3 Job Seeker Tips for Protecting Your Online Reputation

3 Job Seeker Tips for Protecting Your Online Reputation3 Job Seeker Tips for Protecting Your Online Reputation3 Job Seeker Tips for Protecting Your Online ReputationTodays guest post is written by Anthony Kirlew (pictured), author ofThe Internet Marketing Guide for Small Business. He has founded three online marketing firms and served in various corporate roles such as Search Engine Marketing Director and Web Marketing Manager. Anthony also operates his own blog, oldschoolseo.com.Its common today for savvy employers and recruiters to do a web search on a prospective employee as part of a hintergrund check. I recall an interview a few years back when a hiring manager asked me about my involvement in the real estate business as well as a network marketing company Id been affiliated withdetails I hadnt mentioned in my resume. As I answered his questions (knowing he already had the answers), I thought This guy has really done his homework. That interview taught me the importance of onlin e reputation management.For those who are not aware, online reputation management simply means monitoring what is said online about you, and ensuring that only positive attributes can be found in the search engines. As it relates to your job search, its critical that you know what the search engines will reveal about you before you submit your resume or contact a recruiter. For example, if you enjoy the party scene and youve got pictures on Facebook that everyone but your mother can see, the hiring manager may learn a bit mora about you than youd prefer. Or maybe youre a blogger and you express political or religious viewpoints that are controversial or opposite those of the hiring manager.There are many similar scenarios and they absolutely affect hiring decisions. We know hiring managers are not supposed to be biased, but lets be real.Here are three tips to help you monitor and manage your online reputationGoogle Yourself. If you have not set up a Google Alert for your name, do it . This is a free service from Google that alerts you any time it indexes content that includes your name. This way, if theres anything questionable out there, youll know quickly and can respond accordingly. Visit Google Alerts to register.Keep Your Personal Accounts Private. One of the most basic things you can do to keep your personal life away from the search engines is to make sure your social media profiles (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, MySpace) are set to private. (In Facebook, for example, you can check your privacy settings by clicking Account, then Privacy Settings.) This way, only people you authorize will be able to see your photos and posts.Create a Separate Online Profile for Career Purposes. Consider setting up social media profiles that highlight only your job history, professional accomplishments, and career goals. I recommend that every job seeker create a profile on LinkedIn, the largest professional social networking site, which is highly respected by hiring managers. In fact, many recruiters and hiring managers routinely look for candidates on LinkedIn. I also strongly recommend that you do industry-related writing on trusted sites in plus-rechnen to posting your resume online and creating social media profiles.However, there are two circumstances you may not be able to overcome with this strategy When you have the same name as someone who has done something unethical or criminal and when you have done something unethical or criminal. Either way, upfront communication is the key. Its often easy to overcome a case of mistaken identity by highlighting what that person does and some facts that distinguish you, such as age and industry. If the problem is an incident from your own past, again, be up front about it. Let the employer know what happened and the circumstances surrounding it. Most of all, emphasize that you have learned a valuable lesson and that it was a catalyst for personal change.So, what are you waiting for? See what the web has to s ay about you Then, make sure that anyone else who searches your name can see only what you want them to see.

