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‘Digital Dirt’ Derailing Job Seekers
More than one-third of employers have eliminated a candidate after digging up “digital dirt,” according to ExecuNet.
In a recent survey of 100 executive recruiters, 35 percent said they dropped a job candidate because of information uncovered online. That is up from 26 percent just one year ago, according to ExecuNet, an executive job search and recruiting network.
Seventy-seven percent of respondents said they use search engines to learn more about prospective employees. Another study showed that 82 percent of executives expect companies and recruiters to enter their name into a search engine during the course of their next job search, yet only 33 percent have ever actually conducted an Internet search on themselves.
“Conducting searches for your own name is something that should be done on a regular basis,” Dave Opton, ExecuNet CEO and founder, said in a prepared statement. “Until you’re aware of everything that’s connected to your name online, it’s impossible to try to overcome any potential employer objections.”
The survey also found that 16 percent of executives said they fear that information found online could eliminate them from consideration for a job opening. Thirteen percent said they have taken steps to add positive personal information online.
In addition to searching one’s own name to determine whether damage control is necessary, it is possible to improve an online image by taking other action.
ExecuNet recommends using restraint rather than posting negative comments on blogs, social networking profiles and Internet forums. The company also recommends seeing advice when attempting to counter or explain “digital dirt.”
Nice post. Most of the focus has really been on companies “digging for dirt” on candidates. But I am curious about the other side of the equation. Do you think that candidates will eventually turn the tables on Companies and begin using blogs other online forums to post bad information about employers?
Obviously this already happens to a certain extent - but what if a focused effort was started on social networks to “get back” at companies that are dropping job candidates due to their online personas?
What would the companies have to do to perserve / repair their employer brand and reputation with the next generation of job seekers - if when a user searched for xyzcompany jobs - they got a screen full of search results that give negative portrayals of that company as an employer?