Do You Have Digital Dirt?

A recent CareerJournal article titled "How to Clean Up Your Digital Dirt Before It Trashes Your Job Search," talks about how your on-line "data trail" can harm your job search and potentially your career.

That article states that "according to a 2005 survey of 102 executive recruiters by ExecuNet, an executive job-search and networking organization, 75% of recruiters use search engines to uncover information about candidates, and 26% of recruiters have eliminated candidates because of information found online."

Examples of things that might get you in trouble: Facebook, MySpace or similar profiles with unflattering or unprofessional pictures or information; public records of undisclosed indiscretions, offenses, or lawsuits you've been involved in; an "inappropriate" blog (sexual, inflammatory content or writing about a previous employer); unflattering articles written about you; certain postings to bulletin boards associated with your name; etc.

The article gives some good hints about checking up on your own digital dirt. For more information, click here.