Job Hunting & the Internet

"The hard truth is that potential employers will google your name during your application and interview process. Get over it - and prepare for it now!" Gretchen on JobsyntaxSource: secretsofthejobhunt

If you use a social networking site such as Facebook or Bebo, or have done in the past, make sure there is nothing on it that might undermine you in an interview. Same goes for house hunting. Embarishing things you put on the internet can come back to haunt you. Ideally don't put embarishing things on social networking sites, but if you have, start amending them now.

A page on a social networking site such as Facebook are potential help in the search for a job or place to live. Think about how you can tweak your profiles to make them work for you. How about some photos of you doing nice things in your house - like cooking a good dinner with good looking friends, or working in your beloved garden, or hoovering. These are the kind of things that might reasure a potential landlord. Whereas falling down the stairs in a drunken stupour may be a scream but wont play well with a potential employer. For help getting your profiles in order - email chris@homeless.me.uk or come along to one of my social networking classes.

I've just read a news report about the number of false profiles on facebook that are used to dupe the unsuspecting into clicking on a malign site. All the more reason to be careful about the "friends" you let in - Facebook is probably best when you there is some real common interest between you and those wanting to be your friend.