It is that time of year where most students – both undergraduate and graduate – are thinking about graduation and possible internship and job opportunities.  Some are thinking about working for a PR agency, while others are looking towards their first academic position at a university.  There of course are a lot of things to make sure to accomplish before starting your new position – and one of them is being aware of what is posted or said about you online.

Managing your online reputation is more important than ever – it is the first insight that others can get from you based on the information presented on various sites.  From social media networks to web sites to blogs – all have to be taken into consideration.  Why do I say this?  Well, more people are searching for others online – from friends to future employers, and what is presented online gives these individuals the first impression of you. If this is a positive impression, that can help your reputation and personal brand.  However, if it is negative, this could really impact your future opportunities.

There are many ways to make sure that you are aware of what is written about you as well as things to avoid.  But here are a few of my personal suggestions:

  • Not only have a Google Alert for your name, but also consistently look at social media engines like Samepoint.  What is great about Samepoint is that it combines everything – social media, microblogs, web, documents, etc. It is a one-stop shop to see what has been written about you.  We have to be up-to-date with the latest technologies and how they are being used.
  • Think of yourself as your own PR person in managing your personal brand.  You need to be proactive and aware that you have to be your best advocate for yourself both in real life and online.  There are many resources out there that really provide some great tips on how you can do this effectively.

I hope that this helps. 🙂 Hope you all are having a fabulous day!

Best Wishes,

Karen