

The more content you blast onto the Internet, the more pieces of your personal puzzle you're offering to complete strangers. These kinds of over-generalized statements simply aren't entirely true.

Many tech pundits and journalists then proffer two perfunctory statements - this kind of thing happens to everyone eventually, and thanks to the Internet and ubiquitous camera technology, privacy doesn't really exist anymore. These days, embarrassing photos, stories and outright violations of privacy are so common that once the initial shock wears off, the online community offers a collective shrug. Keep reading to see specific tips for creating a reputable online persona.
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That's called demonstrating your ability to maintain a positive attitude, overcome adversity and succeed in spite of obstacles - a trait that employers and co-workers appreciate very much.Įven if you don't have any personal behaviors to conceal from professional colleagues, there are plenty of ways for you to maintain and burnish your online reputation. You can take a few steps not only to mitigate the damage, but also put a better spin on your reputation.Īnd if you have a knack for spin and harnessing social media, you may even be able to turn a potentially disastrous online revelation into a positive professional development. You must realize that personal Web content can have an effect on you professional life.Īlso be aware that if there are photos, videos or other types of evidence of your inappropriate behavior online, it's not necessarily the end of your career. And whether those people are potential employers, co-workers or casual acquaintances, it's generally a good idea to put your best foot forward on the Web.įor example, although social networks like Facebook were designed more for casual socializing, more and more human resource managers use these sites to screen potential employees. Between government documents, newspaper articles and self-generated content, it's not hard for others to dig up information about you.

Whether you like it or not, you probably already have a significant online presence.
