Frequently Asked Questions


  • Isn't it a risk to put such sensitive information and documents on a website?
  • Why go to all this work? Won't employers be able to get most of the information from you via Resume or interview anyway?
  • Why is there a small button in the bottom right-hand corners of your Profile and Verification pages?
  • Why the vivid color scheme?
  • Why include a copyright notice on all pages?
  • Why not make a title at the top of your site?
  • Why do the files in the gallery on the Verification page have E's at the end of the file names?
  • Why does it ask for login info when clicking the Resume link?
  • Who asks these questions?



    • Question 1: Isn't it a risk to put such sensitive information and documents on a website?

    Yes, but I consider the documentation vital in backing up the claims on my resume, particularly those in the achievements section. I have tried to protect against identity theft in several ways. I have blacked/whited out sensitive information on the documents so that even if they were reproduced, the bar codes, addresses, signatures, etc. would not be correct. I have also deliberately avoided submitting my site to search engines so that ideally only employers told of the site will be able to find it. I realize others could still find it, which is why I have even more safeguards. I have not listed my home address, phone number, or email address anywhere on the site, and used an email form instead so I can be contacted without listing my email address. I have also not listed personal information for others as well, and blacked/whited out their information on documents, with the exception of my former census supervisor, Henry Gray, and then only to include the info publicly available in the U.S. census database anyway. This site is probably more secure and less risky than putting personal information on a job site like CareerBuilder, or on a social networking site like MySpace or Facebook. And since I have accounts on all of those sites, it's hardly this website I feel I need to be concerned about.

    Question 2: Why go to all this work? Won't employers be able to get most of the information from you via Resume or interview anyway?

    Yes, but often employers try to independently verify your Resume's information without contacting you in the process. I would hate for an employer to write me off just because they couldn't get in contact with my only professional reference, Henry Gray, who is not the easiest person to get in contact with. This site lets employers instantly see documentation and institutional references while also seeking to answer any questions or uncertainties they might have about me or my Resume. I furthermore see this site as a life-time investment that will allow employers to instantly find any information or sources they want about me to help them in determining that everything I say is completely truthful. I really dislike being doubted and go out of my way to be up front with everyone.

    Question 3: Why is there a small button in the bottom right-hand corners of your Profile and Verification pages?

    This is another protection against identity theft. This small counter tracks the IP addresses of all visitors to those pages so if identity theft ever did occur, I would instantly know who visited those pages and could have gotten the information, making it much easier to track down the thief.

    Question 4: Why the vivid color scheme?

    I realize most would go with more muted colors like black, white, or navy blue for a job-related site. However, I wanted this site to be something of a representation of who I am, and I like vivid greens and blues. Perhaps it would've been more prudent to go with a darker color scheme, but I like to be original. The colors, and thus the site, are meant to do more than just convey information professionally - they are meant to present who I am as a person. I feel the color scheme is vital in achieving the latter while not necessarily contrary to the former, and someone who doesn't like the colors very well might not like me anyway.

    Question 5: Why include a copyright notice on all pages?

    Because of the sensitive nature of some of the documents and information presented here, I figured it couldn't hurt. It could also be looked at as an additional protection against identity theft, in a way. Plus it looks nice at the bottom of the screen.

    Question 6: Why not make a title at the top of your site?

    I could easily create a fancy title to go at the top of my title page or all pages if I wanted to. However, because this is a professional site, I would question whether it might distract from the information itself. I also don't want the site to appear too fancy or throw in too many site features since I'm concerned with how it might affect the site's professional look. And no, unlike with the color scheme I don't consider fancy site features crucial to conveying who I am as a person.

    Question 7: Why do the files in the gallery on the Verification page have E's at the end of the file names?

    This stands for "Edited" and was just my way of letting myself know I'd edited the file to make sure personal info was blacked or whited out. I didn't think to remove the E's at the time, and see no reason now to expend the effort necessary to do so.

    Question 8: Why does it ask for login info when clicking the Resume link?

    Just clicking cancel on the login screen will allow you to proceed to the file, so the problem is one of appearance only, and not so much functionality. Since the problem occurs for me only when using Internet Explorer and not when using Firefox, I'm guessing it's some odd browser glitch/customization feature.

    Question 9: Who asks these questions?

    So far, no one has actually asked any of these except myself, with the exception of the color scheme question, which was asked by a web-designing friend of mine. The title may be misleading, questions have not necessarily been asked by anyone but myself, to myself, but I include them because I anticipate the possibility of someone asking them and want to address them beforehand and avoid any misunderstandings.



    Site created on October 5th, 2007.