The Risks of Your Digital Experience as a Job Seeker

The Risks of Your Digital Experience as a Job SeekerThe Risks of Your Digital Experience as a Job SeekerIn the past, if you were looking for a job, youd crack open the classifieds, circle jobs that interested you (with a pen), then mail in your printed resume and cover letter to a hiring manager and hope for the best. But in todays job market, virtually everything is done, well, virtually. As part of your digital experience, you look for listings zugreifbar, you submit your job application online, you answer questions from a potential employer online- heck, you might even do a portion of your job interview online, too.While all of these advancements in technology are great, theres also a downside, in the form of online risks and consequences, according to the Microsoft story, Online Risks Have Real-World Consequences, New Microsoft Research Shows.According to the study, almost everyone has had at least one negative online experience that resulted in an IRL consequence. In fact, almos t two-thirds (65 percent) of respondents said that they had been a victim of at least one of 17 different online risks.For job seekers, this can definitely mean falling prey to a job scam. It could also be receiving a negative response to an online blog post you wrote for your LinkedIn page. Or it could even be facing cyberbullying or hiring discrimination from potential bosses based on your social media profiles.Since your digital experience is so closely tied to your job search, its important to know how to properly navigate the tricky waters of online job hunting.Here are a few pointers1. Know whats out there on you. When was the last time you Googled your own name? If you think that your reputation is squeaky clean, think again. You might be surprised what could potentially come up in a search, such as damaging financial info, shock-worthy social media photos, or even a testy tweet that you might later regret having posted.So even though you are already super busy with your job search, do some digging to see what is out there on you online.2. Revamp your rep.Studies have shown that the majority of hiring managers will check you out online before contacting you for a job interview. Thats why you want to make aya that what they find is flattering. Sure, it can be an inconvenience, but set aside some time to look through whats out there on you online, and then make every effort to clean up your profiles.Set your personal social media channels (Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) to private and then create new professional ones that reflect your work experiences, expertise, and personality- and update them frequently. Those are the profiles that you want a hiring manager to see3. Be professional online.Sure, you have strong opinions on everything from the presidential election to who should be the next to go on The Walking Dead. But that doesnt mean you have to share every thought you have online. Try to be positive (and professional) in your online interactions.You never know who youre really talking to, and more importantly, who might be seeing your online rants that could potentially cost you a job interview.Ideally, you should act online just the way you would in a regular face-to-face interaction with another person- professionally and politely.Remember, your social media channels are a reflection of you and your brand, and you want to make sure that you always put your best digital foot forward. It could make all the difference in getting called in for a job interview and getting hired for a location that you really wantFind a Legitimate Telecommuting JobReaders, do you often performan online search to see whats out there aboutyou? Do you make the effort to ensure that your digital experience is a positive one? Let us know in the comments below