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How Social Networks Impact Your Job Search

Potential employers will weigh your digital identity — and so should you

Could your social media digital presence keep you from landing a job? Getty Images is a two-way street. While you're researching potential employers and learning all you can about the hiring managers who'll be interviewing you, they're checking you out, too. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. According to , 60 percent of employers use social networking sites to research job candidates, up from 11 percent a decade ago, when the survey was first conducted. "Tools such as and enable employers to get a glimpse of who candidates are outside the confines of a résumé or cover letter," points out Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer of CareerBuilder. And employers put stock in what they find — or don't. More than 2 in 5 employers said they are less likely to interview job candidates if they're unable to find information about the person online. And nearly half of hiring managers who screen candidates via social networks said they've found information that caused them not to hire a person, according to the CareerBuilder survey. So have you paid the proper attention to your online reputation? Simply put, if you're looking for a job, you ignore the digital "you" at your peril. Entertainment $3 off popcorn and soft drink combos See more Entertainment offers > Invisibility indicates that you're not up to speed with technology and the online world. And digital dirt, well, that can really give the wrong impression. The biggest turnoffs that CareerBuilder cited were inappropriate photographs or videos; signs that the candidate is binge drinking or using drugs; bigoted comments related to race, religion or gender; bad-mouthing of previous employers or fellow employees; and poor communication skills. So to put your best foot forward online, here are five things you need to do.

1 Know your digital identity

Chances are it's pretty complex. Some of it you create — at a minimum you should have pages on LinkedIn and Facebook. Some of it is created by your friends when they post comments and photos you're in. And some of it is created by total strangers — the staff at schools you attended, the DMV, former workplaces, the local newspaper, etc. Your first task is to know what's out there. So do what employers do when they begin researching you online. Conduct a basic search of your name and its variations, such as with and without your middle name or initial. If your name is not unusual, you may get mainly material about other people who share it. So be creative in drilling down to material about yourself — try your name plus your school or hometown or last employer. When you've narrowed things down, click on the top 10 to 20 links. Read carefully. You're looking at what a prospective employer can see. Now, some of the other people who popped up during your search may seem to an employer to be you. "Pay attention to avoid a mistaken online identity," says Susan P. Joyce, an online job search expert. "Your reputation and job search can be damaged by that person." AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. to see. If you can't delete it yourself, contact the site manager and request to have it removed. Check out Facebook posts that you're tagged in and untag yourself if the post contains any content, including photos, that is unprofessional. On Twitter, you can review mentions on your profile name and discover tweets by others that mention you. If you can't remove an uncomplimentary comment or photo, you can at least prepare a response should a potential employer ask you about it.

3 Keep tabs on your pals

Just because you're being vigilant with what you put online about yourself doesn't mean your friends are. Keep an eye on what others are posting on your profile and what you're tagged in. Consider asking for cooperation from people who are serial offenders in terms of putting up offensive stuff. Create a free Google Alert for your name so you'll be notified via email whenever anything is posted about you (or someone with your name) online.

4 Fine-tune your privacy

Though you want to be visible online to a potential employer, every social media and networking channel has privacy settings that let you restrict how visible you are. In some cases, you can limit what other people share about you. With most services, you click an icon in the upper right corner of the opening screen for a menu that includes a privacy settings option. AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. look for a proper professional image, but they also want to get a bead on what makes you run and your level of comfort and engagement on social media channels. Calculated posts on your accounts at Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and even Pinterest can craft a richer picture of you. About a third of employers who screen candidates via social networks found information that caused them to hire a candidate, according to LinkedIn, and this included content that showed personality and interests confirming the person was a good fit for the company culture. Kerry Hannon, is a career transition expert and an award-winning author. Her latest book is . She has also written and . Find more from Kerry at . More on work AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS