Online Identity Management and Job Search

If you are a job seeker and have not been getting the volume of interviews you anticipated, even though you have responded to numerous job postings, the trouble might be with your online identity. You see, whether you want an online identity or not, you have one. And employers and recruiters are using that online identity to screen you for potential interviews.

In fact, according to an online reputation survey done in December 2009 (commissioned by Microsoft), 79% of U.S. hiring managers and job recruiters contacted said they researched the online identities of job applicants. An astounding 70% of those hiring managers and recruiters said they rejected candidates based on what they found.

So, what kind of online identity information are employers and companies basing their rejection of job candidates?

59% - Inappropriate comments / text written by the candidate

52% - Unsuitable photos / videos / information

51% - Concerns about the candidate’s lifestyle

38% - Comments criticizing previous employers / co-workers / clients

35% - Inappropriate comments / text written by friends / relatives

35% - Inappropriate comments / text written by colleagues / work acquaintances

35% - Groups / Networks the candidate was a member of

34% - Discovered that information the candidate shared was false

31% - Poor communication skills displayed online

15% - Concern about the candidate’s financial background

The vast bulk of the reasons cited are able to be controlled by the you, the job seeker. The type of content you choose to share online and the people you choose to associate with does have an impact on your perceived hireability. In fact, 6 of the 8 reasons given are choices you actively make. The unfortunate aspect is that you may not be aware of how much these choices can harm your job search efforts.

If you have not done a Google search of yourself (put your name in quotation marks), do so immediately. You may be surprised at what you find. A client of mine did this recently at my urging and discovered that his name – and online identity – was shared by an adult film videographer! No wonder he was not getting interviews!

by Susan Guarneri, Career Goddess Blog

Comments

[Dr. G]

I couldn't agree more. I recently had the opportunity to interview 2 interns, one of which listed membership of what I felt was an unacceptable group on their facebook page. I excluded him before the interview.

[Donald90]

The tips are more helpful in the Job search. Thanks for sharing it here.

[Nick]

This was a standard practice at company I used to work for, we would go through this long two interview process and if you made it through this your info was then sent to a special HR department that would do both an credit evaluation and social media/online profile. And I tell you I have seen the best candidates turned away because their pics on facebook did not project the right image. So be careful what you put online and remember to set your privacy setting on social sites that you want to private from future employers.