There has been article after article warning you how recruiters use online sites like Facebook to determine whether they want to hire you. And yes, some do. But they are more likely to use the sites to find you. The best recruiters are really good at online searching. They know which tools to use and how to use Google search strings to find job candidates who didn't even know they were candidates. Meaning, individuals with a certain type of experience who aren't job searching, but who they might reach out to and share a job opening.
Wondering what recruiters or hiring managers can find out about you online? Check out CVGadget. This new search engine which culls your online presence into one friendly location allowing you to see where you need better self-promotion and where you need to change your privacy settings. CV (which stands for curriculum vitae) is what many countries use in place of the term "resume," and demonstrates the site can serve as a partner to your CV or resume for any recruiter or hiring manager.
CVGadget searches a number of sites including Google, Linked In, Facebook, Xing, Bebo, ZoomInfo and others and displays associated results using your name as the search string.
As with any search, if you have a common name (i.e., John Smith), the tool isn't much help since it currently only allows you to search by first and last name. It also doesn't have a pace for a middle initial, so when I ran a search of myself I put my middle initial after my first name since I often use it when quoted or when online (a good option if there are many people who have the same name as you.)
My results weren't bad, though even with the middle initial the usual suspects came up including a poet and an engineer (I am NOT the Dr. Susan Strayer) with my same name. I also question the Google Images that come up in the results which include a few pics of me, one of George Bush, one of a Middle Eastern leader and one of a photo of a bottle labeled (and I am not kidding) "cheap red wine." Not sure what message that sends, though I do love good wine for the record.
The GOOD news is that Facebook came up with zero results (indicating my privacy settings are working like a charm). But I did have to change my name on Linked In in order to show up in my results. I originally had my HR certification after my name in Linked In and it didn't show up in CV Gadget until I took it out. Good to know.
Regardless of these issues, these tools catch on like wildfire so it's a must have search for anyone looking to make a name for himself. And if you don't like what you see? Change your presence online. It could change your career.
