Screen your online identity!
Today, more and more employers go online to get a better idea of the character and quality of their applicants. They sign up with facebook, or have one of their college interns check out prospective employees. They do google searches, and search on myspace. So make sure you like what they find! Don't post incriminating pictures online - anything with outrageous behavior (i.e. kegstands or beer pong games) and definetly don't post anything illegal! (that picture of you and the illegal drug paraphenalia....not cool). Keep your profiles clean of profanity and don't say anything you don't want an employer to see! Keep religious and political comments to a minimum, if any. Searching the internet is an easy way for employers to weed out candidates and put your resume on the chopping block.

"For the past few months, we have seen an exponential increase in the number of employers who are gaining access to social networking sites, such as Facebook and MySpace, to see what they can learn about candidates there, as well," Patricia Rose, the director of Career Services at the University of Pennsylvania, cautions students through a MP3 on her office's Web site.

Now, take this information in the opposite direction- when employers search for you, let them find positive information! Linking the finance blog you write (I'm guilty!) to facebook, and posting your past internships on your online profiles is a good way to highlight your good qualities to potential employers. List community service, and school involvement on your profile. Let facebook work for you instead of against you!