This 20-something is on her way to becoming a FIRE Millennial

This 20-something is on her way to becoming a FIRE MillennialThis 20-something is on her way to becoming a FIRE MillennialImagine being able to retire and do whatever you want with your life by the age of 35. Thats what Gwen, 28, originally had in mind when she became a parte of the FIRE movement.FIRE means financially independent, retire earlyand is a popular trend among millennials who want more out of life than 40-hour work weeks and stacks of bills.Its all about freedom andflexibility, she told Swirled. By having all of this money saved up, Im able to take risks and chances that other millennials arent able to because Im not tied down to anything. Im not beholden to anybody.Gwen, who asked that her last name not be shared for privacy reasons, is the founder of the blogFiery Millennialsand co-host of the podcastFIRE Drill Podcast. When she first began her focus on becoming a FIRE millennial in 2012, Gwen lived in Illinois. Her Midwest schauplatz coupled with a good salary and lack of student loans and other debt made saving money easy. However, it welches another financial blog that ended up putting her on track for FIRE.Learning About FIREIve always been pretty good with money, Gwen said. I was very blessed to have parents that were financially savvy. So they taught me to not put more on leistungspunkt cards than I could pay off, get short loans and low interest rates and pay those off quickly, and to pay with cash as much as you can. I had a good foundation, but then I foundMr. Money Mustaches blog. My mind was blown because this was a path that was clearly laid out for me to follow.Gwen knew from the get-go that she didnt want to work in an office for 40 years. She was lucky to find full-time employment right after graduation, but still craved the freedom and flexibility of a college students lifestyle and schedule. She just wanted it with more money.Becoming A FIRE MillennialSaving money was the first step, but Gwen realized she needed to be deliberate w ith the way she spent her money, too.This helped her see a path to becoming a FIRE millennial.I was fortunate enough to be debt free in college, Gwen said. I bought my car in cash, which I am still driving. Instead of paying $250 to $300 per month in a car payment, Im able to sock that away instead.I abfluged out with a three-bedroom house for $900, which in the Midwest is a bit much. And then each subsequent place that I moved was a little smaller and a little less, until finally, I ended up buying a house. And that house is special because it wasnt just for living in, it was a money-maker. I lived in one unit and rented out the other two. And so my housing costs were negligible because I didnt spend any money toward housing at all. Being deliberate about my spending and lifestyle choices really helped me get ahead.Advice For Others Looking To Join The FIRE MovementBecoming a FIRE millennial isnt for everyone, but it can definitely allow for freedom and flexibility earlier in life. And while saving a lot of money is great, so is living a quality life while doing it.If someone feels like they dont have enough money and theyre unhappy because they cant go out and do anything, then they might be saving too much and they need to back off a little bit, Gwen said. It should feel on the bbuchungline of uncomfortable, but if youre unhappy with the way your lifestyle is then you need to cut back a little bit because theres no use in saving a bunch of money to be miserable. You need to enjoy your life while youre saving.The amount of money that youre comfortable saving is going to be different from the person next to you. However, if you can get into the habit of stashing that cash away before you even see it, youll forget that its even there. Gwen did this and forgot what her full paycheck even looked like.Beyond straight-up saving money from your paycheck, Gwen also suggested that millennials look to hack their experiences, like when they travel.I started travel-hack ing by getting credit cards with bonuses, she said. I would travel to places where I could stay with somebody and reduce my costs even lower. It really helped when I went to Australia and the whole trip cost me about $3,000. I was able to stay for free with people I knew. And I am more than happy to return the favor.Actually Knowing What You Need To RetireBesides working hard to save more money than ever before, its also important to know what youll need to retire early and live comfortably. Gwen realized that she wasnt able to live comfortably on a freelancers budget after a few years and returned to a full-time job by the start of 2019 to accelerate her path to becoming a FIRE millennial.When I started out, it was with the knowledge that I didnt want to work for 40 years, she said. But Ive kind of relaxed a little bit. I started out thinking that Ill be retired by the age of 35 with saving, like, $600,000 because Id need, like, $25,000 per year to live. But I realized that I didnt like spending that little bit of money and that Id need to save up more in order to be comfortable in my retirement. I dont have a date or an age in mind anymore because I dont exactly know what I need. But I know that if I can save up as much money as I can, eventually Ill get to a point where I can step back and live off of my investments.Though Gwen may not reach FIRE by the time shes 35, shes still on track to retire earlier than her peers may be. By saving money before spending, hacking her expenses and being deliberate about her spending, shell be able to live the life shes always wanted, both now in her 20s and later on when she does finally retire early.By following Gwens example, you too can start making your way toward an early retirement. And even if the FIRE movement isnt right for you, youre sure to feel fierce in your finances before you know it.This article was originally published on Thrive.

