…you Google yourself. You know you do, we all do it at some point. We just need to know…
And don’t let anyone try and tell you otherwise; it’s nothing short of a necessity for any job seeker, employee, future beau/gal, really anything. Your Google Search is part of your identity now (it always has been, but as the masses become more and more digitized in their daily lives it becomes a first stop for information).
I caught this piece on Lifehacker today about Google responding to requests that they WILL NOT remove potentially negative results as you search your own name. I repeat: Google WILL NOT remove any of the trash your ex talked about you on some blog, some comment you made one night while drunk or your first employer ranting about how you goofed off too much. That’s right, get used to it boys and girls. Especially you boys and girls with really individualized names like Biegacki or Finkeinsteinowitz.
Almost immediately after the Lifehacker piece, Google Reader coughed up this little gem:
Now I’m not condoning the AUTOMATED search results, but you know how this story goes. I caught this article via the Daily Show blog, but even though it’s comedy, the search query is correct. Type “Rush Limbaugh is” on a Google Search and the crawler does the rest.
I abhor you: Protect your name on-line. The Lifehacker article outlines some really basic things you can do (opening Facebook, Twitter and other major social network accounts help relieve your first page returns). After that you’re on your own.
Peace.
mjb
