Blog Post: Uncover--and Manage--Your "Digital Dirt" Before Job Hunting

When you submit your application for a position, guess what can happen? Recruiters are relying more heavily on social networking tools to discover as much information as possible about an applicant. This means that your MySpace page, LinkedIn profile, Zoominfo data, or Naymz.com information is right there in front of the hiring audience.

Posting to a blog about your current job can be a source of potential negative information, since search engines can easily find and point out your "digital dirt" to a prospective employer. Published articles, press releases, project lists, and a number of other sources find their way to the Internet with astonishing speed.

Googling yourself regularly (I like http://www.dogpile.com/ for a more complete list) is key to researching your online identity. Make cleaning up your digital dirt a priority for your successful job search by regularly placing positive, professional information about yourself online for the world to see.

Laura Smith-Proulx, Principal at An Expert Resume, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and Interview Coach specializing in winning interviews for fast-track professionals. A nationally recognized, published resume authority and former Fortune 500 recruiter, she has assisted professionals in successful career changes since 1989. She can be reached at info@anexpertresume.com.