How To Work Around That Lazy, No-Good Co-Worker

How To Work Around That Lazy, No-Good Co-WorkerHow To Work Around That Lazy, No-Good Co-WorkerYou and yur team are working on a major project, and the deadline is quickly sneaking up. For the most part, things are trucking along just fine- with the exception of that one co-worker.You know the one Im talking about, right? He puts in the bare minimum (if youre lucky), doesnt pull his own weight, and just generally makes this group project all the more groan-worthy. Its even worse if hes a straight-up obstructionist who wont let anything go past him unless he can take credit for it.Put simply, youre sick of the fact that hes skating by without sharing the load equally with you and your other team members. But, every time you think about what steps you could take to resolve the situation, you arent aya what to do.Screaming at him would be satisfying, but probably would only make things worse. And, immediately running to your babo? Youd run the risk of looking like a major tattletale.So, what do you do? How can you handle that co-worker that isnt doing his job? Heres the lowdown from some experts.1. Assume pure intentionsOne big mistake people tend to make in this situation is to assume that the slacker co-worker is aware of his or her behaviors, warns Leila Bulling Towne, Executive Coach with The Bulling Towne Group.You have to first assume that he or she is not aware- that he or she isnt purposely trying to avoid work.By assuming the best- instead of going in there with guns blazing- youll be able to approach the situation in a more positive light and ultimately get to the root of the problem.You never know, there may be a backstory to what is occurring, adds Melissa Davies, Executive Coach and author of How Not to Act Like a BLEEP at Work.Making assumptions about why someone isnt contributing effectively can get people in trouble2. Have a one-on-one conversationYou might be tempted to fire off an angry email. However, as with any other personal or serious workpla ce conversations, chatting in person or over the phone is always better.Additionally, its important that you make this a one-on-one conversation (rather than a discussion in a team meeting), so that co-worker doesnt feel as if he or she is being attacked by your entire team. When speaking, make sure to stay calm and use as little emotion as possible. Remember, you are gathering information, says Bulling Towne. It is too soon to make a judgement.3. Use I languageWhen having a conversation with a colleague about any sensitive subject, its important to take responsibility for the conversation, explains HR technology and people management expert, John Crowley.In other words, dont use phrases like, other people have noticed or somebody thinks youre XYZ.Instead, you should tactfully explain what youve noticed firsthand- in this case, a lack of contribution. When doing so, its also important that you start the majority of your sentences using I, rather than pointing fingers.Bulling Towne r ecommends using an approach like this oneI am going over the details for this project, and I want to ensure that we can accomplish it on time. I think it would be useful for us to list the tasks each of us are responsible for. How does that sound?4. Ask questionsYoull notice that the above statement ends with a question- a tactic thats recommended to make it clear that you arent just doling out demands.Davies suggests asking something like, How do you see the quality of our ability to work together? How are things going for you?When you hear what your colleague has to say, then you can respond yourself using the I language mentioned previously.Ending your own suggestions and thoughts with a question like, How does that sound? (take note, thats quite different than a closed-ended question like, sound good?) will drive the point home that youre looking to have a collaborative discussion- rather than strictly reprimand him or her.5. Follow upOne direct conversation with your co-worker doesnt immediately guarantee that the behavior will change. That can take some time. If you continue to feel like youre left holding the bulk of the work, you need to have another discussion.This time- instead of leaving all emotion out of it- Bulling Towne recommends incorporating some of your feelings for extra impact. This could be done with a statement likeWhen we last discussed this project, we agreed upon deadlines. Now those deadlines have passed, and I am waiting for your work. I am worried we wont deliver on time.Extra credit When should you approach your boss?If youve had three conversations with that problem colleague and things still remain unchanged, its probably time to loop in a superior. Bring a manager or coach onboard if the employee obviously knows that they arent putting in their fair share of work, but remains unwilling to make an effort to change, shares Crowley.When you do approach your boss about the situation, share high-level overview of what youve already tried and how- theres no need to overwhelm him or her with details and documentation.You are using we language in this situation, explains Bulling Towne. Your goal is to emphasize how this is impacting your entire team and the quality of your work- and not just you personally. For example, youd express a concern to your boss like, Im concerned that we wont deliver on time.If you are asking your boss for help and guidance in handling the situation, make sure you make that explicitly clear. I frequently hear complaints from people that their supervisors dont help them, Bulling Towne shares, When we dig into the conversation, I learn that people are not asking for help. They are assuming that when they vent or complain, a boss reads that as a call for help.Remember, before running to your boss at all, you need to give that co-worker adequate time or opportunity to make a change. If you havent gone to your colleague to have a discussion, then you should not be going over their head to y our boss, warns Davies.Will a lazy co-worker ever change?With all of that time and effort invested into that lazy colleague of yours, its understandable that this question would plague you. But, rest assured, people truly can change- as long as the circumstances are right.If they are not contributing because they dont understand something- or even if they dont realize that they arent pulling their weight- then absolutely says Crowley, All you need to do is show them what to do, or gently point out what needs to change. They may even thank you for itBut, if your colleague is completely disengaged with his or her work or has deeper issues with your employer? Encouraging change is going to be much more difficult.In those situations, its important to remember Bulling Townes advice Realize that you can influence others, yet you cannot control their behavior and actions.So, do your best to change things. However, when it starts to seem completely fruitless? Take a deep breath and focus on your own work. Youll be much better off.