subject: Is Your Internet Presence Damaging Your Chances At A Job? [print this page] Today, the internet is a driving force both in our business lives as well as our personal lives. Anytime you post information online, you are leaving information that your current, or a future prospective employer may find. Companies know that in an interview, you have probably rehearsed all of the most likely questions, and will tell them what they want to hear. Many companies have been burned by hiring a candidate who talked a good talk, but when push came to shove, they couldn't deliver. Because of this, more and more companies are turning to doing their own detective work to try to find out who the real you is through the internet.
For an example, imagine that you are looking to hire a babysitter and several people apply. When you go online to search for them, you find that one of the applicants has a photo on their Facebook page of them looking dizzy while taking a shot at a bar. A search of another candidate returns information on them being arrested for domestic abuse. When you search for the third candidate, you find a picture in a local newspaper of them volunteering for an event with Big Brothers, Big Sisters.
As you can see from this example, even if all 3 candidates had the right answers at the interview, there is one person whose online presence supports their desire to work with children and foster a positive environment.
The important message for you to take away from this is that it is important for you to have an online presence. Not showing up on a search at all could be nearly as damaging as having negative information available. Just make sure that when an employer searches for you, they find positive, professional evidence of your contributions and accomplishments both professionally as well as socially. Companies don't take your word for it in an interview anymore. They want to learn about you, see what motivates you, what sort of people you run around with, and see where you've been and where you're heading.
The goal of every company is to find a job candidate who is a good fit for the position as well as the company culture. The internet is becoming an increasingly important tool in placing you in the roles and positions for which you are most suited. Spend some time considering what you want out of life and your career, and make sure that your day to day life, as well as your online presence reflects those goals.
