Check out your digital footprint
The internet can either be your best friend or your downfall when networking. It’s given you more ways to do it, making it both less time consuming and less stressful. But it can easily work against you.
You should assume everyone you contact will look you up online. Therefore, you must present the very best version of yourself, making sure your online footprint (images, social media channels, old websites, blog posts) is coherent. And also that it presents an image that compliments your CV.
This is your personal brand.
You need to see your digital footprint before anyone else does. It’s one of the few times it is acceptable, essential even, to Google your own name!
You have little idea what your friends are posting on a daily basis. One questionable five-year-old picture or one inappropriate tweet can cancel out a professional LinkedIn profile. There have been instances of mistaken identity where a person with the same name but inappropriate online content has been wrongly linked to job candidates.
Remove unwanted content from Google
Fortunately, unlike a few years ago, Google has given you tools to manage your online footprint.
Break down this into your personal information you have control over. And content on other sites you do not have direct control over.
Start with your personal information. Go to About Me on Google to control what others can see. If you are okay with people seeing your birthday, make sure they can only see the date, not the year for the same reason you don’t show this on your CV. It can invite age discrimination.
Then click on "Go to Privacy Check Up" on the bottom-left where you can manage all your privacy settings in more detail.
You can request that content be removed from other sites, but it may take time. This is why googling yourself is important, and why you should do it regularly. Google provides instructions and tools here to start the process of removing content.
Update your privacy settings on your social media accounts
Next, make a list of your social media accounts (don’t forget old ones - they are probably still out there), and ensure your privacy settings are all on the highest level.
Each service has its own settings and policies, but it is worth taking the time to do it right.
Facebook and Instagram
Don’t get caught out by your friends tagging you in pictures. Change your settings so you are the only person who can tag yourself.
The exception to the maximum privacy social media rule is LinkedIn. You want maximum visibility. I will talk more about this in the next chapter.
Review your CV
One more point; update your CV if you haven’t already done so. You probably won’t be sending it out until later in the process, but it is still a networking tool. And, if you strike it lucky, and someone asks you for it, send it to them within 24 hours while you are still fresh in their mind.
Let's recap!
Commit to proactively managing your digital footprint before you network.
Ensure your social media privacy settings are on the highest setting, except LinkedIn.
Make sure your CV is up to date so you can send someone a copy immediately if they request it.
Now you have reviewed and updated your accounts and made sure your online presence is professional. In the next chapter, we are going to look at how you use these valuable social media tools to your advantage.
