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Stephanie Ok, so I've read that lots of people advise networking online, posting resumes on sites, loading up a video or two, all to get yourself "out there." However, how do you balance having an Internet presence for employers to see versus letting everyone on the Web know who you are, what you do, how you do it, etc? For instance, if I "scrub" my resume of contact info for safety, how do employers contact me? If I mention work I did locally, how do I stay safe from any random reader?

94 weeks ago from Personal Branding, Brazen Undergrads and Ask A Coach 1 more

omahony2:
Stephanie. I use the concept of "personas".
--
For "Official" Business, employment and resumes I use More
Stephanie. I use the concept of "personas".
--
For "Official" Business, employment and resumes I use pomahony2@gmail.com
It has a very dignified and business like portrait photograph.
--
For family and friends I use patrick.omahony@gmail.com
It has a picture taken by my grandson.
--
For women, who are especially concerned with personal safety,
the concept of "personas" works very well.
--
With the Official persona, have all the real mail to a post office box,
do not use your home address
With the Official persona, have all the calls go to an answering service,
do not use your home or personal cell phone number.
With the Official persona, use an "official" business name,
do not use your "real" name. (Exp: pomahony instead of Patrick John O'Mahony)
With the Official persona, do not give out any personal details,
if the recruiter or employer is interested in you, they can get in contact with you,
the rest of the world does not need to know that information.
--
--
--
I also use the concept that "employment" is only one thing: Employment.
--
My self, my self-esteem, my social outlets, my status are NOT attached to my employment, are separate from my employment.
--
I never use the word "JOB" when I am talking about my self. That "word" has far too much baggage associated with it. It wraps up my self-esteem with employment and I want to keep these two ideas completely separate. Just use the word employment and soon you will see how unimportant it really is.

Good Luck Patrick John

94 weeks ago

Kathy Caprino: Hi Stephanie - I think it's important to look at what you're worried about in terms of "safety." What are your deepest fears about "getting out ...MoreHi Stephanie - I think it's important to look at what you're worried about in terms of "safety." What are your deepest fears about "getting out there." When you figure those out specifically, and work through those fears, I believe you'll feel more comfortable sharing professional information with a wide audience. If you want a large network, you have to put yourself in the public eye. Protect the personal information you want guarded, but then make public the authentic professional identity that you wish to share with the world. Hope that helps. Check out my women's coaching business for more info - www.elliacommunications.com.
94 weeks ago

paulmacp: I believe in one authentic face to the world (warts and all), and trust in the greater good of society... online and off. I have one resume and I ...MoreI believe in one authentic face to the world (warts and all), and trust in the greater good of society... online and off. I have one resume and I have my address on that resume. I am just one persona, one picture and only one me. Facebook, LinkedIN, Twitter, YouTube and Blog all are intertwined and consistent but face different audiences. So I have different but appropriate content for each online venue. My employer and daughter are aware of all of them. I don’t have the energy to create separate persona’s… one for work, one for family and friends. To me this approach has the ability of becoming disingenuous. I know people who have taken this to a bizarre extreme. Having one online persona that is single (the one their girlfriend sees) and another that is married (the one their wife sees) one that is for work (current employer sees) and one is for getting the next job. I could not keep all that straight. But these are the same people I knew in my twenties (I am in my forties now) that dated multiple women and where known to be race care drivers by some of them (LOL). I guess something’s never really do change, they had different compartmentalized persona’s even back then (one for each target audience), and now it has just evolved into different Facebook pages. Funny these same people thought that no one would figure out they were not really race car drivers ether back then.

I wonder how other people react when they (catch) find out that someone has multiple personas online. My inclination is to wonder where the persona spinning all ends… and will the real slim shady please stand up… But maybe that is just me.

94 weeks ago

paulmacp: I would have to agree with one very important point Kathryn makes. Above all you need to comfortable with what you do. If you are not comfortable ...MoreI would have to agree with one very important point Kathryn makes. Above all you need to comfortable with what you do. If you are not comfortable with your approach, people will see that first, and wonder more about that than the substance of your message online or off.

