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You, on the internet.
A few weeks ago, I finally clinched that elusive summer job. And if you’re wondering: No, I’m not some financial analyst for Goldman Sachs and no, I’m not a marketing intern for some fancy sports team.
So maybe I won’t be meeting any big business hot shots this summer. I’ll concede that. But what I will be doing is playing golf and going to museums for two figs on the hour. Can you say that? This summer I scored a job working as a nanny, or as I prefer, the correctly gendered term, Manny. Ok, so it’s not as prestigious as some other jobs, but hey, at least now I’m getting paid for pwning twelve year olds at Halo.
But the nature of my job isn’t the point of this article. The point of this article stems from an important fact that was made very clear to me during an interview with my future employer: I am on the internet.
During one of our conversations my interviewer started asking me about my work as a satire writer (a fact I hadn’t told her) and then later about my interested in ultimate frisbee (another fact I hadn’t told her). I was starting to get a little weirded out. Then I realized how she knew:
Woah. Ok, that’s not that bad, I guess…
Oh. my. god. WTF?!?! I don’t even want to think what might show up if safe search were off.
The reality is, I’m on the internet and you probably are too. As we all get older, search engines and future employers are only going to get better at creeping on us. Think about fifty years from now, when you are being vetted for a position on the Supreme Court of the United Googley States, or whatever important post you’ll be after in the inevitable search engine ruled dystopic future, and remember now, you’re on the internet.
Of course, we’ve all heard warnings about incriminating Facebook pictures but there is more to your online image then a bunch of traps, those drunken portraits or the time you called Charles Johnson a d-bag. Google can be your friend, too. When I applied to CMC, the first hit for “Carl Peaslee” was a political editorial I’d written in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. That looks good to a school who loves politics. You can do the same. You can make your google search an asset during the interview process — or at the least, not a detriment.
An easy way to do this is by starting a blog. Interested in going in to finance? Write a blog about finance attached to your name. Don’t know what you want to do? Just write intelligent, uncontroversial things on the internet under your name. Like to bicycle? Make a blog about bicycling under your name and write on it once a month. After a year of this and a few well placed hyperlinks, maybe the first ten hits of “You” will be your thoughts on the newest Trek frame rather than the time you made it on to the front page of www.hotchickswithdouchebags.com. (Yes, that is a real site. And yes, I have seen my friends on it.)
More posts by Carl »
Carl Peaslee
Carl Peaslee, the Life Editor, is currently a junior at CMC where he is majoring in Literature. At The Forum, Carl mercilessly edits articles, writes angry tirades, and tries to avoid J-Boarding for inflammatory power point presentations. Carl's life goal is to continue to trick people into paying for his writing.
14 Comments
2009-05-28
20:03:49
Lol. I love how I make it into nearly every single Forum post. And to those who would call me a douchebag, I'm the one laughing.
Because here's something you didn't consider. Some of us have extremely common names and therefore we're Google-proof. (Of course the equation changes somewhat when you add in our alma mater.)
But then again, I'm a conservative. I don't believe you actually have a right to privacy and so I don't mind it when nearly everything about my life is Googleable.
For those who are interested in how you're going to interact with the Internet in the future, I recommend Clay Shirky's new book, Here Comes Everybody.
Or, alternatively, this talk at the Ath by Jonathan Rosenberg CMC '83. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElaJA8p6y80
2009-05-28
22:36:38
I hope you know CJ, I don't actually think you're a d-bag. I just thought you'd get a kick out of another disparaging forum post.
2009-05-28
23:05:55
it's funny how people go so out of their way to placate and compliment chuckyjo so they dont become his next hate target
2009-05-28
23:26:42
Oh Carl, you know me all too well. But then us, 5' 9 middle class white guys all think a like anyways. Have fun being a Manny. How many times have you watched Ms. Doubtfire?
--Charles C. Johnson
2009-05-30
06:50:14
.... you don't believe you have a right to privacy?
