Career Change - will a google search stop you being hired?

When changing career you need to consider every stage of the recruitment process. It's a fact of life that recruiters use Google to find out about candidates. Will they find information online that will support your career change goals? Or could they find something that will stop your career change before it's begun?

If you're wondering why you're not getting job interviews or failing to get onto shortlists your online identity could be the problem. It may have made the difference between recruiters deciding to interview you or throwing away your resume.

Recruiters are no different to the rest of us. When we want to find information quickly what do we do? We search the internet. If you put your name into Google right now... do you know what you'll find? How many search items on the first few pages will be about you? How many will be about another person with the same name?

And the vital question: will the google search results be ones you want a recruiter to see?

Recruiters, headhunters, hiring managers are using google searches every day of the week.

In 2006 a survey by Execunet found that 77 percent of recruitment consultants google candidates to find more information. In addition up to 35 percent remove candidates from consideration based on what they discover. "Scanning the Web for information that might derail a job hunter's candidacy is now routine procedure for recruiters at many firms", says Cynthia Shapiro (quoted in the Wall Street Journal Feb 11 2008 Read more). Her view is strongly confirmed in survey results published by careerbuilder.com in December 2008.

Human Resources professionals often use websites such as ZoomInfo to get an overview of a candidate. "The internet is now part of your resume whether you like it or not" says Reputation Defender.

You need information appearing on a google search that will enhance your resume not undermine it. If you're to be seen as a credible career change candidate you must have positive personal brand equity online.

You want to avoid being classed as a Netty-NO-Mark.Your search "Jane Doe" does not match any documents.

You also want to avoid being seen as a Net-Gossip. Someone who chatters on social networking sites and blogs. If your social life involves sites like Facebook this could be a danger. Not a plus for professional credibility.

If you are starting your career change campaign what should you do?

For your career change to succeed you need a personal marketing plan.

Make sure this includes essential elements

• Researching your potential employers
• Updating your resume
• Carefully drafting your cover letters
• Planning your networking
• AND upgrading your online presence.

Apart from using networking sites decide what other online activities can help visibly build your reputation.

Choose the most appropriate for your new career:

• Start a blog
• Post comments on career relevant blogs
• Publish online articles
• Create a Portfolio - an online resume
• Create your own HubPages or Squidoo lenses
• Post videos on YouTube which demo your expertise
• Update websites of professional organisations you belong to

Make your ME SEARCH a regular feature of your career change action. Monitor the changes that occur regularly.

Don't let your online identity harm your career prospects. Let it help your career change by letting recruiters find out the best about you.

Focus on your personal career change marketing. Make managing your online reputation a top priority.