Job preparation isn’t just about cover letters, resumes, and interviews. The modern job hunter has to contend with Google as well. I was reading How To Manage (and Protect) Your Online Reputation on Forbes the other day and it has some great information about how to ensure your online persona doesn’t interfere with your job hunt.

What really struck me was the story about Megan Maloney and how she made sure to clean up her online presence before applying:

When Megan Maloney lost her job at a Detroit auto supplier last April, she made sure her online reputation was as strong as the image she would present in person to prospective employers. She Googled herself to check for unflattering links. Then she changed her Facebook privacy setting so no one could see beyond her profile picture. She updated her profile on LinkedIn.

And good thing she did:

Maloney’s instinct was right: When she landed a job in September, her new bosses admitted they had researched her online. They told me that they had checked Facebook,” says Maloney, 32, now a business development manager in Milwaukee. “I had posted a photo of me wearing a T-shirt that said ‘Unemployed,’ and they thought that I showed the right kind of personality for a sales job. They liked that I was on LinkedIn, because it’s helpful for leads and networking.”

These days, it’s all too easy for employers to find information about you online. You have to do everything in your power to protect yourself online to guarantee the best possible outcome your job search.

Want to get a job in a certain field? Make yourself an expert. Try starting a blog related in some way to the industry or job you want. Over time, this will add credibility to your resume and provide a platform for future job growth. It takes a lot of work and dedication, but can pay off handsomely in the long run.

…can be found here. It’s an article called Katheryn Rivas “100 Inspiring & Informative Blog Posts for Young Job Seekers”. Worth a look.

There are a ton of great links. If you have some time, I recommend checking some of them out.

It’s time for another Gradversity contest!

This time around, Jonathan Hilley of The Ascendance Group has been kind enough to provide a copy of his eBook The Intelligent Networking Guide for us to give away.

This is one of the best resources I have read and it lays out everything you need to know about building and maintaining your professional network.

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Want to enter the contest? All you have to do is join our mailing list! Use the form below and you will be automatically entered.

Already a subscriber? Not to worry. If you have already joined the Gradversity Mailing List, you are automatically entered to win!

So hurry, the contest closes on Tuesday March 16th at midnight. One name will be randomly selected from all of the entries on March 17th! The winner will be notified via email and will then have 48 hours to claim their prize. In the event that the winner doesn’t come forward within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

Good Luck!!!