Want to Get a Job in this Market? Control Your Google Rank

Published by Ryan Healy on January 21st, 2009 in Career Development, Technology | 6 Comments

If you have a name like Photis Patriotis, Brazen's Software Engineer, showing up at the top of a Google search is a cakewalk. He can buy his personal domain name, start blogging, and hit the front page every time someone searches for him. By pure chance, because his parents gave him a unique name, Photis can take control of his online identity with relative ease.

But for those of us with a name like John Smith, or Ryan Healy, it's not so easy. Even after two years of blogging, and building a relatively strong online brand I'm still outranked by a copywriter in Seattle (or maybe its Denver now). He bought the domain www.ryanhealy.com, so I don't see myself outranking him anytime soon.

But after a lot of work, I have managed to claim a few spots on the front page of a Google search, despite competing with the highly active copywriter and an ultimate fighter who's nicknamed Ryan "The Irish Assassin" Healy. Hopefully people don't mistake me for him!

The point is, unless you're lucky enough to have a one in a billion name, you cannot completely control your online identity. But with a little hard work and strategy, anyone can hit the front page of a Google search.

Personalities like Dan Schawbel are evangelizing personal branding and controlling ones online identity for career purposes and the savviest of us are beginning to listen. Steven Moody, a member of Brazen Careerist recently wrote Penelope Trunk an email, he said,

"I am trying to get to the top of Google searches for my name, but competing with a Death Row inmate in TX and a con artist in Utah is proving difficult. So imagine my surprise when my Brazen Careerist profile is #6-8 on searches! I am indebted to you for the motivation this created."

Steven knows that controlling his Google rank is critical for a number of reasons. It's especially critical when you're looking for a new job because what employers find about you online is an extension of your resume. According to a Vault.com survey, 56% of employers have looked up potential hires on social networks to learn more about them, and 82% said that a negative profile will affect their hiring decisions.

Online career sites like Linkedin, Brazen and VisualCV are not going to replace paper resumes, because despite what some may believe; traditional resumes aren't going away anytime soon. But having a presence on these kinds of career sites can do wonders for building an online presence that will act as an extension of your resume.

If you're cool with Facebook being the first thing people see when they search for you, then this stuff probably doesn't matter, but if you're serious about your career, start a blog, check out the career sites I mentioned, and control what people see when they Google your name.

Leave your thoughts here. (6 responses)

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The "Other" Ryan Healy

Jan 21st, 2009 at 4:48 pm

Hey Ryan,

It's kind of funny how many Ryan Healy's there are. I live in Denver and bought the domain from the Ryan Healy who lives in Seattle. He still blogs for an online Seattle publication.

In fact, he and I compete occasionally for social media URLs. He's got /ryanhealy on Twitter, which forced me to resurrect on old nickname /healymonster.

And then there's "The Irish Assassin." Fortunately, he doesn't seem to be active online or that would probably only complicate matters.

By the way, your blog sometimes takes the #1 position on Google for "Ryan Healy." There are so many factors, and Google's search results are hardly static.

Thanks for the mention. And it's nice to finally "meet" you.

-The "Other" Ryan Healy

Ryan Healy

Jan 21st, 2009 at 5:13 pm

Hey Ryan,

Nice to finally "meet" you as well. It really is unbelievable how many people there are with this name. I've even run into a few women with the name.

Interesting that you bought the domain from the guy in Seattle. No wonder I was confused about where you live. Also, I didn't know that EE hits the #1 spot sometimes, I'll have to google myself more often.

Anyway, thanks for stopping by!

Ryan

Dan Erwin

Jan 23rd, 2009 at 4:22 pm

Personal branding and top biling on Google are terrific–I work at it too. However, in the final analysis, your abilities face-to-face are what counts. And a rolodex network that you've built over whatever business career you've had will be key.

I've watched a number of managers over the years who, when let go, have a new job before they leave the building for outplacement. Their key–they really keep that network going!