Safeguard Your Search
Although the majority of job listings and organizations are legitimate, you may encounter scams, falsified information, or situations that can be physically or financially risky.
The Michelin Career Center does not endorse any employer and urges you to be cautious in all of your interactions with potential employers, whether or not you learned about them through the Career Center. Please contact the Career Center at Career-L@Clemson.edu or 656-0485 if you feel that you may have been a victim of fraud or become aware of a situation that you think the Career Center should know about. Students are also encouraged to review "A Student's Guide to Interviewing With Third-Party Recruiters" developed by NACE.
Tips to Safeguard Your Search
- Do not give out your Social Security number unless you are sure it is legitimately needed. Some organizations will request your SS# for legitimate reasons (such as a background check). Ask why this information is needed and how it will be used. Generally, organizations will not ask for your SS# until after your interview. Do not ever provide this information online, in an e-mail, or on the telephone.
- Do not provide anyone with your personal checking or banking information. This information is not needed for any step of the job search process.
- Do not give out personal information online or over the phone. Personal information such as height, eye color, ethnicity, etc. does not pertain to the job search.
- Be sure the e-mail address to which you are sending information has the same domain name as the organization.
For example, if applying to “Organization X,” the e-mail address should have “@Organizations X” somewhere in the address. Be wary of sites/organizations where much of the information is “under construction.” - Research the organization to be sure that it is legitimate.
Be especially cautious when dealing with organizations outside of your own country. - Always use good judgment in ALL of your interactions with employers. The Career Center suggests that students request business references for unknown organizations before interviewing with them off campus. The Career Center advises students to interview in public places only.
- Be cautious when posting your resume online. Research the site to learn if it is legitimate. If you are unsure, limit your contact information on the resume and use generic job titles if yours are unique.
Protect Your Professional Image
Many students are having job-hunting hopes dashed because of their pages on sites like Facebook and MySpace. Moreover, many students seem surprised that their Facebook or MySpace content has been viewed by prospective employers. In fact, companies are Googling candidates as a normal part of their screening process. A survey from the Summer 2006 National Association of Colleges and Employers NACEJournal found that 34.6% of employers reported researching candidates online. A survey by CareerBuilder.com found 63% of hiring managers have admitted to not hiring someone based on the information they found online. Everyone needs to start managing their professional image even before they become professionals. Items that are placed on your web pages online may linger around in search engines for some time, even after they have been removed from your online pages.
Students must take ownership of their online identity and plan to not only protect their professional image but learn to manage their online image by taking the following steps.
Clean Up Your Image
- Make sure only your friends can view your Facebook or MySpace page.
- Remove any pictures and images that may portray a negative image to potential employers.
- Ensure your posted comments in blogs and on your friends' "walls" present an image you intend to project toward employers.
- Police the comments your friends leave on your site and make sure the comments and pictures they present match with the image of yourself you are trying to project.
- Disassociate from any groups that would have a negative impact on your job search
Build Your Professional Image Online
- Google yourself to see what prospective employers can find out about you.
- Click here to download and complete the Personal Internet Presence Self-Audit [pdf]
Taken from the Summer 2006 NACE Journal, this guide will help you in analyzing your online presence and developing steps to protect and build your image online. - Use tools such as blogs to positively discuss your career goals, search, etc.
- Take advantage of social networks like LinkedIn, Facebook, and MySpace to network with professionals in your target industries or career fields. Don't ask them for a job but, rather, ask them about their job. You want them to get to know you and refer you to someone they know who has a job.