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26 . WAI'HH ()0 CHRONICLE . Wednesday Noveutbei " 2007 Making a good impression on the job hunt may include manag- ing your digital reputation. Half (50 per cent) of advertising and marketing executives recently polled said they search online for information about prospective hires at least some of the time, Among those, " per cent have decided not to hire someone based on their findings. _ - The survey was developed by the Creative Group. a specialized stairmg service providing market- ing. advertising. creative and web professionals on a project basis. " was conducted by an inde- pendent research firm and includes 250 responses __ 125 from advertising executives with advertising agencies and 125 from senior marketing executives with companies. Employers look at potential hires' ‘digital footprints’ too Aiivertising and marketing Grand River (En tomcat with um car garage and wal at to basement Close to may. and Immune. Wilklng Trail: Mort .00 M18. 519-77tF0737 0rqrtH0tt$EMr./Saltt. 12-5PIE w, Chandos Dr, Kitchener New tnt (tow, freehold condommmm trverk.murg - “in...” an - swam executives were asked, "How fre- quently, if at all, do you use Google or another search engine to learn additional information about a prospective hire?" Their responses were "always" __ 19 per cent; "sometimes" __ 31 per cent; "rarely" -- 24 per cent; "never" - 24 per cent; and "don't know" __ two per cent. Those who do search online for information about prospective hires were also asked, "Have you ever decided not to hire a candi, date based on information you found online?" Their responses were "yes" - 14 per cent; "no" - 84 per cent; and "don't know" - two per cent. Dave Willmer. the executive director of the Creative Group, said that professionals should keep all audiences in mind when posting information online Three ' 2 bedmom bungalow, new ww- dows, doors, breaker pastel, 2 full baths. awn concept kitcheatlhiiag room. new con. hardwood. single car ' remod- eled bath m mm. all amines m- cluded. ideal for retirees or rsrat lune buyers MUS, trit_xeculinkxom m ammo -iiiieEdaritditE Ttiab Sunni!» Suh- Mann” Century ll ','g/'atl'ttg ua. Brokerage, 51 18488 "Search engines make it quick and easy to learn about people," he said. "If there's something that you wouldn't want a potential employer to know about you, don't post that information in a public forum." According to Willmer, some hir- ing managers search online to gain a better sense of a candidate's industry involvement and inter- ests. "Employers aren't just looking for md flags," he said. "They're also "Employers aren't just looking for red flags." - Dave Willmer Exam (me director of the Creative Group seeking evidence that a potential staff member is invested in the profession, perhaps through par- ticipation in trade groups or indus- try blogs or message boards" _ Witiiner provided the following tips for creating an impressive "digital f?otpriy'1 . Stack the deck in your favour. Websites such as Zoomlnfo.com allow users to post information about themselves, so consider including details about your pro- fessional involvement and qualifi- cations of these types of forums. . Make the most of social net- working sites. Sites such as Linkedln.com are good venues for learning about job openings and making new Contacts. But be selective in who you allow into your network. Potential employers who have access to your contact list may ask these professionals for Titres, . Share your insights. Posting your comments on industry forums or authoring online articles in your area of expertise is a smart way to reinforce your professional reputation. . Create your own website. Along with showcasing industry knowledge on other people's web, sites, you can also create your own Internet presence with links to articles of interest. and informa- tion about your skills and past achievements. For creative profes- sionals. a website with work sam- ples is especially beneficial, as many employers will want to see prior projects before arranging a job interview. . Be prepared to explain. If there is unf1attering information about you online, be prepared to offer an explanation to employers. us triiitammt cres.. mm LStummgg fyyilr W.Showu AAA Mole 'in ready. Main floor laundry mom‘ im-l mundane. finished basement. heated on ehitd-rriettdlr crescent and all airport included. HIS. omdywataoWremaraset tove)rstmiiil'Niiirtimteoe,m'e' ,ieotiapVpot» wilhmndem 1tiflrgl'u"l"'lltllrni'l'lu but 1t'i'fgt2it',g'uT2,'2rl mud GiiiriiGr"iiii; 'd'2',',Q'"lW'i'lT! Hour-m! ms 0741391 whilst-MW w mic» In, In. - 5195754110 gumbo) "trtpgr