How dirty are you?

The internet is a great tool that helps us our lives run a lot more efficiently. We can shop online, find valuable information on virtually any topic and even expand our reach across the globe. But unfortunately the benefits that the internet provide for the good also apply to the bad. By conducting a simple Google search, friends, relatives and potential employers can dig up “Digital Dirt.”

Digital dirt could be anything from old comments to blogspots, message board postings, membership in certain social networking sites or pictures and videos that paint you in a not-so-appropriate light. Ask yourself, “Is there anything out there that could potentially embarrass me, polarize me or tarnish my image? If so, you may have some cleaning to do.

According to the Society for Human Resource Management, digital dirt is fast becoming one of the most menacing forces against executives attempting to transition to other industries or opportunities. Furthermore, according to ExecuNet, "35 percent of executive recruiters who used the Internet to research candidates eliminated someone from consideration based on information they found online.

The best way to see what’s out there is to Google your name in quotations (i.e. “my name”). In many cases you may not be able to undo what you've done online, but it’s nice to at least be aware of what third parties can find out about you. For the future, be aware of posting extreme negative blogspot comments, risqué face book photos and joining social sites that can be seen as offensive to someone.

We all like to have a little fun, and if you’re not concerned about keeping our cyber slate clean, have a response prepared in the event questions come up. After all, we all have lives outside of our profession and what you do after hours does not necessarily have a negative impact on your performance. Do some digital dusting this weekend. You might be surprised at what you’ll find. Stay tidy and stay connected!