neat!
Bing.com/tags
Bing.com/tags

59. Creating a presence
on these sites
improves your
chances of being
found on Google.
Source: http://buff.ly/NWihrI
Source: http://buff.ly/NWihrI

60. 4 PROTECT YOUR ONLINE REPUTATION
4

62. Google Alerts lets you know
Google Alerts lets you know
what’s new in Google. Be sure
what’s new in Google. Be sure
to check your rep’ on Yahoo
to check your rep’ on Yahoo
and Bing too. Add itit to your
and Bing too. Add to your
calendar.
calendar.

63. And above all, don’t post
anything online that would
get your Granny riled up!
You never know what
could come back and bite
you in your hind parts!

64. Ready to take on
any questions!
Hmm… I think ( Um… assuming
that’s all I planned you are still awake
to say. and we have time. ) Operators are standing
by.

65. Let’s network!
Connect with me
on LinkedIn.
Jim Stroud,
Director, Sourcing & Social Strategy
Bernard Hodes Group
www.linkedincom/in/jimstroud

66. At least, for now.