Social networks came to change the game! Nowadays we have live access to everything at a distance of a click. The more we share the more we’re exposing ourselves. Most of the times without even knowing it. Accordingly to www.backgroundcheck.org more than 40% people have at least one picture available online, 33% share their birth date and 12% their phone number.

Go Google yourself and be amazed by what you are about to find.

Recruiting someone involves a high risk for companies therefore HR managers are looking for minimizing that risk. Around 79% of recruiters are estimated to screen you and other job candidates by reviewing online information about you! Resumes have a specific and still strong impact, but the second step after looking at an #impressiveresume it’s going to be to check on your online information.

We want to help you to have an “Impressive Online Reputation”. There are 6 steps you can take today to check up on you online reputation and make it matches with your impressive resume and cover letter:

1. Check your statistics

Google your name! What you see is what the recruiter is going to see. Are you happy with it? If not see what shows up and try to clean up your online profile. Look over other search engines such as: yahoo, msn, bing and personas.

2. Facebook

Everyone is on Facebook today. Well not exactly everyone but at least 73% of adults are estimated to have a Facebook profile. Therefore that is going to be the first profile recruiters are going to check. Change your Security Settings and Private Settings to avoid them to look at your personal pictures and thoughts.

3. Twitter

In case you have an Twitter account with your own name, that’s going to help tracking you. Try to use an alter ego, or simply avoid to follow corporate institutions that can be your employers. Choose your words wisely.

4. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is intended to be a professional profile but you can be part of specific Groups and Associations regarding your personal life. Be careful with that and change your settings so you have the power to choose what others can and cannot see about you.

5. Mistaken Identity

Have you ever thought about the possibility of someone stealing your pictures and personal information and create a fake profile in a social network? Your employer is not going to know that and the first he/she sees, is the one they are going to believe. Do yourself a favor and check that as soon as possible.

6. Blogs

Blogs are really important in #SEO statistics so if you have a blog that generates a lot of traffic maybe that’s going up on the top results when you google your name. The question is, what kind of blog is it? And do you sign with your name? Or with your e-mail address? Use Google Blog Search to find your fingertips on the blogging world.

Did you Googled your name today? Tell us what you found and share your experience with us.