The James Dicks Blog

Most everyone today uses the Internet on a daily basis to the benefit of their personal lives as well as their businesses; but is “Big Brother” watching? If some powerful figures in control of major Internet sites have their way in the future it is certainly a possibility.

The Internet has never been totally anonymous based on the IP address read by the sites you visit. But the ways in which you send emails to friends and associates or conduct business (online banking, bill pay, etc.) allows for some anonymity today to protect personal security and, as some advocate, freedom of speech.

Randi Zuckerburg, marketing director of Facebook (and sister of Facebook’s founder Mark Zuckerburg) recently took part in a panel discussion on this topic and said she believes that Internet users should not be allowed to hide their identities when using the Internet. She told the panel, “I think anonymity on the Internet has to go away. I think people hide behind anonymity and they feel like they can say whatever they want behind closed doors.”

Remember when you signed up for your first email account, you had to come up with a name you would use. Some people actually used their “real” names without thinking twice about it but, I think you’ll admit, most people developed some type of anonymous Internet pseudonyms (something like PapaBear44@InternetSite.com) to hide their personal identities to everyone but friends and families.

The former head of Google, Eric Schmidt, also believes Internet anonymity is a real threat and called it a “dangerous” problem and, in his view, something the government will eventually be forced to regulate. As a matter of fact, Google was criticized recently for a policy that insists that individuals use their “real names” on their new Google+ social media website. There is evidence that a number of Google+ users, who used a traditional anonymous Internet name rather than their “real name,” not only had their Google+ account cancelled, but all associated Google accounts closed for failure to maintain the policy of using actual names. Google apparently is taking this very seriously.

Those who advocate full disclosure on the Internet are insisting that more online abuses and illegal activities are definitely possible because people are currently able to conceal their identities behind these non-descriptive Internet monikers. Proponents of a full disclosure policy on the Internet believe that anonymity allows criminals and sexual predators to more easily stalk their potential victims. By hiding their identities they can easily and “innocently” gain access to chat groups that protect the identities of their members thus making it easier for criminals to target their victims over the Internet.

Privacy is an issue that we tend to guard with all of our might. So many personal records today (banking, medical, personnel) are transmitted over the Internet and, I believe, should be guarded and genuinely protected. Law enforcement and government agencies also must maintain a semblance of privacy to keep information away from the “bad guys” and secure local, state and national security.

Keep this in mind. If Internet anonymity is critical to you, there are ways to protect yourself. You might want to consider disabling the “cookies” settings on your computer. Cookies are text that is sent to the browser about the Internet sites you visit. This information is stored by the server and sent back to the site each time you enter the site. Cookies also contain important information like passwords and login information that are considered a privacy risk by most Internet users. There are a number of web browsers that will automatically delete all cookies when you close your browser. Might be a good idea to find one.

I am certain that Internet anonymity will be a topic of discussion for many years based on the massive growth of social and business Internet sites like Facebook, Google+, and LinkedIn, which are specifically designed for the exchange of information; sometimes very personal information. Consider this, if you were walking through a “dangerous” part of town you would probably remain very aware of your surroundings. The same applies to the Internet; just be careful of the information you provide on the Internet to maintain as much personal security and privacy as possible.

But it’s more than that; although the idea of Internet anonymity may protect us from possible personal hazards, this idea will also diminish our personal freedoms guaranteed by our country’s most cherished documents (the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution) which have formed the values of the country we live in today. We are a country that prides itself on hundreds of years of freedom, among them freedom of speech. It’s a very hot topic to keep your eye on in the months and years ahead.

Tough times are here and tougher times may be coming. If you find yourself without a job during the current economic downturn, you must become as confident as you feel comfortable with (and maybe more than that) if you are ever going to gain the attention of a possible future employer.

Look, just going to job fairs and sending your resume out over Internet probably isn’t going to be enough. You may have already discovered that hasn’t worked for you. So, what’s next?

I have spent many years developing a brand for myself and that has helped me develop my business and myself. There are a variety of ways to do this – some easy and some very difficult and expensive. You should start by creating a personal “commercial” that describes you and your skill sets. By commercial, I mean write a rundown of who you are, what you do, and how you can help any potential employer. It’s that easy but be brief and only state facts and specifics.

For instance, if you are a career sales professional be very specific about past employment and how you helped previous companies attain success. Tell them about how you increased sales 52 percent in your first year on the job. Mention how many individuals you supervised and how you were a mentor to the sales staff, which helped them develop their skills, thus adding to the company’s bottom line three years in a row. That’s about 30 seconds. And if you present yourself confidently, they’ll have no choice but listen to you.

Now that you’ve developed a personal brand, start building up your networking opportunities. Think about all the people you already know, do some homework, and find networking opportunities through business organizations or in your city’s chamber of commerce. You may even want to expand your job search to areas outside your town or your state. I know that leaving your current location may be a hardship, but it’s also important to find your next professional position. These are different times and you may have to do different things to find what you’re looking for. I always tell people that if you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you always got. Believe me, it’s true. I’ve done it more times than I can count.

Don’t be shy about asking business associates and friends for personal recommendations for your online social networking sites or letters that you can use for reference purposes. The more people that know you and your current situation, the faster your current situation will change. Don’t be afraid to be bold. Ask…all they can say is no but most people will be glad to help you.

Back up your personal branding with an accurate resume and cover letter. The importance of your personal documents cannot be understated. Many companies today will not accept “walk-ins” and solely use your resume to make their hiring decisions; that includes private industry and government agencies.

I understand that you are going through an extremely difficult time right now. Emotions are running high and it’s probably difficult to maintain a positive attitude from day-to-day. But it has never been more important to do so. Do your homework everyday and remember that your job right now is finding a job. Get up every morning and get busy locating your next position. It will come but in the end, it’s all up to you. Remember, be aggressive and be positive. Today is the day to start making yourself the top candidate. Once you do that, the next job is sure to come.