Managing Your Reputation Online

Four Tips on How to Keep MySpace From Ruining Your Professional Life

We’re going to work off of the assertion that in today’s hyper-public world of online life, there will always be a chance that the wrong person will see something you made, did or wrote while living a fairly private life. It’s a fact, so face it.

Do you need a crazy example? How about the Tennessee state trooper who pulled over an intoxicated, attractive, young woman, and then after some flirting, threw away some pills she had been carrying illegally? The woman can’t believe her luck, goes home to write about it on her blog, which eventually gets to the state trooper’s superior officers and … bang! He gets officially charged and suspended from duty. Whoa.

People post photos, essays, chats and recordings of things pretty freely online every day. Most people enjoy the relative anonymity of Net life. But online communication is growing exponentially as more and more people use their computers as social accessories rather than just work tools. This means the chance exists (remotely) that someone you work for or want to work for will run across something you made on a social network. Ask yourself, “How do I want other professional people to see me?” Because there’s a chance that they will see you.

• Don’t make your default photo the “Oops, where’s my shirt?” photo.

  Yes, you probably worked on that bod for hours and hours in the gym. It’s okay to be proud of being fit. But most social networks allow you to keep some pictures private. Unless you’re actually applying for a job as a fitness model, take some time to determine which photos will make an employer (or prospective employer) smile and which will turn faces red.

• Don’t post pics of you hittin’ the bong.

  Do we really need to stress this? If you’re old enough to earn a paycheck, you’re old enough to know you shouldn’t feature pictures of yourself engaged in illegal activities. This goes double for law enforcement officers.

• Avoid making public blogs about uncomfortable differences with current employers.

  If you use your blogs to get things off of your chest, that’s great. Just keep it privy for a close group of friends so the wrong people don’t see it. Nothing looks worse to a new employer than petty arguments and disagreements centered around previous employers.

• Closely monitor what others say about you in your comment space.

  It’s always fun to recap a great night out with some embarrassing confessions or pictures, but again, ask yourself, “Is this how I want other professional people to see me?” Nothing brings professional credibility crashing down like private musings between friends. “Hey man! I think that stripper really liked you Saturday night!” Ugh.

What are we really trying to say? A little common sense goes a long way. You can still take a few preventative measures against that random chance, and still have fun.