However, since this stuff floats out there in the ether indefinitely, you’ve got to be certain that your writing is professional – even if it’s an informal comment, make sure it’ll reflect positively on you in some way. Posting a nasty zinger comment might feel satisfying for a moment, but could come back to bite you later on…

“I think its important to make your mark and get out there and sprinkle those digital breadcrumbs. If you don’t, your competition will!”

Right on!

I’m reminded of a recent TechRadar article called “Make an online profile to get you hired, not fired: How to promote your skills and hide your ills.

One of the quotes that struck me was:

“The Guardian [reported] that more than 1,700 people have been sacked or disciplined for Internet misuse in the past three years… What’s considered far less is the risk in not having any kind of presence online. Total online anonymity may be the ultimate protection from harm, but it’s also protection from opportunity. A personal website, a few Google results and a LinkedIn profile are no longer just helpful – they’re expected. Without such a presence, you’re suggesting that you’re unable to make any kind of mark.”

We’re wired to make split-second decisions and form immediate judgments based on very little information. Back in the day, this behavior allowed us to adapt quickly to new situations and avoid danger, keeping us in the gene pool.

Today, we don’t deal with “fight or flight” situations like evading starving packs of lions. But we still rely on first impressions in our work life, and even in our non-work life. Another quote from the article was, “We’ve caught ourselves Googling people that we’ve just met to assess whether we’re socially compatible long before we would traditionally find out the information face to face.”

You’re totally right when you say, “Potential employers can look you up online and decide if they want to pursue you PRIOR to you even getting an interview!”

It’s up to us to understand the power of the web and use it to help create a future with more career opportunities.

Thanks for the comment!

You’re absolutely right. A bio is one of the most effective breadcrumbs you can leave because it packs a powerful, opportunity-attracting punch in a small amount of space.

I think of a bio as a little advertisement for you and your brand.