Manage Your Online Image Wisely

I reported a few weeks ago that hiring managers are increasingly using Google to check out candidates online before inviting them in for interviews or offering them jobs. In case you thought that was nothing to be concerned about, here's more news on the same subject.

NDTV.com reports on a recent study by CareerBuilder which found that 26% of managers acknowledge using Google to explore the online presence of job candidates and 12% of supervisors also tapped social networking sites like Facebook as part of their hiring process. Of the latter, a surprising 63% opted not to hire a candidate based on what they learned about that person online.

The most common reason managers elect not to hire those they've checked out online? Lying about qualifications and criminal offenses. (When will job seekers learn that it never pays to lie?)

The CareerBuilder study also found that 64% of hiring managers utilized online background info as a way to confirm their hiring decisions. Some - about 40% - like to see evidence that candidates are "well-rounded" and have a "wide range of interests".

If you fear that you may have detrimental information about you available online, you might want to check into services like ReputationDefender or DefendMyName. For a fee either services will evaluate your online reputation and strategize ways to clean up or hide negative findings.

It is shockingly easy to discover all kinds of private things out about dates, friends, and yes, even job seekers. What does your online presence communicate about you?