When a suit and tie is not enough

A decade ago, looking and acting professional more or less meant, at least for men, to look appropriate by putting on a suit and a tie for a job interview. Today, putting on a suit and a tie is nowhere near enough.

“Have you ever Googled yourself?”- A question we have all been asked. Today, 75 percent of all HR departments are required to Google you before a job interview to see what type of person you are.

This also means your first impression has been moved from when you enter the job interview to whatever shows up on Google when your name is put in the search area. This can both be good or bad.

For example, a professor from Boston was not satisfied when he Googled his name. A person with the same name, who was being accused of shoplifting, showed up. This was a huge amusement for the professor’s colleagues, but for the professor it was very unpleasant.

There are definitely also other stories like this one, and if you are in the job hunt you do not want to be related to breaking the law - even though it is not you.

At the same time, a digital first impression can also be to your advantage. This is basically what this blog has tried to tell you since day one. If you keep consistency in your personal brand and update it on a regular basis you will definitely beat a lot of your competition when you look for your dream job.

Remember that your future employer most likely will Google you, look at your Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts. So when you create your personal brand, be consistent and professional. If not, you might not even get to put on your suit and tie.