Out of Work Bum

Social networks like MySpace, Twitter, and Facebook have spread beyond college students to find popularity in all segments of the population.  There are even social networks for the professional set, like Linkedin.  All of these sites have become popular ways to network with others and share what is going on in people’s lives.  They have also become very popular ways for recruiters and employers to learn more about a candidate than is printed on a resume. 

Many college career centers are advising graduating seniors to revist and “clean up” their online presence.  Most prospective employers are not as thrilled to see those pictures from spring break in Cancun as your friends are.  This advice goes for out of work professionals as well. 

One of the first things a recruiter or potential employer does when they are interested in a candidate is to Google them.  Google is very good at finding all manifestations of your online presence.  These people will check your facebook page or your linkedin presence or your twitter posts.  The will use these sites to evaluate you as an employee. 

While the recruiters and HR people will surely be interested in those pictures of you dancing on the bar last Friday night they will look for other things as well.  They will look to see if what you say online matches what you say in your resume.  They will also be interested in those acerbic comments about your last boss. 

So, that advice that the college career office gives to the new graduate applies to all of us as well.  Clean up your online presence. . .you never know who may be reading your wall.