We all have different styles and approach networking very differently, online or off. In a cocktail party I am one of those, center of attention types... while other people find the whole experience of social small talk very painful. If someone who found small talk difficult in the first place, should not follow my advice on how to work a room. Same goes online, I am a “no secrets” kind of digital citizen, I have been online for over eight years and it is just the approach I feel most comfortable for me.

My point, no one approach is right or wrong, there is no one-size fits all in online social networking.… be comfortable in your approach first, and worry about others second.

94 weeks ago

Rebecca Thorman: Echoing the other commenters, do what's comfortable for you. I live in a high-rise condo with cameras everywhere so it's not a big deal for me to ...MoreEchoing the other commenters, do what's comfortable for you. I live in a high-rise condo with cameras everywhere so it's not a big deal for me to be transparent with my address (Also, when you own your place, it's public information anyway). There are lots of ways you can provide contact information in a safe way - like set up a different email account and have it forward to your main account. Or on Brazen, you can interact through private messages and avoid email all together. A lot of the time, it's just common sense. Do you have any other specific concerns? Since I tend to fall with Paul on the transparency continuum, I'm always interested in what other people worry about on the other side...
94 weeks ago

: Employers could still contact you through the job search on here possibly. I think you have to be careful and I agree-sometimes it is hard to know ...MoreEmployers could still contact you through the job search on here possibly. I think you have to be careful and I agree-sometimes it is hard to know what to show and what not to.
94 weeks ago

Stephanie: Thank you for all the advice and the quick responses!

@omahonysr, I do try to use Personnas for websites on my hobbies, interests, etc, but I'm ...MoreThank you for all the advice and the quick responses!

@omahonysr, I do try to use Personnas for websites on my hobbies, interests, etc, but I'm not sure what you mean by an "Official" personna. I guess I also have to research all those techniques you mentioned.

@Kathy, I'm concerned about personal and physical safety, such as the risk of stalkers, ID theft, etc. I don't want to get carried away with my networking and endanger myself.

@paulmacp, I'm an open and honest person when socializing in person and I'm not trying to create conflicting or deceptive views of myself. However, I'm still wary of having information on myself in several, connected places that anyone on the Internet can see.

@Kahryn, Yes, you've realized my problem exactly. I would rather be safe than sorry. Good luck with your own "plunge"!

@Rebecca, Some of my concerns are more connected with website confidentiality. For instance, does Brazen allow anybody on the Internet to view discussions? Or just users? How easy is it to hack Brazen accounts and get a hold of emails? Granted, a lot of these worries are out of my control, but I don't want to network if it places me at risk.

94 weeks ago

: Also, they wil black out your info and contact you through the site.
94 weeks ago

Caroline Ceniza-Levine: You can have a number and/or email that is strictly for these public postings. It is then easy to forward that public number or email to your ...MoreYou can have a number and/or email that is strictly for these public postings. It is then easy to forward that public number or email to your main ones, so that you don't have to remember to check multiple accounts.
94 weeks ago

omahony2: Sports Illustrated, April 19,2010, page 76 had some interesting views on the roles we play, at work. Pat
94 weeks ago

Stephanie: Thank you for all the advice!

@Kathryn, I have emails forwarded to a main email, but it's a good idea to have one just for netweorking, ...MoreThank you for all the advice!

@Kathryn, I have emails forwarded to a main email, but it's a good idea to have one just for netweorking, thanks!

@Carolina, Good idea, I'll look into having a number to forward to my main one. Thanks for the help!
94 weeks ago

paulmacp: I am curious, and I not trying to be difficult or obtuse here, and if I come off that I way it is not my intent… But how do you handle the ...MoreI am curious, and I not trying to be difficult or obtuse here, and if I come off that I way it is not my intent… But how do you handle the inevitable situation when the question comes up because you finally give someone your real email or real phone number and they ask WTF?!? why do you have more than one?

