ContentHuman resources professionals used to have a tough time evaluating applicants. It’s easy for even under qualified or unprofessional applicants to put on a good face for an interview. At that time, the interview was the only impression hiring personnel got of potential employees. The Internet, much to the chagrin of some job applicants, has made it incredibly simple for companies to check up on the people they’re hiring.

Clearly, social networking sites are one of the main ways hiring personnel examine potential hires. Due to murky privacy settings, applicants often leave their status updates, photos, and profile information open to anyone who wants to look at it. A quick perusal of this information makes it clear if the employee is reliable, enjoys work, and has the right kind of attitude for the workplace.

Web searches can also dredge up job applicants’ histories. Searching someone’s name can bring up their high school and college information, online blog, networking experiences, and any other online presence they may have. If applicants have a history of trashing their employers, being crude, or painting themselves or their employers in a negative light, it’s possible that their application will end up in the trash bin.

One of the downsides to this is that employers don’t necessarily always have the right information. If an applicant has a common name, an Internet or networking search could bring up a completely different person. Not only does this paint a false picture for hiring managers, it can also make an applicant look bad even if they have done nothing wrong.

Next time you go to post on Facebook or upload new photos, remember the many ways that your next boss could be looking you up. Don’t post anything you wouldn’t want your company to see, and you’ll be safe.