google lookalike

Published

I'm not sure if this is the problem with me being unable to get a job or not, I do have outstanding credentials and most of my class is employed now, most with no problem.

There is a girl who recently married someone with my rare last name, she now has the same first and last name as me and is ALL OVER THE INTERNET! Not only that, if you google my name, it comes up on some pretty nutty websites and forums. She has a public blog and I emailed her to ask her to please take a few things down because I'm looking for a job and I think people are seeing it, thinking it's me. She flipped out, posted nasty things on her blog, made up things I said and added them to her blog and replied publicly to "me". I was very polite to her, trying to explain that I live in the bible belt and her posting all over wiccan, witchcraft, satanic sites and voicing her very liberal politics made it hard for me to get a job since people assume with a name like mine that it must be me. It's NOT me! I lead a very quiet conservative life. So if you google for me, you don't find anything with me, it's all this other girl, and it makes me look bad! I've always been taught to be careful what information you post online, so up until last year if you searched me, nothing came up. Today it's over 10 pages of things that have my name, but aren't me

Suggestions? I don't know what to do! I'm very tolerant of what other people believe. But I really think this is affecting me at this point. I don't want to bring it up to potential employers because some may not even google me. But the ones that do, surely won't tell me they are going to or have to question if this was me or not.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would write a formal letter disavowing the internet input and send it with each job application and inquiry and resume you sent out. I seriously doubt if you approach an attorney for a cease and desist letter to this woman, that it would be possible. Freedom of speech you know. But you might want to consult an attorney just in case.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.

It's more likely the economy than some internet person with the same name. Really there isn't anything you can do, even if she temporarily takes down some of the info it will be easily found with just a little snooping. And really, she has every right to her life as she likes it. I wouldn't address it with potential employers unless they specifically ask.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Are prospective employers really taking the time to google applicants? I doubt it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I really do hate to bring it to anyone's attention if I don't have to. I think maybe casually in an interview I might bring up that I've been worried about people googling me and seeing another girl with my rare name and thinking it's me.

I agree she has every right to freedom of speech, I fully support that, and her right to her beliefs. I really have no problem with what she says online and most of the time agree with things she says. However, where I live, 99% of the people will label her a nut job and thus me. It makes me look bad in the eyes of anyone who thinks it may be me in my area.

One of my best friends is an attorney, I've asked her and she says there really is nothing I can do short of asking the girl to take some stuff down and kinda be quiet for a while on more controversial subjects. Which I did and got freaked out on. I would just change my last name, but I'm afraid it would hurt my father's feelings if it wasn't for marriage.

Do you think making my own blog page with my picture and info about me explaining that she is not me and her views are not mine, although I support her right to have them, is a good idea?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.

Do you think making my own blog page with my picture and info about me explaining that she is not me and her views are not mine, although I support her right to have them, is a good idea?

Not likely to help. Her blog, older, with more links in and viewers, will still likely be on page one while you blog would be on the last page. Other than directly linking your blog to people, it's unlikely they would find it. I would try and have a nice neutral answer if anyone asks, otherwise I'd move on with your job search. I haven't googled any potential employee, I really don't think it's that common a practice except perhaps in higher levels of management.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

No, doing a counter-blog will only confuse the issues and keep the matter alive. It might snowball to your detriment.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
No, doing a counter-blog will only confuse the issues and keep the matter alive. It might snowball to your detriment.

ya, you are probably right. I just wish she didn't get married to this guy that is of no relation to me until AFTER I got a job! Ya know? It's frustrating. I know the economy is bad, and my area is saturated with applicants, but students from my school with lower GPA's, less work and education, are getting jobs faster than me with less effort. I've always gotten a job offer after an interview, never have I had so much rejection in my life. I have excellent credentials and people skills. So it just seems like this person may be the cause. I think maybe it also helps that they know people and I'm a transplant from what is seen in this area as a "liberal" state. Would help to be a local I'm sure.

Oh well, thanks for the input everyone, I really appreciate it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree; a counter-blog explaining the situation likely would not be very helpful.

You could always register a domain name using your first & last name ie: JaneSmith.com, and create an online portfolio/resume website for yourself. On that website, you can state something like: others may bear the name "Jane Smith" online, but this is the only web presence of Jane Smith of City, State.

Put JaneSmith.com on all of your resumes, correspondence, etc. Promote the web presence (your own) that you want people to see, and simply ignore the other one. That's what I would do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
One of my best friends is an attorney, I've asked her and she says there really is nothing I can do short of asking the girl to take some stuff down and kinda be quiet for a while on more controversial subjects. Which I did and got freaked out on. I would just change my last name, but I'm afraid it would hurt my father's feelings if it wasn't for marriage.

Even if she took the blog/website down, it's likely that cached copies of those pages live on in Google and in archive.org, and the only person who can remove those cached copies is...you guessed it, her, since she owns the blog.

You legally can't do anything since she's not impersonating you: you two share the same legal name and that's all. A counter-blog defending yourself would only serve to draw unwanted attention...so would addressing it with potential employers from the get-go. And continuing to pester her about it would just give her more material for her blogs.

I would just try to ignore her and her site. If asked, you could always state that you don't have any internet presence...or do as thebusynurse suggested and register your name as a domain and make that your official website...and just make the site ONLY about YOU--no "I'm not this crazy girl!" anywhere on it. Be professional and don't draw any attention to her.

If it were me, I'd probably register the domain name just to keep it out of her hands, even if I never used it :) GoDaddy is one of the easiest and most user friendly registrars.

I really doubt it's her that's impeding your job hunt. The economy really sucks right now. Also, you don't really know why others are hired over you--they may have had a lower GPA or less experience, but perhaps they had connections, had something that you're lacking (certifications, bilingual), or just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Best of luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks, you guys are really helpful. I appreciate all the advice I'm getting. I am currently a graphic artist and posses web design skills and software as well, I guess it can't hurt to build my own website showing my other skills as well as highlighting my nursing potential and achievements. I'll work on that tomorrow instead of being sad about more rejection letters and the cartoon of my cat I'm drawing. :tku:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
Thanks, you guys are really helpful. I appreciate all the advice I'm getting. I am currently a graphic artist and posses web design skills and software as well, I guess it can't hurt to build my own website showing my other skills as well as highlighting my nursing potential and achievements. I'll work on that tomorrow instead of being sad about more rejection letters and the cartoon of my cat I'm drawing. :tku:

Why not put the cartoon of the cat on the website? :)

Even if you don't use the site for nursing, at least it's YOUR internet presence that is entirely under YOUR control. And with a little meta-tag and keyword magic, your site could end up #1 (or pretty high up) in the search rankings.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion