I’m amazed at how many people post degrading, demeaning, offensive, self-incriminating stuff on my space and face book and then wonder why they can’t get a job.  Do they think employers are so stupid they don’t check those places?   There’s no need to call references when all you really want to know about a potential employee is right there on the internet for everyone to see.

You can learn more about someone in five minutes on their face book account than you can from all the references in the world.  Do yo think someone’s going to list a bunch of people as references that are going to dis on him?  No.  They’re going to get someone who will sugarcoat things.  But what the person puts on his / her my space page is the real deal.

If you aren’t checking social networking sites on potential employees, get with it.  If you don’t know how to do it, find someone who does.  This is the most valuable information you’ll find on the candidate.  If you have your own social networking page, make sure it represents you the way you want to be represented.  I’ve heard it said that the internet never forgets.  Every comment you’ve made on a blog, etc., is still out there in cyberspace.  Every post you’ve made on your own blog is still out there.  Every photo you’ve posted of yourself at a party is still out there.  Be very, very careful how you represent yourself.  What you do and say on the web may come back to haunt you years later.  To paraphrase your mom, if you can’t post anything nice don’t post anything at all.  Or in other words, you really do have the right to remain silent.