When James Alexander searched Google for his name in 2009 he found everything but information about him. This frustration was a result from his very common name, comprised of two first names. Only after utilizing Google’s advance search function and targeting his past work history along with other discerning personal characteristics was James able to configure and control the results that portrayed him in the best possible light.

At the time, James simply copied the extensive Google search query URL and created a shortened Bit.ly link. By sharing this custom link to tailored Google results on his personal LinkedIn page he was in complete control of what potential business partners, clients and recruiters saw when they pressed: “Google Me”. James knew that others would find this process to be useful and decided to share his idea; Vizibility was launched soon after.

There are millions of people who suffer because they have two first names, a very unique name or an impossible to spell name. James Alexander was not the only one who suffered from this problem: a lack of relevant search results on Google. There is a need for a button that, in essence, would be a Google Me button that returns the results an individual wants you to see first. Continue Reading »

The current job market is very poor. Career Coaches and industry experts have been throwing around statistics stating there are anywhere from 5-8 qualified individuals applying for each open position. The last thing a job seeker needs is a social media blunder to ruin his chance of securing employment.

eBranding Me released its Reputation Index as a fun, and social, tool to determine how compelling an individual’s social media presence is. The results of a query returned three results:

1. Enrollability: College admissions staff likes to see evidence of initiative, passion, and drive in pursuing your goals. Our algorithm works hard to find initiative and positive thinking in your online presence, since we know how big a difference those make to your college admission chances!
2. Hireability: Because employers value initiative, positive thinking, and hard work, that’s exactly what we track. eBranding Me’s algorithm automatically determines positive (and negative) sentiment, popularity, and passion. We try and figure out if a lot of people are impressed (or not!) with what you’ve accomplished online, and weight that by how frequently people talk about you. The more passionate people you have talking about you, the higher your score!
3. Dateability: We know the first thing some people do these days is Google (or Facebook) the name of their prospective amour. We have tried to simplify that search into our Dateability score, which tracks whether or not a person has a good reputation and a loyal group of friends. We figure that people who have those attributes will be better to date – so the higher your score, the more attractive your online reputation!

However, the team over at MyWebCareer has built a tool that has practical applications and actually reads your personal Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter profiles to determine Your Career Score! With research showing a staggering 83% of recruiters turning to social media websites and online search engines to research job candidates in 2011, it is more important than ever to control the information published about you online!

“Your Career Score provides insight into how colleagues and employers perceive and evaluate your professional competencies and achievements. It is refreshed each month, and you are notified of any changes and actions you should take to maintain a strong and positive career brand.” Continue Reading »

Upon graduation from college in 2007, Hilary Corna sold her only asset — a 1995 Jeep Wrangler — and bought a one-way ticket to Singapore in hopes of beginning her career in Asia. Her leap of faith soon paid off: several weeks later, Hilary was offered a job with Toyota and spent the following three years conducting Kaizen process improvements in automotive dealerships in the Philippines, India and other Asian countries. Read Hilary’s original post here or check out her story at OneWhiteFace.com.

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What can a Gen-Y gain from international experience?  Yes, certainly some nice vacations.  But imagine obtaining all your five senses again. This is how invigorating it is to work overseas as a young professional, both personally and professionally.

When I graduated from college in 2007, I was adamant about working overseas. I had spent a semester studying abroad in Japan, falling in love with the culture, and after giving up an internship in Tokyo for a relationship, I realized that I wanted to work in Asia while I was young and had the energy instead of being uprooted from family and environment at a later age. Continue Reading »

eBranding Me has had an amazing first 6-months. After launching in late June our community of contributors, followers and supporters has grown tremendously. The eBranding Me team would like to thank everyone for being a part in our growth.

eBranding Me has posted over 140 updates and been viewed by over 5,000 visitors since its inception.

One of our many goals as a business is to be “the preeminent resource of information pertaining to personal branding among students for the sole purpose of successfully enrolling in college or securing gainful employment post-graduation.” With 3 eBooks published, nearly 20 contributing writers and 6 very successful blog series, eBranding Me provides up-to-date, relevant and most importantly, valuable information to its audience of readers. Continue Reading »

This is the first post in the eBranding Me original mini-series, “Interviewing: Be Prepared, Be Dressed and Be Consistent.” This three post series provides eBranding Me readers with valuable interview advice for successfully arranging and participating in an interview for an open position.

You can find all of the posts, organized for your convenience, here. Subscribe via email and/or RSS.

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Everyone grows up being taught, “Practice makes perfect.” Well, in regards to employment, preparation leads to success. This post outlines three key steps a job seeker must take during the interview process to stay one step ahead of his or her competition.

Research

“Prior to your interview, conduct research on the company and the specific position for which you are applying” (Professionalism: Skills for Workplace Success). The more prepared a job applicant is for the interviewer’s questions, the more confident he or she will present themselves – providing an advantage for them over the other candidates. Continue Reading »