How do you respond?
94 weeks ago

: I think that they would understand that you are only trying to protect yourself.
94 weeks ago

Stephanie: @paulmacp, I believe that I would just explain honestly that I have multiple emails for safety. As Sarah and Kathryn pointed out, I think people ...More@paulmacp, I believe that I would just explain honestly that I have multiple emails for safety. As Sarah and Kathryn pointed out, I think people would be understanding, especially for young female employees.
94 weeks ago

Martha Nelson: As a HR person, I just need a phone number to reach candidates. The email address, street address, etc. aren't necessary. Most candidates have ...MoreAs a HR person, I just need a phone number to reach candidates. The email address, street address, etc. aren't necessary. Most candidates have more than 1 email, because their 'partier4life' email address won't cut it for business. A phone number and professional email address shouldn't raise any red flags.

94 weeks ago

C. R. Ruano: I think I see what you mean. Private life v. public job seeker. Public professional v. private individual who doesn't necessarily like unknown ...MoreI think I see what you mean. Private life v. public job seeker. Public professional v. private individual who doesn't necessarily like unknown types knocking her electronic or physical door just because they can. I think many of us wrestle with these kinds of dilemmas. The notion of borders between internal v. external space has become more fluid and, in a way, we're all taping our very own multi media shows for posterity every time we enter this nether space of computer generated pseudo-sociability. How much of that is necessary or even understandable is open to and is being debated by far smarter people than yours truly. For now, all I try to do is to cast the net wide but always double check what I haul in. TN
94 weeks ago

Stephanie: @Martha, Thank you for your unique perspective! It's good to hear from a professional that frequently contacts people. You also raise a funny ...More@Martha, Thank you for your unique perspective! It's good to hear from a professional that frequently contacts people. You also raise a funny point with the inappropriate email address: since most Gen-Yers were brought up with technology, their main email address might not be the one to stay with them when they grow up and go out to get a job. I guess that's another reason, besides safety, to have another email address.
94 weeks ago

Stephanie: @thenightway, You bring up a lot of good points about privacy and personal space that I hadn't even considered. It's true that separate emails and ...More@thenightway, You bring up a lot of good points about privacy and personal space that I hadn't even considered. It's true that separate emails and phone numbers would be good for safety, but I think it's also good to have some way of compartmentalizing our lives.
94 weeks ago

paulmacp: @Stephenie from my perspective compartmentalizing is a thing of the past at least electronically. So you are ether online or your not.

A great ...More@Stephenie from my perspective compartmentalizing is a thing of the past at least electronically. So you are ether online or your not.

A great post indirectly about the topic of privacy (or the lack of it) "5 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Trust Social Networks" by Dan Schawbel http://www.personalbrandingblog.com/5-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-trust-soc...

Two key takeaways from post:

> All tweets, private or otherwise are searchable in the library of congress.
> Facebook has evolving security (privacy) and will not guarantee your privacy. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook, even commented that “the age of privacy is over,”

94 weeks ago

Stephanie: @paulmacp, Oh, I understand that it's impossible to compartmentalize online life versus "real" life. I meant compartmentalizing as in separating ...More@paulmacp, Oh, I understand that it's impossible to compartmentalize online life versus "real" life. I meant compartmentalizing as in separating out various facets of your life: work, play, home, etc.
94 weeks ago

Jessica Schanberg: @Stephanie, I think it is tough to balance your privacy vs. having a viable presence online. I have decided to just put all of my contact ...More@Stephanie, I think it is tough to balance your privacy vs. having a viable presence online. I have decided to just put all of my contact information out there, because I want to get hired and contacted. I forfeit some of my privacy, but I don't feel that I have a choice right now. I have basically accepted that I'm "out there", for better or worse.
94 weeks ago

paulmacp: @Stephanie, that was my point, the only choice you have is online or off, and soon that will probably mean employed=online, unemployed=offline. ...More@Stephanie, that was my point, the only choice you have is online or off, and soon that will probably mean employed=online, unemployed=offline. Once you are online Google can't tell the difference between work, play or home. You have only one life online, so do what you like about email address and what not. Google will be the great aggregator of all things that represent you. Resume, with or without valid contact or address, your buddies tweet to another buddy about how to get a hold of you. If you use one phone number here and one email address there, no worries... Google will aggregate it all together for you eventually, every day Google gets better at linking seemingly irrelevant data together for the best search results it can. Google has to stay relevant and competitive, and they say 80% of business people Google strangers they are about to have a meeting with… so you think they (at Google) are not trying to get better at lining all this information about us together.

