In my experience as a peer reviewer for two different top tier tech research journals. I have seen first hand how much weight “verification” carries. Reviewers don’t just read what you have written - sometimes we check and cross reference topics, citations, references and what have you. The reason is simple, reviewing is not about taking things at face value, it is about validating whether claims are true, credible, and backed up by facts.
Now, let’s bring this home. How many times have you seen something and thought, “Let me Google it to be sure”? You have probably done that countless times. The same thing can happen with your Global Talent Visa application. Imagine a reviewer deciding to Google your name, your innovation, or your claimed recognition - what will pop up?
Sometimes, your claim of recognition, innovation, or contribution can be Googled. And here is the honest truth, if you have truly done something noteworthy, no matter how small, there should be at least a trace of it online. Even if it does not show up on google.com, it should appear on your country’s local Google domain extension.
That is why one way to prepare for your application is to ensure Google indexes something about you, your work, your recognition or even your contributions. Think of it as leaving breadcrumbs of your impact.
Here are three simple (and free) ways you can appear on Google:
-
Publish thought pieces or something you achieved on LinkedIn – LinkedIn posts are indexed by Google. Writing about your work, innovation, or even industry insights can give you visibility. Add videos, images and links of the events. Whilst LinkedIn post are not recognised, it can be used to reference what you have done or achieved.
-
Contribute to reputable platforms or communities – platforms like Medium, GitHub (for code), or even answering questions on Quora/Stack Overflow, or videos posted on YouTube often show up in search results.
-
Get mentioned in local press, blogs, or event pages – participating in a local tech event, hackathon, or conference (even small ones) often leads to your name being listed publicly, and Google will might index that.
Remember, Google is often the world’s first fact-checker. So, what if a reviewer decides to Google you, what will pop up?
Leave a digital footprint that tells your tech story.
All the best.