The explosion of online networking sites has turned job search on its head and prompted many to supplement their traditional job search strategies with a Web 2.0 component to better market their candidacy and extend their career brand footprint and reach. I’m a huge fan of leveraging Web 2.0 tools to complement a career management strategy, but it is important to understand the implications of your involvement on these sites and methods for successfully managing your online presence. Today I sat down with Rania V. Sedhom, Esq. who has researched the ramifications of these sites as they relate to employment decisions. She answers the questions that every job seeker should be asking before they set up their online profiles.

1. How are recruiters and hiring managers using networking sites to check references? “It varies, of course. But at a minimum they are reviewing candidate profiles to either support or refute information placed on resumes. If the recruiter or hiring manager knows some of a candidate’s “friends” s/he likely reaches out to them to discuss the candidate. If a candidate has a posted recommendation, some recruiters or hiring managers may reach out to the referrer for more information about their experience with the candidate. If there is information on a profile or a friend’s profile that makes the recruiter or hiring manager feel uneasy about a candidate or if the candidate is caught in a lie, then all inquiries stop and the candidate loses the position. If these hiring managers and recruiters are internal to the company, the candidate is not protected under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (but may have some rights under state law.)”
2. How does downloading applications on social networking sites affect my privacy settings and potentially my job search? “Some sites allow you to make certain pieces of information private. That means that only your “friends” see that information. However, once you download an application, your privacy settings may be for naught. For one thing the site’s administrator has access to all your information. Also, even when you erase something from the website, the administrator retains the information so your information may never truly be purged.”
3. If I am in job search, why do I need to be concerned about what my friends display on their profile pages? “Some of your friends may have inappropriate pictures or contents on their profiles. How would you expect a would-be employer to react for example, to your picture or name on a friend’s page where your friend says that s/he and his/her friends enjoy smoking blunts? What if some pictures were lude? Or perhaps your friend’s page also has a blog and that blog happens to say something negative about your would-be employer or some of their recent press?”
4. I thought that the LinkedIn endorsement feature was a great way to build my credibility as a candidate. Are there any downsides to posting endorsements? “It is a great way to build credibility. Some caveats though. For instance, make sure that your endorsements come from a business associate. Second, don’t have mirrored kudos because that sends the wrong message to people.”
5. What are your top 3 cautions when using business/social networking sites? “Assume that (1) everything is visible by everyone, (2) you are being judged by what you and your friends say about you, and (3) it is a great method to boost your career if done correctly.”

Rania V. Sedhom Esq. is a principal at Buck Consultants, LLC where she specializes in employment law, executive compensation and employee benefits consulting. She is a national expert and publishes frequently. Rania can be reached at 212-330-1208 or rania.sedhom@buckconsultants.com