Employee Tip: Employers Are Googling You and You Should, Too

A recent survey found that 80% of employers will Google job seekers before inviting them to an interview.  Your resume and references alone are no longer enough.  Now a quick name search has become routine, and current employers are keeping tabs, too.

Although not everyone will have a glowing newspaper article about them, something as simple as a LinkedIn profile that neatly encapsulates your resume, serves to show the employer that you are professional.

But your diligence should not end there.  Careless mistakes, such as inappropriate photos on Facebook or disparaging comments on Twitter, will turn a possible job into a nightmare.

Yet, you shouldn’t work to clear out everything.  A name search that comes up empty may also prove disturbing.  Depending upon your industry, if you have no sort of online presence, it may indicate that you are out of touch. Even worse, it could show that you are hiding something.

In short, you must plan ahead.  Understand your industry, and use the internet to your advantage.