All you have control over is what you put out there, not what anyone else does. I just did an interesting experiment, I just Goggled my various email addresses over the years, then my current phone number. They were all linked to my name, and then I Goggled my current address to see if it was linked also. It was. Then I tried my 74 year old father’s phone number and address who has never had a webpage or a social-media account of any kind, ever… bingo. In my vanity search of my father, I also discovered a link to a debate in the Saskatchewan legislature over my Father’s salary from June, 1988. http://www.legassembly.sk.ca/hansard/21L2S/88-06-24.PDF, and a few press releases about him from the 80tys and 90tys… I found that cool, I don’t think he would, he thinks this sort of stuff is big brother. It is now, just the way it is… Google is “Big Brother”.

Just look up Richard within the PDF:

Can the minister responsible confirm that the new president and chief executive officer of Develcon, whose name is Richard MacPherson, has been given an employment contract which sees him collect the following: a base salary of $150,000 a year; a minimum $75,000 a year bonus; a minimum salary of $225,000 a year; plus $50,000 in relocation costs and a Cadillac with all expenses paid and up to $50,000 for leaving his former employment early, and a $225,000 severance package — all this to head
a company which receives $7 million in taxpayers’ money from SEDCO (Saskatchewan Economic Development Corporation) and then turned around and laid off 32 employees. Is this in fact, Mr. Minister, the compensation package signed between Develcon and Mr. MacPherson, and how in the world can that be justified.

94 weeks ago

Stephanie: Qpaulmacp, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree (but excellent work on the research for your evidence). Safety is very important to me, so I ...MoreQpaulmacp, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree (but excellent work on the research for your evidence). Safety is very important to me, so I will stay on the safe side for posting my information.
94 weeks ago

paulmacp: @Stephanie, thanks... it is not about agreeing or changing your mind, but a healthy debate. I enjoyed the discourse. On my research: I was really ...More@Stephanie, thanks... it is not about agreeing or changing your mind, but a healthy debate. I enjoyed the discourse. On my research: I was really surprised on how much information I could find about my Dad. I have searched myself often, but never thought to search my Dad, because I thought I would not find anything. He has been retired for over a decade and is so so paranoid about being "out there". He is not out there deliberately, but he is out there.
94 weeks ago

Stephanie: @paulmacp, I'm glad we both agreed the debate and I hope you learned a lot from it too. You bring up a good point with the example with your ...More@paulmacp, I'm glad we both agreed the debate and I hope you learned a lot from it too. You bring up a good point with the example with your father: with or without your consent, you WILL show up on the Internet. A point to ponder.
94 weeks ago

C. R. Ruano: I think all points expressed have validity in relation to specific aspects of how we can interact with electronic media. Nevertheless, at the end ...MoreI think all points expressed have validity in relation to specific aspects of how we can interact with electronic media. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, all media is driven by people who make choices about what it is and it isn't private and where the government cannot or will not provide measures to maintain a level playing field between those who own, manipulate and transact in data and those who are users or consumers of it, then the individual must find ways to fence in what S/he wishes to share with others. Speaking of Google, one can extend the analogy that since the Chinese government was bound to find out information on potential anti-government activists anyways, Google should just hand over everything it collects so that State control can be exercised with complete impunity. No technology exists in a vacuum and the rights of citizens to choose how and when to be in the public space do not stop because electronic snooping systems can be devised and set up without any oversight nor assurance as to the final disposition of the significant amounts of information it collects. We are not off switching devices that are either off or on the electronic arena. We are individuals whose biographies intersect those of many others in the course of our daily interactions. Which parts of my biographical experience I choose to share with others should be left entirely up to me and not to some aggregator of information.
94 weeks ago

Stephanie: @thenightway, Well put. We cannot NOT go online, or control what goes on the Internet, we can only control what we ourselves post online.
94 weeks ago

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