Tips for Using the Internet to Your Advantage

With the economic recession resulting in layoffs for industries across the board, a number of people will be polishing their resumes. Given the Internets ability to open up new opportunities for employees and the fact that hiring personnel are using the Internet extensively for background checks; enhancing your Internet presence is not only advisable, but is a necessity. Monique Chin of iVedha recently reported to Spock, "I have to admit I use Spock everyday to look for potential candidates...for a recruiter competing with larger organizations, your site is an amazing equalizer". If you’re looking for a new job, consider the following advice:

1. Know What’s Publicly Available: Execunet.com conducted a survey of 100 executive recruiters, noting that 77% used applications such as Spock to learn more about a person and 35% of those had eliminated a candidate based on information uncovered. You should therefore get in the habit or regularly doing a Spock and Google search for your name and e-mail. Any information you see will represent what any good recruiter or hiring manager will look for before or after an interview. In this case it’s best to use a people oriented search service such as Spock which is more likely to display information about you. Always remember to search for yourself by additional keywords such as location or university.
2. Restrict Access - If you’re a part of a social network, explore your security settings to see which information is available for others to view. Having a Myspace, Facebook, or Hi Five profile is not a bad thing; however you should make sure to restrict access to any embarrassing or inappropriate photos. Selena Dehne of CareerBuilder, notes that while profile pictures of you in a bikini or bonging a beer at last week’s tailgate may be amusing to you and your friends, they won’t impress your employer.
3. Promote Yourself– While restricting access to embarrassing or inappropriate information is advisable, displaying your interests and hobbies on the Web is a great way for potential employers to get to know you better. Author Ellen Sauter notes, "Having an online identity is becoming increasingly important as a way to establish your credibility and personal brand and to attract career or business opportunities…" In today’s workplace, fitting in with a company culture and philosophy can be just as important as your qualifications. Therefore consider placing yourself on several different types of places on the Web. Keep in mind that you should remain consistent and professional on any site you join.
4. Network - There’s a wealth of knowledge on the Internet so use it to your advantage. In addition to making your web presence felt, you should be networking with other people in your industry. Using professional sites such as LinkedIN and Spock, you can take part in forums, get updates on the latest trends, and will make you available for new opportunities. Jack Hinson in landing a new job told Margot Lester of Monster.com, “I’d spoken to the company’s founders about a year ago and stayed in touch…then I ran into one of them at a networking function”.