Have you ever applied or interviewed for a job that looked perfect but then found yourself waiting for the call that never came? This is a fairly common story and you might just let it go without much thought. “Maybe the position was already full? Maybe the recruiter doesn’t like my degree? Maybe I don’t have the right experience?” These are all certainly possibilities and should be addressed but there’s another thing that can kill a courtship faster than anything else, your web presence.

A candidate’s online presence is the most widely overlooked and undernourished component of their overall profile. Think about it, you made sure to wear your best suit, you prepared a sharp resume and you probably even took a double look in the mirror as you left your house. Yet, you probably didn’t think to look over your web presence.

These days any recruiting department worth its weight has a consistent pre-offer checklist to complete for every position. On this list, recruiters include a step where they conduct a quick scan of the web for the candidate. This quick search can provide a lot of information for a very small time investment. Think of it as another form of a reference check. You always prepare and coach your references before submitting them so make sure you prepare your web presence.

Your web presence can tell a lot about you, personally and professionally. First, the recruiter will do a simple search for your name. As you probably know, higher traffic sites rank higher on the results list. Therefore, if you are a social networker and use large sites such as Myspace, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter, your profile on those websites will pop right up in the search results. The recruiter will look through your profile so make sure the content projects a professional image. This content includes photos, topics, and all materials. Anything the recruiter finds is fair game and may be used in their decision so review everything out there.

4 Quick Steps to Improve Your Web Presence

1. Conduct your own search: Simply type your name into Google. What do you find? If nothing shows up, that’s not a bad thing but it’s not exactly great either. You want a web presence! You want there to be positive things on there that show your involvement in your profession or that highlight your ability.

2. Censor or secure your content: If your search does bring back results, you have a couple choices. Either you can edit your profile on those sites so that all content is appropriate for the workplace or you can change the security settings for that site. For example, the major networking sites such as Facebook allow users to block their profile from anybody who is not granted access by you.

3. Verify accuracy: Make sure that any professionally related content is accurate. I can’t overstate this. For example, if you claim to have passed the state bar exam or that you are a member of a particular trade association, then the web better confirm your claims. Recruiters will often use their search to verify memberships, awards, and affiliations because most organizations and accrediting groups list their members or honorees on their site.

4. Promote: Think of yourself as a company. You are selling a service (your labor) to a client (your future employer) so it’s important to have positive things about yourself out there on the web. This can be recommendations on LinkedIn from former coworkers or examples of your work (i.e. articles, blogs, or designs). If the recruiter finds proof that you are capable of doing the work, they are more likely to hire you.

The key thing to remember when seeking a new job is that in the modern world of social networking and information a web presence can influence a recruiter’s decision. Keep your web presence positive and active and it can only help you. First impressions count so make it a good one both in person and out there on the web. Happy hunting!

Jeff Llewellyn is the President of The Llewellyn Consulting Company (http://www.llewellyncompany.com), a full service Human Resources consulting firm that delivers personalized employment solutions organizations who wish to improve their processes and minimize their liability. Jeff can be contacted with questions or business inquiries at jeff@myhrcheckup.com.