They're Checkin’ You Out

Article Title: They’re Checkin’ You Out
Author Byline: They’re Checkin’ You Out
Author Website: http://blog.globalpitch.com

As the December issue of Human Resources Executive notes: “The percentage of recruiters using search engines to learn more about job candidates increased to 83 percent in 2007, from 75 percent two years earlier, while the percentage of recruiters who eliminated a candidate based on online information jumped to 43 percent, from 26 percent in 2005.”

Just think, almost all of the recruiters (and probably most company hiring managers) are checking you out on the Internet. What will they find? Will it change their perception of you in a positive or a negative way?

With this in mind, it’s critical that you get out ahead of them and proactively manage your online presence. Here are a few ways to make sure your online presence is aligned with your goals:

* Do an Internet search on yourself to see what comes up. You might be surprised! And don’t just do a simple first and last name search. Try adding your middle name, your middle initial, your maiden name, your hometown, names of cities in which you’ve lived before, etc. Also, use more than just one search engine – use Google, Ask, Yahoo, and others. All have proprietary search algorithms and will pull up different items in different order.

* Check your MySpace, FaceBook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social and business networking pages. Consider the material you have on the site – blogs, links, videos, pictures, everything. Ask yourself if these are the things you want recruiters and prospective employers to see about you. Could they reflect poorly upon the professional presence that you have worked hard to cultivate? Could they be misinterpreted by someone else? Set your accounts so that only your friends can view your profile, or turn them off during your job search.

* Look at this like a mini (yet important) research project. Think of other ways to find yourself online – do you post to discussion websites using your name? Published papers or articles? Placed your CV or profile or bio on a former employer’s webpage, etc.?

Make sure that your online self is reflective of how great you really are… and you’ll separate yourself from the stack.

http://blog.globalpitch.com
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Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry-level jobs and other career opportunities.