Are You What The Internet Says You Are?

November 6, 2009

I have written a number of posts in the past on managing your online identity, but when I discovered Pipl last week, I was intrigued. Pipl is a search engine for online identities. You type in a name and a city, and it tries to find references to that person online.

I can see how this would be extremely useful for an employer or HR department as a poor-man’s background check. But what’s most concerning about this this site is that it displays information about every person who shares your name (and who may or may not live in your area).

For instance, I live in Toronto, Canada. Here are some of the results that I get back when I search for myself:

I could be…

…an Emeritus Professor and Honorary Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Adelaide

…an author and consultant who works with new graduates preparing to enter the work force

…an award-winning wedding photojournalist based out of Renfrewshire, Scotland

…the Australian ambassador to Burma between 2000 and 2003

…the President and CEO of TWI Inc.

See the problem? While none of these are particularly offensive, it’s just a sampling of what might be out there. You never know what you will find.

For instance, if someone was trying to determine what I look like, they might be tricked into believing that this is me:

This is not me. (Though I will say that we Trevor Wilson’s really know how to have a good time

)

What I am trying to say is that while it can be difficult to control your online image, you need to be aware of what is out there. Take some time to Google (or Bing) yourself. The more you know, the more prepared you will be to answer any awkward interview questions.

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