Hello,

I wanted to share with you a few tips that are related to the job search process.

The use of the internet to search for a job is increasing, and as a result, various virtual networks are being added to our lives. We’re members of Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, MySpace, and perhaps other social networks, that, among other things, we also use to search for jobs.

And as our online presence increases, so does the need to manage this presence, or entity, on a regular basis.

This “management” becomes even more critical in the job search process. Here’s an example: You sent your resume (CV) to a potential employer. In the resume, you decided not to include a certain workplace since you were employed there for a very short period of time and you were also laid off from there. You reached the conclusion that you prefer that potential employers won’t know about this irrelevant job you once had. You are then invited to an interview, and the interviewer confronts you about the fact that he saw this particular job on your LinkedIn profile (Gosh, you simply forgot to delete it from there).

This could become an uncomfortable situation that catches you unprepared.

The importance of keeping consistency has already reached places beyond the resume, and has made the “management of our virtual entity” critical. Many employers have turned into little detectives, searching for online information about potential employees seeking employment at their firm. Here are a few tips that will assist in the management of our virtual entity:

1. Make sure that your employment history is identical on all websites you are registered at.

2. Make sure that the websites or social networks you belong to do not list any information online that you do not wish a potential employer to know, which includes personal information, pictures, videos, etcetera.

3. Be diplomatic in your online interactions. You never know when one of the people you’re interacting with (e-mails, chats, forums, status updates) will become a potential employer or customer.

4. Search for your name in Google and Yahoo, and find out what appears under it. Fix it if necessary.

5. Be careful with sharing files or pictures. You never know where these will end up.

I would love to hear about interesting or weird experiences you’ve had with regards to this issue.

Good luck.

Mr. Miron Abramson

Add-Vantage

Miron Abramson is the founder and senior consultant of Add-Vantage, a company that supports people and organizations with their business interactions with international partners overseas. You can visit them on the web at http://addvantage.co.il, or contact Mr. Abramson at miron@addvantage.co.il.