Big Brother, Google, and the Job Search

Most career advice web sites espouse the value of a well-written resume and the importance of dressing professionally for a first interview; however, advances in technology now allow an employer access to candidate information previously inaccessible. In fact, the amount of personal information currently available on the web is staggering. In a few clicks, an employer can quickly determine a job seeker’s exact age (www.peoplefinder.com), how many times the applicant has moved in the last 10 years (www.zabasearch.com), and the cost of his or her house (www.zillow.com). In short, George Orwell’s 1984 has become reality, except Big Brother now has a (computer) mouse.

Given this fact, you should take these two steps early in the job search process. First, take the time to conduct a web search of your name and several of its variations (for example, use your initials and last name). As a minimum, conduct your search using Google and the two most used meta-search engines: Metacrawler and Dogpile. Several years ago, in a day long interview, a company executive asked me—informally—if I found it fulfilling to serve the young people in my church. I was stunned that he had asked this question, because I had not offered this information at any point in the application process. I felt compelled to ask how he knew this, to which he commented that he had found this information on the web. In short, save yourself the same shock by conducting a simple web search prior to an interview.

Second, be proactive—where possible—managing the social information that others may obtain. Employers are increasingly visiting Facebook and Myspace in order to determine if a candidate is right for a company. Consequently, if you have a web page on a social networking site, ask a trusted friend or family member to critique your page’s content. If the content does not present you in the best light possible, take it down. By the way, a picture of you inebriated at a New Year’s Eve party does not make a good first impression with an employer. Social scientists term this identity management. You should see it as putting your best foot forward. Both steps do not take much time, but they are well worth the effort.