Yahoo Finance had an interesting article today and it was about the 5 mistakes online job hunters make. In my opinion, # 1 is the most important. Here’s the whole article http://bit.ly/ceyYkp
A synopsis of this article is the following: “A December 2009 study by Microsoft Corp. found that 79% of hiring managers and job recruiters review online information about job applicants before making a hiring decision. Of those, 70% said that they have rejected candidates based on information that they found online. Top reasons listed? Concerns about lifestyle, inappropriate comments, and unsuitable photos and videos.”
Folks, please understand that the Internet has a long memory, and that you cannot ‘erase’ something once it has been put out there for the world to see. As an Online Identity Strategist, I can share with you many ways in which you may be able to ‘cover up’ your tracks, however I advise ‘avoidance’ as the #1 tactic- as in- don’t post something online you wouldn’t want the world to see. Did you know that companies have designated recruiters and other specialists whose job (or part of it, anyway) it is to mine the Internet for more details on candidates they are considering interviewing and/or hiring?
On THAT note, please Google yourself at least once per quarter- if a person with your exact name was recent indicted, this is information you MUST know if you are trying to interview for a new position.
Where we once worried about the ‘he said she said’, we now must internalize the idea of ‘she read, he read’, when we consider posting that (seemingly) harmless comment or joke publicly. It’s just not worth NOT getting the job or even losing the one you have due to some careless slander or public display or unprofessionalism. The Internet was invented by us as an entity to create and enhance communications. What it is forcing us to do is to alter our behavior, at times our natural tendencies, in order to keep our professional persona bright and untarnished for all to see. So, is this helping us to be more authentic, or actually hindering it?
What this all comes down to is professionalism and making wise choices. My message for you is that now, more than ever, it is important to put your best foot forward and think twice before responding to a controversial blog post or adding a flip comment onto FaceBook. The moral of this story: Mind your online manners, you never know who is watching…
Kelly Welch is a veteran HR professional, Certified Personal Branding Strategist, Professional Resume Writer, and Certified Career Management Coach. She regularly provides critical career insights and perspectives to the delight and success of her clients