job search notes: Google never forgets

Seth Godin writes of a friend who advertised for a housekeeper via Craigslist. She then google searched her respondents and did a quick background check on them. Seth summarizes:

Of course, you don't have to be a drunk, a thief or a bitter failure for this to backfire. Everything you do now ends up in your permanent record. The best plan is to overload Google with a long tail of good stuff and to always act as if you're on Candid Camera, because you are.

Read the full posting on Seth's blog here.

What is the point of this?

If you are searching for a job, someone will search on you.

Have you googled yourself recently?

If not, do so immediately.
You need to know what the results will be. If there are results that aren't you and aren't flattering, you need to be able to explain them.

When I google "Steve Sherlock" eight of the ten Page One results are legitimately references to me. There are a number of other legitimate references on the second, third, and remaining pages of Google results.

1. Steve's 2 Cents

   - 2 visits - 12/11/08
   posted by Steve Sherlock at 5:24 AM 1 comments. Wednesday, February 25, 2009. Time Goes By .... posted by Steve Sherlock at 11:32 AM 0 comments ...
   steves2cents.blogspot.com/ - 84k - Cached - Similar pages -

2. Franklin Matters

   Posted by Steve Sherlock at 11:34 AM 0 comments ..... Contact Steve Sherlock. You are welcome to comment on any of the posts which will generate an email to ...
   franklinmatters.blogspot.com/ - 159k - Cached - Similar pages -

3. Blogger: User Profile: Stephen Sherlock

   Blogger is a free blog publishing tool from Google for easily sharing your thoughts with the world. Blogger makes it simple to post text, photos and video ...
   www.blogger.com/profile/13070688297607895943 - 12k - Cached - Similar pages -

4. Flickr: shersteve's Photostream

   Gallery218: Sherlock, Pisini deep in discussion by shersteve ... Gallery218: Sherlock, Pisini sharing art by shersteve ...
   www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/ - 56k - Cached - Similar pages -

5. Twitter / shersteve

   Feb 25, 2009 ... Name Steve Sherlock; Location Franklin, MA; Web http://steves2cen... Bio Project delivered, team happy, customer satisfied! ...
   twitter.com/shersteve - 36k - Cached - Similar pages -

6. Steve Sherlock - LinkedIn

   View Steve Sherlock's professional profile on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is the world's largest business network, helping professionals like Steve Sherlock discover ...
   www.linkedin.com/pub/1/419/7a8 - 11k - Cached - Similar pages -

7. Steve Sherlock

   Discuss this name with other users on IMDb message board for Steve Sherlock. Find where Steve Sherlock is credited alongside another name. Steve Sherlock & ...
   www.imdb.com/name/nm0792349/ - 31k - Cached - Similar pages -

8. Steve Sherlock — Blogs, Pictures, and more on WordPress

   Find other items tagged with “steve-sherlock”:. Technorati Del.icio.us IceRocket · 24/7 Support · Free Features · Premium Features · VIP · Terms of Service ...
   wordpress.com/tag/steve-sherlock/ - 13k - Cached - Similar pages -

9. Tertiary Education

   posted by Steve Sherlock at 5:38 AM 0 comments. Friday, November 30, 2007 ... posted by Steve Sherlock at 11:00 PM 1 comments. Tuesday, November 20, 2007 ...
   tertiary-education.blogspot.com/ - 57k - Cached - Similar pages -

10. Steve Sherlock - Vancouver, BC | Facebook

    Steve Sherlock (Vancouver, BC) is on Facebook. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected.
    www.facebook.com/people/Steve-Sherlock/574141285 - 23k - Cached - Similar pages -

#7 and #10 are other Steve Sherlock's. #7 is in LA somewhere associated with movies and music. #10 is a relatively new one (that I had not seen before).

I am aware of the following Steve Sherlock's

• an archeologist with a great discovery in northern England
• an auto rental agent in Australia
• a municipal employee in Clarksville, Tennessee
• the Chief Marketing Officer for Coverzones
• Sports Editor for the Lewiston (ME) Sun Journal

What do you see when you google your name?


BTW - check on the name variations. I go by Steve but formally I am Stephen. I need to search for both.