SmallBusinessNewz

In recent articles, I've discussed the importance of keeping a respectable online reputation as a business. Now I'd like to look at this subject on the flipside from the standpoint of an employer.

I've seen several articles lately about people trying to find jobs but being afraid that something from their online past will come back to haunt them when a potential employer is doing a background check.

This is a reasonable concern for any job seeker, and I would advise employers to do online background checks. Chances are, you're already doing this before you hire someone.

You probably at the very least, search their name on Google or another search engine. Do you search for their names in the social networks as well?

Finding as much information as possible on a potential job candidate is natural and can be a good way to get a sense of character.

That said, you should not base your entire decision on whether to hire somebody solely on what you find about them online.

Kids are using computers and the Internet at a very young age now, and will continue to do so throughout their lives. There is no telling what kind of online reputation they have made for themselves throughout the years, starting before they ever even had a grasp on the concept of reputation management.

Not to take anything away from the future of the human race, but sometimes kids do dumb things. Should they be penalized for minor indiscretions from their past if they have all of the qualifications required for the position they are applying for?

While your first impulse when finding something negative in a background check can often be to just move on, perhaps you should put yourself in their shoes before hastily making a decision. Could you see yourself in  a similar position when you were younger?

Obviously there will be cases where it is clear that an applicant is not the right choice, but just ask yourself if you've given them the benefit of the doubt before you completely dismiss them. You never know. That guy doing kegstands in his MySpace pics could turn out to be the most reliable employee you have.