Using the Internet to raise your professional visibility

At one time, being seen with the right people and in the right places was an important element in making deals or getting hired. These days, a big piece of that has moved to the Internet. People who want to get somewhere with their career increasingly need to try to make sure to be seen and heard in a positive way online.

Public profiles or resumes

There are a number of services in this space that allow an individual to create a one page profile. Other options include creating a Google profile, buying the domain name for their last name or full name, or creating a profile page on their own blog. It needs to give pertinent career related information. It can be personable, such as including a picture of the individual and their dog, but it should not be overly personal.

LinkedIn

People who want to have a professional presence online but do not yet have a LinkedIn account should get one. People who do have an account, should update it and get involved or stay involved with good discussions on the site. Because it is a professional venue, one should always be on their best behavior here. It should be much like any professional meeting space in real life.

Twitter

Unlike Facebook, Twitter does not have a "real name" policy. For many people, this is a great opportunity to create two accounts: One under their real name just for professional use, and another under an anonymous handle for personal use. The professional account can contain a link to the professional or online resume. The personal account needs to be handled carefully just in case it gets found out. It is fine to be more jokey and casual. It is not fine to do things that could get one fired.

Best practices

People often have trouble trying to figure out how to navigate social decorum online. They may say things in jest that would be no problem if they said it privately among friends and feel blindsided when it has unexpected negative consequences. Here are some best practices:

• Do not say anything you would not want printed on the front page of your local newspaper and mailed to your worst enemy. It may feel like you are just chatting with a few close friends, but you are not. You are creating a public written record that anyone can read.
• Instead of thinking of yourself as chatting with a small group of friends, think of yourself as walking through the middle of town talking over a bullhorn.
• Even when posting anonymously, be careful with personal information. Seemingly innocuous comments, such as stating the time, can help someone pinpoint where you live and can potentially lead to one being identified.

Creating public profiles can help get a person's name in front of employers. But it is wise to always err on the side of caution when posting.