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Particularly during the age of Google, where, for instance, negative information about that relative might be easily available if someone were to search for your name. It can probably be deduced that the two are different people because of a significant age difference, but nonetheless, would firms be put off by what a cursory glance might mean to clients, etc.? Is this just paranoia, or would a legal name change be a serious consideration?

Is your name Bernard L. Madoff or a name similarly unique and infamous? I think if every interviewer, and in the future, client, will have to wonder about whether you are the wayward one, a name change just might be something to consider.

P.S. If your name actually was Madoff, I think that would be a great conversation starter for interviews and meetings.

LjakW wrote:Is your name Bernard L. Madoff or a name similarly unique and infamous? I think if every interviewer, and in the future, client, will have to wonder about whether you are the wayward one, a name change just might be something to consider.

P.S. If your name actually was Madoff, I think that would be a great conversation starter for interviews and meetings.

yeah it worked wonders for Mark Madoff

Just be active about managing your online persona, and you'll be OK.

Use Facebook, Linkedin, etc. to make sure that when you google you, you get you, and you get professional-looking informatin that you put up there yourself.

Anonymous User wrote:

LjakW wrote:Is your name Bernard L. Madoff or a name similarly unique and infamous? I think if every interviewer, and in the future, client, will have to wonder about whether you are the wayward one, a name change just might be something to consider.

P.S. If your name actually was Madoff, I think that would be a great conversation starter for interviews and meetings.

yeah it worked wonders for Mark Madoff

You're right, I used it for an illustrative purpose. However, the direct accusations and lawsuits against him no doubt contributed.

You will definitely be googled, but anyone with sense should be able to tell that you are not the "wayward" person who shares the same name as you. Renzo's tip about linkedin etc... is also rally good.

Also, Pro Tip:

Don't sign up for twitter using your real name, especially if your twitter username is one you use elsewhere on the internet.

i think you should lay off the weed if it makes you this paranoid

Maybe to distinguish yourself from them, you could go by your full name (if your middle name is different) or maybe use your middle initial if this ne'er-do-well you're related to doesn't. Like if you don't want to be confused with the "other" John Smith, you could go by John L. Smith and refer to yourself as such on LinkedIn, FB, resumes, etc.

fear&loathingintexas wrote:Maybe to distinguish yourself from them, you could go by your full name (if your middle name is different) or maybe use your middle initial if this ne'er-do-well you're related to doesn't. Like if you don't want to be confused with the "other" John Smith, you could go by John L. Smith and refer to yourself as such on LinkedIn, FB, resumes, etc.

Good suggestion... from now on, I'm going to call myself Osama J. bin Laden.

Hopefully this will help to avert all of the usual confusion!

Adjudicator wrote:

fear&loathingintexas wrote:Maybe to distinguish yourself from them, you could go by your full name (if your middle name is different) or maybe use your middle initial if this ne'er-do-well you're related to doesn't. Like if you don't want to be confused with the "other" John Smith, you could go by John L. Smith and refer to yourself as such on LinkedIn, FB, resumes, etc.

Good suggestion... from now on, I'm going to call myself Osama J. bin Laden.

Hopefully this will help to avert all of the usual confusion!

FLAME! Cuz Bush would have already flown you out of the country and facilitated your reentry/name change if you really were a member of the Bin Laden family.