Have you ever used the Internet to look up an old friend and run across their MySpace or Facebook profile? It’s fairly easy to find online information about ordinary people these days. But, did you realize that some employers use the Internet to search for more information about job candidates? This doesn’t mean they are searching for reasons against hiring them. However, sometimes the information that employers find influences their opinion about an applicant. What would an employer find out about you? Here are a few helpful hints to make sure your online image isn’t keeping you from your dream job.

Search your name. Looking up your name on a search engine can help you find what your name is linked to. If you have a popular name, you might get many results with none of them referring to you. But, even if the info is not about you, employers may not know it. You don’t want to be mistaken for someone with a poor image or a bad record. If this is the case, you can use Naymz.com to create a positive profile that will link to your other positive online profiles, instead of to someone else with the same name. When you Google your name, Naymz.com will be ranked within the first 10 results. Another way your name might also show up is if you leave a comment on a popular blog. If you’ve left a negative comment that reflects poorly on you, try contacting the site administrator to have the comment removed.

Know what you post. Know what information you’ve posted online in case an employer questions you about that information in an interview. You don’t want to be caught off guard by an interviewer asking about a blog post, quote or comment you posted online. If you don’t even remember what you said online, you might appear careless, and employers could think that attitude will translate into the workplace.

Clean up your image. Some of the online information that influences employers’ hiring decisions includes inappropriate pictures, displays of unprofessional behavior and negative remarks about current or past employers. If you are actively searching for a job and have a public blog or profile that employers could see, make sure it reflects positively on you. Remove any information that could negatively affect employers’ decisions about you and hinder your chances of landing a job. If you’re reluctant to remove this type of information and want your friends to still be able to access it, try changing your profile settings to private to limit who has access to your site.

Having an online presence can work in your favor if it reflects well on you, but it can work against you if you aren’t aware of what’s out there. Search your name to find the results employers could also find to determine your online image. Know what you have posted online and be able to answer any questions employers might have regarding the content. And, don’t forget to clean up your image if you see negative results. You don’t want your online presence to keep you from a new job opportunity.

It’s that time of year when everyone begins to think about their New Year’s resolutions. Some may stick to their resolutions, but others may give up after a week. If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to find a new job, here are a few steps to help you.

Write it down. You’ve already made the decision to look for a new job, so now you need to commit to it. Write this commitment down on paper and put it some place where you can see it daily. This will keep your goal at the top of your mind. Next, share your goal with someone else. This person can hold you accountable for accomplishing your goal and support you along the way. You are more likely to succeed with a written goal and a supportive person than you are without either.

Set a time frame. Set an estimated time frame for when you would like to have a new job. The key is to be realistic. For example, if you set a goal to find a new job in one week, you might not hit that goal, or you might end up in a job you don’t enjoy. To avoid wishing you had never changed jobs, give yourself time to ensure a good fit.

If you are looking to progress into a different or higher position, you might need to further your education. Completing an educational course will take time, so set your goal for farther down the road so you have plenty of time to successfully complete the courses before you start job searching. Examine your situation to determine when the best time would be to take on a new position.

Update your résumé. You probably haven’t looked at your résumé since you started your last job, so make sure to update it before applying for a new job.  Include any skills, activities and education you obtained while at your current job. Also, proof your résumé for spelling and grammar. If your outdated résumé doesn’t list your qualifications for the job, your résumé will probably be tossed aside.

Start the search. After you are committed to finding a new job and have updated your résumé, it’s time to start the job search. Make sure to follow your timeline. If you plan to be in a new job by the end of the summer, don’t wait until August to start applying for jobs. Because the application, interview and hiring process may take several weeks or more to complete, start applying for jobs two to three months before your time frame of landing a new job.

Follow these steps, and you’ll be on your way to keeping your resolution of finding a new job in the New Year.

Why are you looking for a new job this year? What steps are you taking to reach this goal?

Getting a new job is a difficult task. Just finding the right job to apply for can often be the biggest challenge. It’s discouraging to not be able to find the perfect job you want, especially when you think you know what type of job you are qualified for and want. But, you may be limiting yourself by only considering job titles. Are you only applying for jobs in specific categories, fields or titles? If so, you could be eliminating a dream job without even knowing it. Try these tips today to expand your job search.

Look at different job titles. Job titles may not be the best indicator of what the job responsibilities include. The title may only describe one aspect of the job or it may not accurately portray the job at all. A job titled “special events coordinator” may concentrate on sales with little focus on actual event planning. If you want to coordinate events, the job may not be listed as party planner, but may be listed as meeting coordinator, event manager or facility director.

Read the full job description. Rather than reading the title alone, reading the full job description will give you a much better idea about the job. This description will often list skills needed, activities involved and experience required to complete the job. For example, if you are skilled at data entry and enjoy that type of work, look at many job descriptions, because many jobs consist of a lot of data entry, but have titles that do not even hint at that activity. First, know what skills you have and what type of work you enjoy doing. Then, concentrate on finding those items listed in the job descriptions.

Search other job classifications. Don’t limit yourself to one job category, industry, or field because it describes previous jobs you’ve had. Your ideal job may be listed in another field altogether. Your skills and education can be applied to different jobs, so don’t be afraid to explore new options. If you are looking for an administrative job, search under administration support, but also look in other areas because many departments have support staff, too. A potential employer may categorize a job one way and you may label it another. Searching other job categories and listings can take extra time, but it’s worth the effort when you’re looking for a job you want.

You can find the right job to apply for if you broaden your perspective on where and how to look for jobs.  Focus beyond titles, examine job descriptions carefully and look in different job categories that might be used to list the job you want. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Use these tips when you start looking for a new job, and you just may find exactly what you were looking for.

Do you focus your search on job titles? Have you found a job in a category that you wouldn’t normally look at?