It’s so much better coming from a student rather than from me.
A returning placement student told how she’d been asked by an employer to do some Google searches into candidates for a job. Her advice? Learn how to change your security settings on Facebook.
But which is worse: some embarrassing personal photographs, or no ‘Google juice’? PR students should be expected to do some PR for themselves.
The returning student was Katy Marshall. She’s easily found on Google – mainly because she blogs.
PR Studies 
Great story, Richard. Our class interviewed David Meerman Scott yesterday and he suggested the same thing … blog, do your own PR upfront. Make sure you represent yourself well.
As we know, it can help in the internship / job hunt. But, best heard from a 3rd party – like a fellow student / recent grad. I agree.
David Meerman Scott’s book (The New Rules of Marketing & PR) is a good read too.
Thanks for the mention Richard!
You can definitely use new social media tools to work to your advantage with prospective employers. What a great way to show off your writing and networking skills – my advice was simply to be aware and make sure your portraying yourself in the right way. There’s nothing wrong with reflecting your personality through your facebook page or blog in order to sell that to employers too!
I also had to Google job applicants. Some of it was checking up on facts of their CV. For example if they previously worked for a PR agency, finding some of their press releases online can be handy.
Facebook is the least of your worries. Drunken photos and embarressing poses and other such items just reflect that you’re a social person. No company will expect applicants not to have any sort of social life.
A bigger concern should be your written work for previous companies. I was worried about putting my name to press releases that certain clients had put through their corp-speak, hyperbole, machine.
Saying that one, when googling the e-mail address of one applicant she had posted one particuarly disturbing question up on Yahoo Answers.
“What are the ingredients for smoke bombs?”
We probably would have interviewed her anyway.