Statistics show that when employers look for applicants on the Internet, especially ones they are already considering hiring, they look deeply into different types of websites to do their research. In other words, your social network profile isn’t the only thing they’re looking at. This is why it’s so important to maintain a professional and presentable online profile.

There are a number of reasons why employers will check you out on the Internet:

• Your online profile gives an overall picture of who you are
• It shows your creativity
• It also shows your communication skills

Here are reasons why employers reject applicants after investigating them online:

• Bad-mouthing previous employers/coworkers
• Shared confidential information from previous employer
• Making discriminatory comments

So, if you don’t want your online image hurting your chances of getting a job, here are some strategies you can use:

Create multiple profiles – Sometimes it can be hard to combine your personal and professional images. Having multiple online profiles may be your best solution to this problem. You can create a separate account that you can direct employers to while still making a conscious effort to keep your personal profile clean.

Restrict access – Social networks offer privacy features that let you prevent people you don’t know from seeing what you have on your account. Take advantage of these features in order to keep yourself from getting rejected by employers because of a few photos or comments you posted.

If you really want to present yourself as a professional both in person and online, discipline is the key. Anytime you feel like sharing something that you might regret later, resist the temptation to post it publicly on Facebook or Twitter. You can still share it with your friends without having random strangers knowing about it.

If you want to know more about how to take advantage of the Internet and keep your online image clean and professional, check out our new infographic below.