Have you Googled yourself lately?

I've been using a number of avenues in my job search, not the least of which is the internet. And not just to find & apply to positions, but also to research companies. Sure, their websites often have a bunch of info, but I like to find the stuff that's not necessarily the "company line." Like the lawsuits I found for one company I applied to, or the potential merger info I found on another.

But the tables are likely being turned on me... Many companies are turning to search engines and other sites to do quick, easy background checks. Pretty much anything that's ever appeared by or about you on the internet is accessible to the world.

Assuming you're not the head of Enron or anything, it can be kinda fun. I found out that there are two other Gary Radkes out there who are considerably more famous than I. One is a very prolific professor of Italian renaissance art history and the other manufactures high-end trumpet mouthpieces.

This article from Fast Company talks about this phenomenon and what you can/should do to make sure you are projecting the proper image when folks search for you.