Chapter 1 · Practice 3 of 4
Search for yourself the way a hiring manager would
Why it matters
Before improving your brand, see what already exists. Open a private browser window and search:
- Your full name plus "developer" or your city.
- Your usual username or handle.
- Your name plus your current company or university.
Note what comes up on the first page: your LinkedIn, GitHub, an old blog, a forum account, a tagged photo. Then ask three questions:
- Is it accurate? Old job titles and abandoned projects confuse people.
- Is it findable? If your best work does not appear, it needs a clearer home and links.
- Is anything embarrassing or private? Remove or lock it now, not during a job search.
Repeat this check every few months. It takes five minutes and shows you what a stranger sees.
Do
- Search your name in a private window every few months
- Fix or remove outdated profiles you no longer use
Avoid
- Assuming nobody looks you up before a call