Maintaining Your Brand.

 In keeping with this out-with-the-old, in-with-the-new time of year,  Planet College offers this.

"Brand" is the common term now for most every product or service available in this consumer economy. Companies work earnestly to maintain, protect and improve their computer's, automobile's or soft drink's, i.e. their "Brand's" image, (the commonly held public perception of the product or service the brand represents.) Corporations are careful, vigilant and even jealous of how their brand or more exactly brand's image is used.  This vigilance is eminently practical. They likely have spent millions establishing and maintaining this image and will spend just as much to protect it.

You too are a brand and your image also deserves care.  Electronic communication, available now for years to students on Planet College, invites the distribution of images of you.  You have likely responded to this opportunity with images of your student life.  With a major part of college life at least supposedly dedicated to partying and other such pursuits it is not surprising that evidence of this behavior has found its way on to the internet. While useful for connection with other revelers some students, especially those approaching graduation  - and by that Planet College means getting serious about looking for work beyond valet parking for tips-  have found this evidence to be inhibiting to their job search.  Employment screeners, the workers who initially review applications and resumes, are often younger, newer members of the hiring staff and not too far past college themselves. So, they know all the same sites you do.  Their excuse for searching these cites maybe expediency, it may be security but for whatever reason, if your favorite social media page features a photo of you painted to look like that gekko with the annoying accent that sells insurance inhaling six beer bongs at the same time, - well - they may think twice before calling you in for an interview.

Planet College is aware that there are some enterprising individuals who offer to 'scrub' your internet history of such images and references. Well, OK, there's that. It certainly is worthwhile considering especially if you are approaching graduation. Alternatively, it is certainly possible, that you, in one of your increasingly frequent sober moments might accomplish the same thing yourself.

So, there you go, out-with-the-old, in-with-the-new,  give it some thought.