Florida company launches new services to protect your reputation and clean your past

Aug. 18, 2010 - PRLog -- You Be Aware LLC has launched new programs to add to their existing range of services that provide consumers with awareness about rip-offs and scams and education to protect their property and families. The company holds free workshops across the nation to educate people about ways in which they can protect their reputation, clean up their past, improve their personal finances and protect their family and property.

Most people don’t realize that 83% of recruiters use Google or other search engines to search for information about candidates and they are rejecting more than 35% of candidates because of what they find out about them online.

The Florida consumer awareness group has launched their latest consumer programs aimed at protecting an individual’s or business name and help them manage their reputation. Their latest offerings include a program they have called “Own Your Own Name” which assists members in buying their own name as an internet domain name so they are able to protect their reputation and even promote themselves. They also have a low cost service helping people to expunge or seal their criminal record so they are able to move forward with their life.

A spokesman for the company explains: “They don't call it the World Wide Web for nothing. Once something has been written about you it is there available to anyone to see - even employers. In fact, according to ExecuNet, 83 percent of recruiters used Google to find information about potential employees and the number is on the increase. A respected recruitment firm also recently surveyed executives asking which of the following technology tools they thought would be most useful in their firm's recruiting efforts in the next three years. Sixty-two percent said professional networking sites and 35 percent said social networking sites.”

As more and more people migrate online, there is a greater ability to find important information about people that can't be asked in a job interview or wouldn't come out during that process. This means that anything that is linked to your name online could show up in a search and this could cost you a job or even worse.

People also forget that they may share their first and last name with someone else which can also cause confusion to those searching for information about you. For example, if you search the name John Gardner there are more than 100 listed in Florida alone and many of them also share a common middle initial so how can you be sure that information found online relates to you?

A criminal history can cause a person problems in employment, housing, education, loans, security clearances, or in any other situation where a criminal background may be an issue. In fact, statistics show that more than 70% of new employers carry out a criminal background check on job applicants. Sealing or expunging a criminal record can open doors in the future that are currently closed or allow a person to keep other doors open!

Simply put, employers will use whatever resources are available to check up on candidates. In fact, Surveys are showing that recruiters didn't hire 35-51 percent of job candidates they checked out online or through a criminal record check.

You Be Aware stresses that people should assume that anything they post online through websites, blogs and social networking sites can and will be found by anyone wanting to learn about them and should exercise caution.

“Owning your own name can, to a certain extent, promote a positive and wholesome image about you and even help to bury anything negative or potentially embarrassing or harmful online but it is better to manage your online identity at all times. We help people or businesses to secure their own name and even include the design and hosting of their own simple website identity. The internet can be used to your advantage if you understand how it works and we educate people and assist them in promoting their reputation.”

The company, started 5 years ago, began by offering an early warning system for its members to warn them about hurricanes, tornadoes and other critical events. Since that time they have provided education, information and tools to tackle the most important issues facing families such as credit card debt, predatory lending, foreclosure and insurance issues. They work on what they call “Power In Numbers” which enables them to bundle services together to offer them at deeply discounted rates to their members. Their company website is www.youbeaware.com and provides details of all their services and membership options.

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A consumer education and awareness group providing services to its members to improve their lives and finances and protect their family and assets. Services are provided at discounted group rates.