Why You Should Google Yourself While Job Hunting

Have you ever wondered what the internet might say about you?

We all leave traces of ourselves through our interactions with others. This can be via our social media accounts, published articles, news reports, or in a variety of other ways. Most people will have searched Google for themselves at some point, probably for fun. But, it’s often a good idea to search for yourself as part of your job hunt, especially if you have been offered an interview.

More and more employers are taking to Google to find out about potential new recruits before they attend an in-person interview. By searching for candidates, they will be able to find out more about the person they are considering hiring. It can also help them to decide on the questions which need to be asked during an interview.

When they search for you, employers will be looking to make sure that your internet presence matches the information provided on your resume. So, if you say that you’ve been published in a specific place, make sure that you have. They will also want to be sure that you are able to fit within their company values. This will mean making sure that your personality and internet presence isn’t going to conflict with those of the company you will be working for.

By taking the time to google yourself, you will be able to see exactly what your potential employers will be presented with if they search your name. Those embarrassing photos from your university days? Delete them. That angry message you put on a community board about irresponsible parking? Delete it. The old profile you had on Instagram that you’d forgotten about? Archive it. This is your opportunity to make sure that you are putting your best foot forward and showing yourself as the best possible candidate for a role.

You will also be able to make sure that any relevant profiles are as up-to-date as possible. This will include things like your LinkedIn profile and any other social media profiles you may have.

It doesn’t take long to perform a name search, but doing so can help you to present yourself in the best way.

For additional support in finding your dream role, get in touch with our team here at PDR and find out how we can help.