Online Mistakes That Can Jeopardize Your Career
In today's digital age, it's becoming increasingly important to conduct a Web search to see what information about you is available online. Many employers now routinely perform web searches to learn more about the interests, experience, and expertise of potential hires. Beware: your online reputation could be damaging your career prospects and keeping you out of new jobs.
In a recent survey by Robert Half International, 69 percent of workers interviewed said they have entered their name in one or more search engines to see what results were displayed. (When searching for yourself online, it's important, especially if you have a common name, to try out a few combinations of terms--your name and your profession, or your name and your city, for instance--to find everything that's out there.)
Here are five common mistakes job seekers make when it comes to managing their digital footprint:
Not taking action
After your search, determine if any negative, controversial, or unprofessional content exists about you online. Then work quickly to reduce or eliminate it. Start with content in your control, such as information or images connected to your online profiles or personal website. Also untag yourself from other people's posted photos that you don't want hiring managers to see. Most photo-sharing sites and social networks like Facebook have features that allow you to do so. If you find unflattering content posted by another person, contact him or her and ask that it be removed.
Ignoring privacy settings
Social networking websites are a goldmine of information for hiring managers. That's why you need to control the message potential employers receive. Failing to properly use the privacy settings could mean that potential employers have access to your status updates or personal pictures--not all of which may be for public view. (Read more: "6 Things Never to Post on Facebook.")
Staying silent
Today's online world is all about interaction, and hiring managers expect job candidates to demonstrate their engagement in the conversation. As appropriate, consider contributing a guest post to an industry blog, adding a comment to an article or discussion post, or sending interesting links to your Twitter followers. You might even direct potential employers to your LinkedIn profile or an online article you wrote for a local professional association, for instance, by including links to these resources in your resume or cover letter.
Being indiscreet
Be aware that whatever you post may be seen by potential employers, and give careful consideration to how statements you make may be interpreted. While you want to show that you have a well-informed opinion, keep your comments constructive and avoid disparaging others.
Being out-of-date
In many ways, your online profiles--especially those on sites like LinkedIn--serve as digital versions of your resume. So it pays to keep them current. Revisit them regularly to ensure that they are up-to-date, and that they incorporate keywords that relate to your skills and expertise.
Keep in mind that, despite your best efforts, there may be unflattering information about you that persists online. In these instances, be prepared if a hiring manager finds the content and asks you about it during the hiring process. Have an explanation ready to address any potential concerns. Most employers will be understanding if you are honest about the information and can highlight the qualities and skills that make you ideal for the role.
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