[robbrown451]

The advantages of using your name can often outweigh the disadvantages.

Reputation is a valuable thing. You don't gain a good reputation by hiding away. You build a good reputation by making a positive impression on lots of people over a long period of time. You can't do that if you are always anonymous.

If I was hiring someone, I'd google them. And if nothing turned up, that would give a somewhat negative impression. Better than seeing them being a jerk or idiot or criminal, of course, but still.

On the other hand, if I saw a long history of them behaving intelligently and diplomatically, going back a long time, that would make a very good impression.

I say use your real name, but don't be a dick, and don't be stupid.

[icebraining]

How do you distinguish from the person you're hiring and some jackass with the same name when Googling? Not everyone has an unique name.

[gtz59]

by "somewhat negative", do you just mean that less information makes you less confident about a decision? Or do you mean that being quiet is bad?

[robbrown451]

"Somewhat negative" in the sense that it suggests that they haven't made much of an impact on the world, or that they don't have much to say. They are much more of an unknown quantity.

Quiet isn't "bad" per se, but I'd rather hire someone who is confident enough in what they have to say, to say some stuff publicly.

[VLM]

Anybody can write that they're a genius with "insert buzzword" but google for their name and the topic and a result of nothing is confusing.