Social media profiles have come to the job market and add to the importance of maintaining a solid online reputation. This is one reason why it is so critical to build a positive brand image.

Many of today’s potential employers are using these profiles to determine a candidate’s worthiness for hire.

The problem is that many users of the internet are contributing to their own detriment by posting things without consideration for how these things will impact their careers. It is all a part of the false sense of security many believe they have while using various online sites.

No matter your profession or purpose, protecting your online reputation is something that everyone should be actively practicing to avoid uncomfortable situations in the future.

Serious thought should be given to what you post online from pictures to videos to written text as this is all accessible by others. Privacy settings are available on many sites, but are often not used or setup properly so your potential employer has access to some of your personal information.

Need proof?

A recent study conducted by a specialized staffing service, The Creative Group showed some telling statistics. Based on 250 telephone interviews, the company randomly selected 125 senior marketing executives and 125 advertising executives which yielded the following results when asked the following;

“When evaluating potential advertising/marketing hires, are you likely to view the candidates…”

As you can see, your name is search on by an overwhelming percentage, followed by your LinkedIn profile and Facebook.

These results, while conducted by a single firm, are likely showing a trend across the global job market, meaning that more and more companies are checking your online profiles. The actual numbers may change, but be advised; this is the latest human resources (HR) tool and it is likely here to stay.

So what’s the chance of your name being searched online by a hiring agent?

Consider this, one click makes it 100% and if you have things online that you would prefer a potential employer not see, you may have some scrubbing up to do.

Those wild and crazy party photos, while funny and cute at the time, may eliminate you from consideration for that job you applied for if there is something inappropriate or illegal depicted. Worst, they could expose some behavior that you would prefer your current employer not know about. The importance of your personal brand cannot be overstated.

LinkedIn, the second most used site in the study referenced above is a professional business networking site that does not lend itself to the posting of out of line social activities, or does it?

Facebook, the largest social networking site in the world, where you are subject to see all sorts of photos is also being used by some hiring professionals and recruiters to check out potential applicants. What they seek is a glimpse into your lifestyle and one of the largest disqualifiers for applicants is just that, lifestyle.

Is it unfair to view a picture or two and make a movie out of it, reaching a conclusion that eliminates you from consideration? Perhaps, but it does happen. You can read my opinion in the conclusion.

The review of your online information is well underway and this practice is here to stay as it has become part of the screening process and a requirement in many companies.

Have a look at this interesting chart from an Online Reputation Research report. It provides a look at exactly what the recruiters use to disqualify a candidate.

If you are still using the job market, and the vast majority of working age people are, you should be very concerned about your profiles and the brand you have built for yourself.

Many Facebookers are taking action by changing their profile names and privacy settings, not necessarily because they have something to hide, but people want to retain some level of privacy.

Conclusion

Pay very close attention to your online profiles as many company representatives may interpret various things in ways that could harm your chances of landing a job.

I certainly understand the need to know who you are hiring but there has to be a limit as to how much of your personal life becomes a part of the hiring process. Since the limits are unclear, you must define them for yourself by being proactive and restricting access to certain aspects of your life.

The best practice is to handle your business in advance of a potential employer handling theirs.

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