Network Safely Online
In case you haven't noticed, the old-boy network for finding jobs isn't old anymore, isn't all boys and now prefers high-end coffee shops to exclusive clubs.When not sipping lattes, many networkers in the professional world now meet around electronic water coolers, sharing career buzz via Internet media ranging from email and message boards to Web sites, chat and blogs.
This cyberspace of job hunting abounds with useful information and helpful people; it's also full of misinformation, dead ends and the occasional economic or social predator who's looking to take advantage of people. Follow these tips for getting the most from online networking while protecting yourself.
Five Ways to Stay Safe While Networking
Don't Give Yourself Away: Keep personal data, especially identifying information, to yourself until you have reason to trust your correspondent. On the Web, one piece of information -- name or address or phone number -- lets your genie out of the bottle. Also be careful about disseminating documents, like your CV, where your identity is embedded.
Set Up a Safe Email Address: Consider establishing a separate email account for professional networking. Choose an email alias entirely unrelated to your real identity, and be sure the email service doesn't allow anyone to retrieve information you may have provided, like what you entered in a registration form.
Watch What You Say: What you write in an online forum may be retrievable by search engines for years. You can imperil your good name and even lose your shirt by recklessly trashing an associate, boss or employer. Get a voodoo doll instead.
Safety in Numbers: Be wary of face-to-face encounters with people you've only known online.
Infect Others with Good Ideas, Not Viruses: The only thing more destructive to your reputation than spamming the world with your CV is allowing a PC virus or worm to send itself to everyone in your address book. Install antivirus software and keep your subscription current.In case you haven't noticed, the old-boy network for finding jobs isn't old anymore, isn't all boys and now prefers high-end coffee shops to exclusive clubs.
When not sipping lattes, many networkers in the professional world now meet around electronic water coolers, sharing career buzz via Internet media ranging from email and message boards to Web sites, chat and blogs.
This cyberspace of job hunting abounds with useful information and helpful people; it's also full of misinformation, dead ends and the occasional economic or social predator who's looking to take advantage of people. Follow these tips for getting the most from online networking while protecting yourself.
Five Ways to Stay Safe While Networking
Don't Give Yourself Away: Keep personal data, especially identifying information, to yourself until you have reason to trust your correspondent. On the Web, one piece of information -- name or address or phone number -- lets your genie out of the bottle. Also be careful about disseminating documents, like your CV, where your identity is embedded.
Set Up a Safe Email Address: Consider establishing a separate email account for professional networking. Choose an email alias entirely unrelated to your real identity, and be sure the email service doesn't allow anyone to retrieve information you may have provided, like what you entered in a registration form.
Watch What You Say: What you write in an online forum may be retrievable by search engines for years. You can imperil your good name and even lose your shirt by recklessly trashing an associate, boss or employer. Get a voodoo doll instead.
Safety in Numbers: Be wary of face-to-face encounters with people you've only known online.
Infect Others with Good Ideas, Not Viruses: The only thing more destructive to your reputation than spamming the world with your CV is allowing a PC virus or worm to send itself to everyone in your address book. Install antivirus software and keep your subscription current.
