What Does Google Say About You?

Have you ever done a Google search on your name? What about on an candidate’s name? What you find may shock you. Negative information, whether it’s comprehensive or not, can damage a person’s personal and professional reputation. However, like with social media, when it comes to making hiring decisions, you must be careful how you use the information you find.

According to a recent survey sponsored by Domain.me, 24 percent of adults in general and 43 percent of Millennials said that they had been negatively affected by information about them online. More than half (53 percent) of Americans said that they have not monitored online information about themselves. Of the Americans who did search for online content about themselves, 20 percent found incomprehensive or outdated information – 8 percent found embarrassing or reputation-damaging information.

Consider how this could impact someone’s job search. You hear it all the time, “Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet.” Unfortunately, many people, including recruiters, do every day. A survey conducted by Cross-Tab on behalf of Microsoft reports that 70 percent of recruiters have turned down candidates based on information they found online.

When you’re hiring, you’re looking for the best candidate. Relying on information you find online could mean that you pass him or her by. Hiring decisions are too important to rely on whatever a search engine pulls together. With ClearStar, both employers/recruiters and job candidates know that the background screening information being shared is a truthful representation of the candidate.

In the past year alone, ClearStar provided more than 20,000 companies the information they needed to make smart hiring decisions that have helped grow their business. Shouldn’t yours be one of them? To learn more, contact us today.

At ClearStar, we are committed to your success. An important part of your employment screening program involves compliance with various laws and regulations, which is why we are providing information regarding screening requirements in certain countries, region, etc. While we are happy to provide you with this information, it is your responsibility to comply with applicable laws and to understand how such information pertains to your employment screening program. The foregoing information is not offered as legal advice but is instead offered for informational purposes. ClearStar is not a law firm and does not offer legal advice and this communication does not form an attorney client relationship. The foregoing information is therefore not intended as a substitute for the legal advice of a lawyer knowledgeable of the user’s individual circumstances or to provide legal advice. ClearStar makes no assurances regarding the accuracy, completeness, or utility of the information contained in this publication. Legislative, regulatory and case law developments regularly impact on general research and this area is evolving rapidly. ClearStar expressly disclaim any warranties or responsibility or damages associated with or arising out of the information provided herein.