How Often Do You Check Your Personal Details On Google?


How often do you check to see what information is available about you on Google? I check all the time and before I ever use my real name on any web page, I now always stop to evaluate whether I’d want that information appearing on Google.

In the US, the rights of employers to use Google to do background checks on employees has recently been upheld, and to act upon information that might be found. David Mullins was fired after his employer found out that he had been dismissed in the past for misue of government property.

Being careful about what you say on the internet in my view is very important, particularly as Googling somebody is a very common practice now. I tend to Google the names of most people I’m due to meet at work, and I definitely would Google anyone I’m going to interview for a job.  Sometimes I find it hard to not disclose what I learn about people on the web when I meet them, but I find it can be an advantage going into a meeting when I know a bit about the backgrounds of people I’m due to meet.

Googling people has backfired once or twice in my personal life, most notably when I was going to meet a friend of a friend who was in London for a bit from the US on a kind of blind date. Unfortunately, when I Googled her I picked out the wrong (very hot) person in a group photo and when I went to pick her up at her hotel, I nearly left without her as I was looking for totally the wrong person!


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About the Author: Everton is based in London and has worked in the internet and mobile space for over ten years now, and before that worked in corporate strategy and consulting. He has a degree in Economics from Cambridge University.He also writes for Windows 7 News, Windows 8 News and One Tip A Day.

  • As green said, googling may not be the right source to find about people.
    However, sites like Myspace and Orkut can surely be used. Orkut is very popular where I live. So there are good chances you'll get someone's data from orkut and I'm damn sure even Myspace can be (mis)used for this, being so popular in the US..
  • Before a jobinterview I used Google to get information on the company and on the person interviewing me.

    When working in the IT-business there is always a chance that the company has been in a business newspaper or given a speech somewhere.

    I think its a good way to get to know the interviewer better, which topics I should focus on during the interview and so forth.

    LOL at the blind date googling Everton ;)
  • I am using google to learn about people that i have meetings. But sometimes i get no results :) Btw, im not %100 sure about google is a right source for people backgrounds.
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