The Internet is a powerful source of information on just about everything, including on you. Several HR heads have secretly told me they do an Internet search on the names of employee candidates. I like anybody in touch with employment legal trends said, “Isn’t that illegal?” They shrug their shoulder and explain the law is gray in this area. But more importantly they have a pile of 200 resumes all with similar stats applying for the same job and HR will take any extra help in finding “the one”.
Sometimes finding the one is a process of elimination. Companies are looking for anything that will differentiate you from the rest including ‘dirt’ on you. Before getting upset with HR tactics remember they are taking a big risk on you. It costs medium to large companies in the neighborhood of $10,000 – $50,000 just to find a right person. Even then they have no guaranteed it will work out. Instead of getting upset, help the HR people out by doing a media scrub on yourself. Here are 3 steps to make yourself look better.
- Linked-in:
Have a Linked In profile and make sure it is uniform with your resume. Something even as small as inconsistent dates of employment between your resume and linked in profile can send up a red flag. Most HR departments are not going to round file your resume on that alone, but you don’t want to build up points against you. Recommendations: These are your best friends, literally. Have your colleges vow for you. You never know who might know who. Your reference might know the hiring HR staff personally. - Facebook:
Do not assume they can not see your profile (if you have one.) Again you never know who knows who. A friend of a friend can still look at your profile. Look for any photos which are unprofessional and simply de-tag yourself. It seems like it should go without saying but watch out for ill-humor comments on your page. You control your presents always. - A general search on your name:
Search to see what they will see. Notice what results are you and NOT you. It is hard to remove anything from the web you do not control. If you come across an item which does not put you in the best light you can try to have it removed. Even then there can be evidence it once existed in search caches.It is better to know it is there and should it come up in an interview acknowledge its existence give a brief explanation and let it rest. Honesty is always the best policy. Now if the interviewer asks an unrelated question which seems to come out of the blue, you will know it is in reference to the other Jeff Smith who shares your name. The importance is to know what other might know about you and to not surprise you in the interview.
A little prevention and foreknowledge will put you on top of the rest of the candidates. In this market you have to do all you can to become ‘the one.’
~Christopher
