It used to be that when you went on job interviews, hiring managers would ask you for a hard-copy list of references. If you became a serious contender for a position, calls would be placed to those on your list to verify your work history, qualifications and performance.
Today, however, you have far less control over the reference-check process due to the wide range of personal information available online.
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Online networking sites such as
LinkedIn.com and
Ryze.com provide an easy way for companies to reach people who may have worked with you in the past -- and not necessarily people you would choose to be on your list of references.
Hiring managers can e-mail previous coworkers and supervisors to gain a diverse picture of what working with you is like. Even a simple Internet search can reveal a wealth of information about you " that you prefer Macs to PCs, for example, or spend work hours in waterskiing forums " if potential employers stumble upon websites that contain references to you. Some organizations may even research your credit history online.
So, what can you do if you're job hunting and want to leave the best possible impression everywhere an employer might look? Consider the following tips:
- Don't burn any bridges. This old adage has always been a valuable one to follow, and it's become all the more important today. If you tell a coworker what you really think of his .NET skills as you're leaving for a new job, your negative comments could come back to haunt you. He may prove to be an unexpected reference down the road and may even post his thoughts of your actions on an online bulletin board, blog or Web site.
- Watch your online activity. There is little privacy when you participate in online message boards and forums. Your personal site and blog also can be easily found by potential employers. So, think twice before posting comments that could come back to haunt you, such as how ridiculous you think most end-users' questions are.
- Investigate yourself. Pretend you're a hiring manager and check to see what information about you is easily accessible. You may be able to remove or correct negative comments or images before they harm your job prospects. For instance, you might resolve errors in your credit report or have a friend eliminate from her website a description of a college trip to Cancun. The new world of reference checks can work to your advantage. If you maintain a professional image both at work and online, you can confirm for employers that you are the best person for the job.
Katherine Spencer Lee is executive director of Robert Half Technology, a leading provider of IT professionals on a project and full-time basis. Robert Half Technology has more than 100 locations in North America and Europe, and offers online job search services at www.rht.com.
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