Virtual Footprint

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What Does Your 'Virtual Footprint' Say About You?

Your virtual footprint is found by examining online social media and conducting internet searches. It is each individual's responsibility to maintain a positive online presence and shield themselves from any negative aspects. A self-evaluation of my online presence revealed positive aspects and some inconsistencies in my professional image. Thankfully, simple steps can be taken to fix these irregularities.

Online Presence

An online presence presents many pros and cons. Positively viewed attributes are displayed through your online activity. A virtual presence can reflect character traits such as professionalism and responsibility. This material can give you a leg up in the job market when viewed by a future employer. On the other hand, the virtual world has become an  informal setting, and has created an environment that does not foster professionalism. Negative information can be shielded by more recent, positive material. Professional blogs and LinkedIn accounts offer an online presence that can catch a future employer's eye.

Individuals are responsible for upholding a positive virtual identity. Internet users must convey themselves in a respectable and professional manner. It is their responsibility to ensure that  online material does not harm their virtual footprint. They must make sure that negative information is shielded by more recent, positive information.

My Virtual Footprint

My virtual presence is evident throughout the internet. Facebook and Twitter are media outlets I use daily. Usually, anything a user 'likes,' 'tweets,' or 'posts' can be seen by any other user with a Facebook or Twitter account. Fortunately, steps can be taken to hide these sites from most viewers. My Facebook and Twitter profiles are only accessible to users that request to be my Facebook 'friend' or Twitter 'follower.'

A simple Google search will pull up personal information. However, not all searches are fruitful. A Google search for "Mason Koch" yields few results. The search is much more productive when you add keywords. Keywords are best used when they come from material in your résumé, such as "Mason Koch Jasper," my hometown, or "Mason Koch Baseball," an activity I was involved in during high school.

Evaluating my virtual footprint through an employer's eyes brought many details of my online presence into focus. My Facebook and Twitter convey the amount of time I have spent traveling recently, and I was pleased to discover that my involvement and passion for student organizations presented itself clearly. Further Google searches allowed me to recapture how much I accomplished in high school. These aspects convey a positive online presence. A presence that I would be happy for any employer to discover.

However, my virtual footprint still has flaws. There is a lack of professionalism in the social media I use, and the accomplishments displayed online are all from high school. I need to show more recent information and accomplishments online, and establish a solid professional online presence. These can both be accomplished through a well constructed blog and a professional LinkedIn account. A blog can showcase recent leadership developments in my life, and give a positive, professional impression. LinkedIn accounts serve as a great professional networking tool that can exhibit one's polished skills and accomplishments.

In Conclusion

Personal information is easy to access online. An individual can show themselves both positively and negatively. It is each users responsibility to maximize the positive aspects and reduce, or shield, the negative aspects of their virtual footprint. My online presence exhibited an emphasis on my involvement and travel, and highlighted high school achievements. Yet, my virtual footprint lacked professionalism. Action can be taken to improve my online presence through the form of professional websites such as a blog or LinkedIn.