Could Facebook ruin your job prospects?

Warning bells for jobseekers as employers check Facebook profiles

If your Facebook profile picture shows you drunk with your best friend, perhaps you should think about changing it as employers reveal that online networking checks are as important as a CV or interview. Seven out of ten employers now research prospect candidates online, according to a recent study from Microsoft.

The survey found that 70% admitted to rejecting a candidate because of their online behaviour, whilst a survey from the Independent Commissioner's Office found that 70% of facebook users wouldn't want their bosses to see their profile.

However, it's not all bad news as shrewd jobhunters could use their online persona to their advantage, with HR bosses arguing that a clever profile could help you land your dream job.

'Your online reputation is not something to be scared of, it's something to be proactively managed. These days, it's essential that web users cultivate the kind of online reputation that they would want an employer to see,' said Peter Cullen, from Microsoft.

Photographs of drunken behaviour, bad language and complaining about work are the worst offenders that can ruin you chances of gaining a job.

'People really need to make sure they are using this resource to their advantage, by conveying a professional image,' says Farhan Yasin, president of Careerbuilder.co.uk.

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