2009-05-28
20:45:44
It is nice to have a common name, but even if you don't, it shouldn't be a problem... yes, even if you are the commenter above me.
1- Good employers won't count things they find on the internet against you unless it's REALLY bad.
2- The most sought-after jobs won't even Google you, or just won't care. Especially big firms-- you know, the ones every econ major applies to-- it just isn't part of their process (unless you put something on your resume they want to learn more about), which is usually pretty well structured to get to know you.
If there's something an employer can't tell about you from your 2-3+ rounds of interviews (one place had more than 10 different people interview me in one day, then took me out to a nice lunch), it's not like they'll find it on the internet. They want to know what you know, who you are, and how you interact with people.
3- Your employers almost definitely went to college; they will understand (and expect) that you drink beer or do other college-like things (or even that you have some obsessed schoolmate zealously blogging about you all the time). The best firms almost always have young people (22 to 28 years old) doing at least the preliminary interviews anyway. And if they have a problem with that can of Coors Light in your hand in some picture, should you really want to work there? (No you don't, because holiday parties will suck.)
4- What's the worst thing they can really find? Is it so bad that it will overcome their first-hand impressions of you?
CAVEAT: Technology firms will probably Google you (especially Google). But that's not so bad-- they might like what they find.
2009-05-29
00:04:22
Target? Hardly. Who have I targeted?
I just call em like I see them. If you're a public figure on campus, you open yourself up to criticism. Tis the nature of being a public figure.
I NEVER blog about private conversations or people just going about their business. I do blog sometimes about arguments made in public. But really if you're trying to ban trays on campus -- as one girl was -- and you're running for CMC office, then you're public figures and fair game.
Juxtapose that with the savage attacks made by anonymous cowards on my now ex girlfriend and you'll see the difference. If the Left wants to be taken seriously on campus, it should do its best to have a Sister Souljah moment with the loons that comment anonymously.
2009-05-29
13:36:58
You blog about private parties a.k.a the communist party this year. Somehow I fail to see how a privately funded satirical party which was not advertised in public qualifies as a public event. I'm sure the hosts would like an apology for your article lambasting it but I'm sure a lot of people would appreciate an apology from you.
2009-05-29
13:58:35
Hey John,
You bring up a fair point, but my argument was that even it it were satirical, it's still disgusting to have a party that celebrates a regime that's responsible for the deaths of well over 100 million souls. At the time, I wondered what a Nazi party would look like and even wrote a satirical piece about it. It's funny, but it would certainly get me in hot water if it got out!
As for a public event, it most certainly was. It was loud and raucous.
So, no an apology will not be forthcoming. Really, what is the modern day fascination with apologies anyways?
2009-05-29
14:53:02
Charles, you asked for an apology from Ross Boomer multiple times. What's YOUR fascination with apologies?
2009-05-29
12:27:29
There's a easy way to ensure the top search for you is actually you: http://www.google.com/profiles/
It's essential a scaled down version of facebook where you create a page with basic information about you--residence, job, links, etc--just enough to make sure you can be identified and seen in whatever light you choose.
2009-05-29
14:56:01
Hey Hypocritical,
My asking for an apology was that he was in a position of power and that he, as editor of the Forum, was being indirectly subsidized by my fee. He also censored me and made me look like a homophobe. When I asked him to apologize for censoring me and working to guarantee that the Forum remained well, a Forum, he sent me a flippant email. I have it all recorded and would be happy to give it to you, if you email me.
Thanks!
2009-05-30
07:08:58
Carl,
Speaking of blogs... do you have any suggestions as to where online is the best place to create one?
All in all, I really liked your article. I hadn't thought much about being searched online and immediately googled myself (not much there but XC results... and some forum comments) to make sure my name was pretty clear. Anyway, thanks for writing interesting stuff for us! : )
2009-05-30
08:29:00
Thanks Jillian,
I like blogger personally. Wordpress probably works fine too. I think blogs published through blogger, which is owned by google, will probably place higher on google searches.