Create a Professional E-mail Address and Username for Your Job Search

By Joshua Waldman from Job Searching with Social Media For Dummies

To help in your job search, use a consistent username across all social media networks. Use the same username in your LinkedIn profile and VisualCV public URLs, or web addresses. Keep this same username consistent across all your networks; the more consistent you are, the more easily Google can deliver your online profiles in response to a search of your name.

Also, consistency is key when a hiring manager is considering your application for a job. The best option is to purchase your own domain name.

When choosing e-mail addresses or usernames in social media profiles, retaining a consistent personal brand is important. Always opt to use your full name. Avoid kitschy e-mail addresses like misshotpants123@hotmail.com. Instead, find a way to use your full name as your e-mail address. If you need to start a new e-mail account for the purposes of your job search, know that it’s worth it.

In the context of social networks you join, the username you choose often becomes the web address for your public-facing profile. For example, if you choose FirstnameLastname as your profile’s username, the public facing web address becomes FirstnameLastname.sitename.com.