A Computerworld story says a growing number of recruiters and hiring managers are using search engines to research applicants. If you don't turn up in searches this could be a negative especially if hiring managers find positive information about your competition on the Internet.
In today's job market, turning up missing on the Web may not be a fatal flaw, and it's probably better than having a search result in a photo of you in a hula skirt. But over time, the lack of a Web presence - particularly for IT professionals - may well turn from a neutral to a negative, says Tim Bray, director of Web technologies at Sun Microsystems Inc.
"Particularly because we're a core technology provider, if someone came looking for a senior-level job and had left no mark on the Internet, I'd see that as a big negative," he says.
And it's not just about technology, Bray says. "Most companies would rather have somebody who has demonstrated the propensity to contribute, and one [sign] of that is going out and getting involved, joining in the discussion."
The web presence is obviously even more crucial for web professionals. A good video resume can't hurt either.
