Have you ever tried Googling your name? This is actually a very important search you should make, at least once a month really. You never know what’s going to come up. You can only hope it’s what you actually want to for results.

Googling yourself will often bring results that you’re not too pleased with, and not because there are provocative pictures of you on the internet, but maybe someone else has your name too. I’m actually pretty fortunate with my name. I’m pretty sure I’m the only one, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be another in the future. So, as being the only one, I am then especially responsible for what comes up in a search for me. After all, chances are I put it there.

This is a good practice to go through before you start applying to places, and conducting interviews with possible employers. Your potential employer is very likely going to Google you (I know I was), and you want a clean slate.

What were you up to in high school when you were browsing the internet and opening accounts? If you think there’s anything that could be questionable, you need to take care of it now. You want to build credibility and professionalism when it comes to being searched for, not have something awful sneak up on you. Don’t allow your adolescence to get in the way of a cushy job.

When you start looking at your results, ask yourself a couple questions:

What is the first result? Is that me?
If it’s not you, you may not have anything to worry about, unless it’s maybe some criminal record for someone. If this is the case, you want to start networking yourself in a positive light, more so than you may have already done, so the real you outranks the imposter!

What are the other results? If I were looking to employ me, would I like what I am seeing?
Depending on what you’re applying for, you probably want to make sure your results come up with something favorable for your employment. For instance, when I applied for my Graphic Design job, the top links in my search were going to my portfolio, and then some old sites with artwork that I have made. This is actually a good thing. Something that may not be well conveyed in a n interview, may be when you are Googled. Being Googled gave more information on what I could do artistically (yes, I know about SEO too).

A Google search of your name should be an extension of your character and experience. Any search for your name should really be an extension of you. Why do people search? To find out more information on their search subject. So, when someone types your name into a search box, they want to find out more about you. Flattering? Possibly. Beneficial? You should start looking at it now to see if it actually is.

Try some other search engines too. Google may be the most widely used, but that’s not to say you shouldn’t give it a shot in Yahoo and MSN too. The results will be different.